finally getting around to putting up some of the outtakes from that assignment for F+S. this was shot just shy of a year ago, so waiting a few days to pull it together at this point is nothing to me. plus, i was able to redo my edit before placing this story up on my website in the projects section. cut a few pics, reorder the story, go B&W. i’m really happy from a photographic standpoint with what i got from this trip and assignment especially. it’s the very direction i’ve wanted to be all along. “real men, doing real things” for sure.
above, are author Steven Rinella and turkey biologist Robert Abernethy, combing the rugged hills of the hells Canyon Wilderness to call in a few toms (male turkeys). really, no country for old men. i had my ass handed to me just trying to keep up with Rinella, who seemed to be able to walk straight up hill. through the brush. like a fucking deer.
on the right is one of the outfitters. i’m sorry i don’t remember his name off hand, but i can tell you that there’s more than coffee in that cup. morning or not.
for the rest of the story, you can see it on my site: http://tomfowlks.com/PROjects/TURKEYhunt/1/
for Filed + Stream - 3/2013
Steven Rinella & Robert Abernethy glass the hills below form a high point at the break of day.
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
Steven Rinella with the first of his 2 Rios Turkeys. and George Garoutte, a true sourdough and a fine man.
George is basically the guy from “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” Howard, the grizzled prospector. like he just walked right off the screen, spit in the dirt and said “howdee”. an absolute pleasure to hang out with and really an amazing opportunity to make a portrait of.
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
Steven Rinella looking happy to be outdoors. must be happy a lot. and on the left, Steven and Robert Abernethy get up to move on in the search for toms.
Steve is about as photogenic a guy as any you’ll find. he’s whip smart in the outdoors, a dead eye shot and very quick with a knife. hate to get him upset.
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
Bert Haralson and a whole mess of cheap spirits.
i was given a shot list before heading out on this assignment. it had things like “how are they getting there”, “shots of the camp” and “the guys”. it also included “show the comradery, hunting is fun”. hidden amongst that list of shots was “what are they drinking? let’s see it” on a rain soaked afternoon, when it seemed just right to get the shots of camp i was missing, that was all i kept repeating to myself aloud all afternoon long. ”what are they drinking? let’s see it” and that was a long afternoon. but man, were those guys ever a barrel fulla laughs.
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
on the left is Craig Ely, a retired fish & wildlife biologist for the state of OR. on the right is Bert Haralson, an elk hunting buddy of Ely’s as well as a former roadie for Bob Seger.
that flask in Bert’s grip is the largest i have seen. ever. and it’s not even close. that fucker would hold an entire 1/5th. a gift from the elk hunters association i’m told.
these guys were some of the most classic i’ve ever encountered or had the good fortune to spend time with. a finer example of “real men, doing real things” than any i can remember.
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
Steven Rinella & Robert Abernethy out at the break of dawn to track the elusive Rios in Hells Canyon, OR.
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
the outfitter. showing us the way home. a stoic close to one of the really great trips (and assignments) i’ve been on.
a thank you to F+S and all that were part of it
for Field + Stream - 3/2013
ah shit! i forgot the TOC (table of contents) pic. not the way i intended to lead off the post, but it seems that lots of things don’t go as intended (i c wut ur up 2, & u no who u r ).
that’s Rinella there in all his post kill glory. i’ll post some outtakes from this later. got a bit to attend to for now
Field + Stream - 3/2013
this is a story i shot for Field + Stream what seems like forever ago. it was back in April of last year and when i look back at where i’ve been and what i’ve done since then, it is forever ago.
but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this particular assignment, in which i joined author Steven Rinella, 2 fellows from the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and a good group of colorful outfitters for 5 nights and 6 days in the rugged Hells Canyon Wilderness of Oregon, was without equal, the banner assignment of my somewhat colorful career thus far.
it was cold, it was wet and it was dirty. the call times were insane. and keeping up with Steve Rinella in the high country would make many a grown man weep. but there were moments so beautiful, they’re burned in my memory. and there was great food, good drink and just a great time
Field + Stream - 3/2013
