Professional Photographer Captures Stunning Photos of Moose in Northwestern Maine
I remember being a kid and watching the local news about a wayward moose in Portland. There it was just rolling down the street without a care in the world. It was probably one of the biggest stories in Maine at the time. I remember it being talked about at school for days.
Ever since I have been fascinated by these incredible beasts, yet have very little experience around them. With all the hiking, skiing, golfing, and exploring I have done around this state, I have only seen one or two in person. So, when I come across closeup shots or quality video of moose, I immediately become fascinated.
Enter Dennis Glennon, professional photographer and author. Dennis spends a lot of his time heading out into the Maine wilderness with his camera and his kayak. In fact, he has been shooting Maine wildlife for over 25 years.
It just so happens that Dennis runs into moose on his journeys in northwestern Maine, especially around Baxter State Park. He has posted his work to his Facebook page and the very cool Facebook group, MAINE Wildlife, a site dedicated to honoring Maine's amazing animals.
When I say Dennis's photos do not disappoint, I truly mean it.
It's simply a majestic beauty. Dennis shot this from his kayak a little ways away, while the bull was feeding. What an incredible image from him to catch the water pouring off the gentle beast's enormous antlers. Dennis wrote that the bull fed for close to an hour during the impromptu photoshoot.
Next is the incredible shot Dennis shared with the MAINE Wildlife group.
Another image of a gorgeous bull feeding, while the sun was setting. According to Dennis he observed and shot from his kayak as the moose fed for close to 90 mins, and never being disturbed.
Dennis also managed to capture a mother and her calves feeding one summer morning.
Dennis told me he shot these from a boardwalk in Baxter State Park. He was the only person present that day on the pond for the encounter with the hungry family. Dennis even wrote that they came so close that he had to back away and use a wide-angled lens.
How about a little ambiance for the next one?
Dennis quietly paddled out in his kayak to try and capture a moose or two in the fog. The bull above cooperated quite nicely as Dennis got an absolutely incredible image.
Finally, here is a photo Dennis shared with me that is also in his children's book, "Buddy's Magic Window", a story about a golden retriever puppy that gets lost in the Maine woods.
What an amazing bull. The antlers are masterful and the beast seems to be smiling for the camera. Nothing says Maine quite like this photo.
As incredible as these photos are, it may be more impressive how patient Dennis is to get these shots.
"The secret to photographing moose is you have to have time," Dennis told me. He will head out early in the morning, and sometime wait five to six hours in hopes of seeing a moose or other unique wildlife.
And, as mentioned earlier, Dennis is able to get a lot of great angles, because he usually finds himself in water with the animals in his kayak. Though, it does take quite a bit of experience to shoot safely and correctly.
Dennis does have some advice for those looking to get in their kayak with their camera.
"Just go out a practice paddling first, even before you go out with gear," says Dennis. "And be careful of wind. It can make it very difficult to shoot and stay in position." This is something Dennis says is very important, especially when trying to remain ethically away from the animals.
I want to thank Dennis for sharing the amazing photos of these majestic moose. For more info on Dennis and his incredible work, go to his website at dennisglennon.com.