Week 38 Winner
The winner of Week 38 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Cayla Corum. Photographing wildlife is about as predictable as the weather. Cayla waited patiently in the rain for this bull elk to emerge and when it did she captured the moment perfectly. Cayla has won a $100 gift code to hippytree.com and we are donating $100 to the Access Fund in her name. Learn more about Cayla below.
Where was the image shot?
Cataloochee, North Carolina, in Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
What camera did you use and what were the settings?
Camera: Canon 80D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 1000
Was there any special preparation required to capture the photo?
Besides waiting in the rain, not really. I knew the bull elk would get up eventually so I just planted my feet and waited with him in the rain. It was a waiting game for sure!
How long have you been shooting?
Everyone in my family has a love for photography. My grandfather was my biggest inspiration. He had only one arm but always took our pictures with his polaroid camera, never letting us help him! However, I've only taken photography seriously for about three years.
What's your camera of choice?
I got my hands on a Canon AE-1 and started photography class in high school and I have been hooked on Canon ever since. I seriously considered switching to Nikon or Sony a couple years ago but I just couldn't do it! Canon has never failed me. I still have my T3i as my back up camera. I also use a GoPro in certain situations.
What’s your favorite subject matter to shoot?
I absolutely love shooting landscapes of any kind. It gets me out in the wilderness and I am able to capture images of places some people will never be able to see. I also recently found a love for astrophotography and enjoy shooting family and newborns.
Do you shoot with a crew or shoot solo?
I mainly shoot solo, unless I meet other photographers out on site.
What excites you about photography?
Knowing that I am able to capture an exact moment in time and share it with someone. Photos are a way to cherish a moment no matter if it brings sorrow or happiness. It creates an emotion that we can relive over and over again. I love knowing that I can give that to someone.
