When you want a dog to head your way, you would typically say something like, “Here, boy!”.
When you want a cat to come in for the night, you’re likely to sing the refrain, “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!”.
But what do you do when you want a cow to come your way? This is a dilemma I faced while recording my latest video training title, “Time-Lapse Photography Workshop“. We had been driving around through the mountains, hoping to find either some nice cloud development or cows grazing in a field. So I felt incredibly lucky when we drove around a corner through a valley to find both in the same place.
As we approached, the cows were right up against the fence, and they seemed very curious about what we were doing, milling about and moo-ing in our general direction. I eagerly started setting up my tripod with a wide-angle lens, getting everything configured for my time-lapse. But since I would be recording a training video I didn’t start capturing the frames of the time-lapse. After all, I wanted the viewer to see me doing that on camera.
We setup quickly, and I started introducing the topic on-camera. And after a couple of sentences, a loud tractor approached to turn the hay in a neighboring field. It was too noisy, and we had to stop recording for about ten minutes.
And of course, during that ten minutes the cows decided they were no longer curious about the crew and all of our equipment. They also decided they had enough to eat for the time being, and it was time to gather in the middle of the field (far from the fence), to lay down and digest. The great time-lapse I envisioned was no longer what I envisioned.
We started recording anyway, and I initiated the time-lapse capture, hoping that during the period of about forty-five minutes that I would be capturing frames, the cows would get curious and approach our position again. A few did, but most didn’t. The time-lapse was still cool, but I think it could have been so much cooler!
The lesson? Sometimes the photography really has to come first. Even though I was about to go on camera to demonstrate the technique of setting up and capturing a time-lapse video, I should have started the time-lapse as soon as I got setup in front of a cool subject. On camera I could have always explained to the viewer that the scene was just too good to pass up, and that I had already started capturing my frames. Then I could talk about the settings I had used for the captures, while the camera kept shooting all along.
You would have forgiven that, right? Let me know in the comments below, or share your own experience of when you wish you would have put photography first.
I photographed some Belgian horses from a rural road one day and was happy that they were close enough to capture but far enough away that I could frame my shots. Then one of them came right up to me and even though separated by a fence I got out of there! They are as big as Clydesdales and the one who approached me seemed menacing. (This is what I get for not growing up on a farm!)
Oh, I know Belgian horses! I had the opportunity to get right up next to them recently, and boy are they big! Fortunately, the ones I saw were hitched up and so there was no danger, but I can only imagine if one approached me in the “wild”. Scary!
Tim
You are lucky those cows were just curious, not defensive. I have been chased right out of the pasture by cows, and they were my Dads cows after I came home from college over summer. There is a reason the cowboys ride horses.
Good point, Alice! These cows actually seemed very docile. And in general I’ve found the cows I run into are pretty tame. Or maybe I just have a personality that appeals to cows.
Tim
Seventy years ago, on a Nova Scotia farm, I was taught to summon the cows by calling “Hey, Bossie, Bossie, Bossie . . . .” I just can’t recall whether they paid any attention.
Be careful when shooting animals you are not familiar with! Having grown up on a farm, I know a fence might give way to a protective cow or mare with a youngster or a bull/stallion. Also beware, some fences are electric that can really pack a punch!!!
With animals, shoot first if the opportunity immediately presents itself. They have short attention spans. Also, our cattle always came to us with the call “Come, boss” which is what we yelled when bringing out hay during winter and early spring months!
: ) Love the story!
So, here’s a funny side story. And one that might expose me as a bonafide “city slicker”. When we first arrived it was “obvious” there was an electric fence. I’ve been zapped before, so I tapped the fence to check for a “spark”, and there was no zap. So I assumed the fence wasn’t electrified. You can guess where this is going…
With a little time, it was getting warm, and I was getting a little sweaty. I was kneeling near the fence, making my best effort to lure the cows closer. The director on the video shoot had grabbed a stick, thinking a little noise might help attract the cows. Or something. And he tapped the electric fence, causing it to bounce just enough to come up near my chin, and arc on account of the sweat on my face.
Boy, did that wake me up!
Tim
Dorothyann Strange: Your assertion of addressing the cows as “Boss” is indeed similar to my own recollection of “Bossie”.
I feel corroborated! Does the similarity mean that we’re related?
-al h
I am a little curious why you didn’t talk about shooting the scene first and then shooting the setup sequence. You could always change the order in post.
Joe,
That’s easy to say after the fact! I just figured the noisy tractor would leave soon, and that the cows would remain just as curious and adorable as when we first arrived. That was a very bad assumption in retrospect. I’ll never make that mistake again!
Of course, part of the reason we didn’t “fake” it was in the interest of trying to maintain continuity. I didn’t want to have me talking about starting the time-lapse capture with the cows far away, but then have the final time-lapse showing them close to the camera. But in retrospect I wish I had gone for that fake!
Tim
“If it’s there, shoot it now!” I can’t say how many times ignoring that axiom has cost me the shot. If the subject and light are right, get the basic shots right now, if you have to crawl in the mud or stand on rock. Just get it. Especially in the mountains, light changes fast, clouds come in or leave, something moves into the frame, the wind changes. Get some good, clean basic work done, then take the time to be creative.
Completely agree. This is the concept I generally refer to as the “insurance shot” approach. I just fell down on the job with this particular opportunity…
Tim
Tim,
Just view this YouTube video called ‘Jazz for Cows’. You will know exactly how to arrange the shoot. Notice that none in the ‘audience’ left until the concert was over. . . Good luck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXKDu6cdXLI
Cynthia,
If only I had seen this video before I found these cows! Except I didn’t have a horn with me. And I wouldn’t have known how to play it anyway. But this is hilarious…
Tim
I can certainly relate to the lost opportunity. My wife and I travel across this beautiful land in a large RV. The first miss was when we rounded a curve and saw about twenty black and white cows circled around a distinctive umbrella shaped shade tree. They were all facing the tree and was an unusual formation with great light. Alas there was no place to safely pull our large rig over within miles. The second was two of the largest long horn cattle I have ever seen. The horns must have been at least 10 feet wide tip to tip. Again no shoulder to pull off on and being in the country no good place to turn around. The two scenes are burned into my personal hard drive as the ones that got away.
That reminds me of driving across US 6 through Utah and enjoying the wonderful rocky cliffs on either side with snow and all sorts of great color. But no shoulder to pull over! But you’re right about the personal hard drive. At least we have that!
Tim