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on Nov 22, 2019 in Wildlife Photography

The Call of the Wild

There are just a handful of critters that simply hearing their name or and image brings up visions of vast, untamed wilderness. There is only one I know of that simply by hearing it, you are transported to that place and time. The Gray Wolf is the critter and is such an intriguing and mystical creature. I was very fortunate to just have spent time with them again, hours in fact, just listening to a pack at point-blank range express their love of family and country. The cold air nipped at our nose and the sun warmed our being as we watched them run the ridgeline in the trees and then when they stopped, sang, and then sprang off down the line. That glimpse of them running, their singing for hours, it can’t be contained in a close-up photo when they are so much a part of the land in which they...

on Nov 6, 2019 in Wildlife Photography

Mom, They’re Pointing them Things at Us!

Spring lambs are simply the cutest thing and heading towards their first winter, they transform into Rocky Mtn Bighorn Sheep adults. These masters of the vertical world are simply a fascinating critter to watch and photograph. I’ve done so for nearly forty years and they never cease to amaze and entertain me as they go about their daily lives. The small ewe band had a number of spring lambs who were as interested in us as we them. This leads to fun moments as they kept an eye on us photographing the downslope migration. It was really easy to add human thoughts to their facile reactions. The entertainment Bighorn can bring to your...

on Nov 5, 2019 in Wildlife Photography

Don’t Mess With the Moms!

Bison are truly amazing critters! The vast majority of the time though, I focus on the big, loan bulls cause they are such icons of the American West. The cows tend to have that “weathered” look which doesn’t translate as well as that icon. The other morning we came across this herd and the temps, light, and background made their breath pop so I had to stop. As I scanned the herd for bulls, this trifecta of cows watching me caught my attention. I think the photo says the rest, don’t mess with the...

on Oct 30, 2019 in Wildlife Photography

Light or No Light, That is the Question

There is a locale in Yellowstone that this time of year, the big boys like to hang. And if you’re lucky, they will come out of hiding and play with you, and the light. Such was the opportunity yesterday when we found him and a bud just doing what they do best, looking majestic. When we first found them, they were in a spot where we couldn’t park, there was no safe place to even stand to shoot. After watching for fifteen minutes, I decided to go on and then ninety minutes later, we returned and that when things began to happen. We watched as this magnificent Rocky Mountain Elk bull strolled out of the shadows, heading our direction. The path he was going to take was office so I moved so when he went through that shaft of light, I’d be in the right place. Shooting hand-held with the D5 / 180-400VR, I dialed in +.7 exp comp, made sure the internal 1.4 was not engaged, I framed...

on Oct 22, 2019 in Wildlife Photography

Masters of the Wind

Except for when they nest, they spend their entire life at sea. When the kids fledge, it is literally their first flight and it’s straight out to sea. A pelagic species, the Northern Gannet has a six-foot wingspan and three-foot body length built to do one thing extremely well, fly! On the Newfoundland Coast, you will find the St Mary’s Ecological Reserve, the home of 40,000 Northern Gannets during the nesting season (30k adults and 10k new kids). It’s a gathering of nature I heard about decades ago and just now was fortunate to see and photograph. It’s an experience I will never, ever forget and will always treasure! The Gannets nest on the ledges of the sea stack. They mate for life and when they leave the sea stack after nesting, they don’t see their mate until the following spring. There is just enough room at each nest for an adult. So the other adult after it’s delivered the kid’s food just flies around the sea stack. They...

on Oct 4, 2019 in Wildlife Photography

The Noble King of the Desert

When most hear the name Bighorn Sheep, they think of those high up in the Rockies, butting heads in the snow and braving the cold. The Rocky Mountain Bighorn is a spectacular creature but they are rivaled by their desert cousin, the Nelson’s or Desert Bighorn Sheep. My life long fascination and love for Bighorn began with the Desert Bighorn way back in ’84 when I was part of a translocation, there to document and work the move. When you are sitting on three animals (that’s a heck of a story) and one of them kicks your F3T out of your hand while shooting, you tend to have a whole lot of respect for that critter. I fell in love with them that day which still goes strong today. As you might imagine, finding let alone photographing Desert Bighorn Sheep requires going to the desert. At the same time, finding them in that vast space when they move about so much is a huge challenge. There are a few...

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