Fall in the Smokies!! Photographing Elk Rut & Bugling - WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY VLOG

Fall in the Smokies!! Photographing Elk Rut & Bugling - WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY VLOG
In this wildlife photography vlog, I return to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina to photograph wildlife and landscapes under an array of spectacular autumn colors. For wildlife photography, I focused on photographing rutting elk for the majority of my trip. Fall is the time of year at which the elk rut, meaning they bugle and battle for mates. These behaviors allow for some epic elk photography opportunities. I also spent a morning in Cades Cove looking for black bears to photograph, but came up short. For landscape photography, I focused on waterfalls and mountains with rich fall colors. Overall, It was an awesome photography trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park during the peak of fall colors.
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Gear List
Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera: amzn.to/3A4fXug
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM Lens: amzn.to/3D0GHNV
Oben AT-3586 Aluminum Tripod and Triple Action BZ-226T Ball Head: amzn.to/3md6jR0
B + W 77mm UV Protection Filter: amzn.to/3mkv2D8
Sony CFexpress Type B TOUGH Memory Card: amzn.to/3imDPmM
Canon EF 1.4x Extender III: amzn.to/3kX5Bb5
Canon EF 2.0x Extender III: amzn.to/3ol2cVJ
Lowpro ProTactic 450 AW II Camera Backpack: amzn.to/3iibw91
Oben GH-30 Gimbal Head: amzn.to/3B00koS
Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery: amzn.to/3F6mCrg
Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip: amzn.to/3zY3yHW
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Music
❰Chillstep❱ Sappheiros - Dawn
• ❰Chillstep❱ Sappheiros...
All other music provided by Epidemic Sound
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[@DavidC-rt3or]

Highly recommend going to RMNP in Sept/early Oct. (Moraine park area) for Elk rut.. will likely also see deer also. I've also seen turkeys in that part if the park also. There is another area with bighorn sheep and the Alluvian fan waterfall etc

[@joncothranphotography9375]

I love shooting in the Smokies! Cherokee, Cataloochee, and Cades Cove are wonderful places to photograph wildlife. Thanks for sharing your adventure! If you get to go back, try photographing Mingo Falls in Cherokee, NC.

[@WorkHardBeNice]

You are living the DREAM! I hope too see the Smokies someday. It looks amazing

[@mileswandered8289]

Fantastic video! You've convinced me to bring extra shoes for when I go next week haha.

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thank you! Hahaha, yeah that’s probably a good idea. Some of the best angles only come when you’re knee deep in cold water lol.

[@carolsexton2443]

Loved the video. Great job and awesome shots.

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thanks!!

[@daniawilliams3658]

Great photos and videos. Been there a few times myself and it never gets old. Last time we had a big bull walk directly beside our car and cross the road to make a scrape in front of us! He came away wearing part of the tree on his antlers lol. It made for a great shot. Good luck in your journey through life, you certainly seem to have a great eye for photography.

[@MrSammie81]

Again good stuff from you. Love the channel

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thank you! It’s great to hear you are enjoying it.

[@dianewatts2172]

Absolutely loved the video! Awesome pics Evan!

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thank you, I’m glad you liked it!

[@stevecookphotography]

Great work, keep it up!!

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thank you, glad you like it!! I will!

[@4score]

Great shots and clips! So beautiful there. Your elk shots were amazing. We saw the elk rut a few years ago in Mammoth Hot Springs and was so fun. I wanted to offer you one technical suggestion - Can you try and keep sound volume more stable between music and dialogue? On the receiving end, we turn up the volume to hear you speak but then the music comes on too loud and we turn it down - then it's too low when you start talking again. Not a big deal, but the important things are your great pictures and video! Keep up the great work!

[@rocprodprinceray]

It's so beautiful there

[@KevinNordstrom]

awesome shots brother. Love the smokies. Took the wife and kids up in a cabin high up in the mountains over the summer. Gods country for sure. Take care man. Cheers.

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thank you man, I really appreciate it. The Smokies are great, really beautiful country. That sounds like an awesome trip! Have a good one dude, I appreciate you watching the vid 🤘

[@TheGuitarsadist]

Evan nice Vlog and some great shooting. Enjoying your channel allot. I will have to check out the smokies next time I am near home (Se KY man here from Corbin). Right now working out in California and trying to get some wildlife when I can (the weather is carp for the last couple of week), may go see if I cn find some Desrt Big Horns down the road a little bit. If you never been in California, there is some great spots to find elk and they have Tule, Rossevelts and North American varients here, plus other type of wild life though no brown bears, (some balk bears for sure just no Brown bears). In addition some great landscapes through out from the redwoods to DeathValley. If you ever are out hsi way or thinking of heading, Jus give me a houst and maybe I can give you some tips. My favorite to shoot due to their rarity is California Condors (amazing birds for sure). Best to you and safe travels and successful shooting.

[@woahjoe96]

Hey Watts! I love your videos and enjoy all of your content. I want to get into wildlife photography, mainly just whitetail, elk and turkey. I wish I could afford a setup like yours but unfortunately its not in the cards right now. I have around $2500. With that being said is there a combo you suggest? I was thinking either d500 or maybe z6 since mirrorless is getting all the attention. Thank you!

[@thomastuorto9929]

Good vid. Can you sleep in your vehicle down there in or out of the park for free without any hassles down there?

[@wattswildlifephoto]

Thanks!! That’s a bit tricky. You can sleep in your vehicle outside the park, but only in select places, and definitely not the park. Nowhere in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge is legal and you’ll get run off by police. I found a few Walmart parking lots that were about 30-40 mins from the park and were legal which is what I used while there.

[@thomastuorto9929]

@@wattswildlifephoto Thanks.

[@robbyvikleapman3413]

Robinson Matthew White Christopher Brown Jessica

[@anthonylamura8600]

Do u sell any of your photos ???

[@wattswildlifephoto]

I do, I sell prints on my website linked here: www.wattswildlifephotography.com/prints And if the photo you want isn’t on there, message me and I can have it custom ordered!! Thanks!

[@anthonylamura8600]

Sent you a email with a question