Jan 20, 2010 | Moose Adventures, Wildlife Photography
This might sound really weird and contrary to common belief, but Bison in Yellowstone, those massive, historic herds have just not been around for the past month. The popular theory is the warm winter has left open meadows higher up so the Bison have had no need to move down to the thermals to graze. Not that the 3″ of snow received today was any great dump, but we finally found some Bison to work.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp1173.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Just after the sun rose (but still hidden in the snow storm), we found some lone bulls and with the knowledge of the day before, we parked, waited and worked them while we could. Nowhere near great stuff, it was good lessons in Bison biology (two main traits, food goes in, crap comes out). When this bull moved out of range, we wiggled down the road. A while later we were in Hayden Valley and there we found the herds that they day before weren’t present.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7486.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
Both of these photos demonstrate the one aspect of Bison in winter I’m lookin for, that crusted snow on the face. Neither one of these photos (bull top, cow bottom) is the final image I’m looking for but it’s a good start. We’ll keep working the herds in hopes of making that one clean, snow crusted face shot.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7488.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
And then there is this shot. You might be thinking this should have the cut line of “The End” but that’s not actually what I was seeing. The symmetry of this pregnant cow just caught my attention. True, it’s an ass that only a bull could love but I found it photographically pleasing. And I’m going to leave that and that!
Photos captured by D3s / D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 19, 2010 | Moose Adventures
In all my years visiting Yellowstone, one place that always draws me back and so I’ve shot the bejiggers out of it is Midway Geyser Basin (home of Grand Prismatic). I’ve shot this place every way you can imagine and yet, I’ve still not scratched all the locale has to offer.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0810.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
One aspect of the basin that is always in flux is the steam. It comes and goes, it blows all directions of the compass and can be lit in just as many ways. Because of this huge variable you can never take anything for granted, assume that just because you’ve shot it before it’s not going to be worth shooting again. Excelsior Geyser is the case in point, I have thousands of images of it yet today, I found one more to add to the files. I really like the paradox of ice right next to 180 degree water and steam. Camera set to Cloudy, Exp Comp set to 0, click! I love the photo.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0852.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
This is the first time I’ve had a 16Fish always in my pocket so I put it to use at the basin. I really loved what was streaming through the viewfinder, it was a totally new way for me to photograph it. The light was perfect. Life is good!
Photos captured by D3s, 24-70AFS / 16Fish on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 19, 2010 | Moose Adventures, Wildlife Photography
Have you ever seen that photo of a Coyote frozen in mid air as it pounces on a mouse under the snow? Well right now in Yellowstone if a Coyote tried that, its nose would be smashed back into its head. There is no snow here for all tense and purposes! This Coyote demonstrates the hunting style when there is no snow, cocking the head and licking.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7339.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
With that said, we had a great day! No, not a Bison to photograph. No, the sun didn’t make an appearance. Yeah, it’s literally +50 degrees too warm but it still produced some really cool images. How? Simple, you push the envelope, you open your mind to new ideas and try a lens you would never thought of using before. Yeah, coming back to the lodge in the snowcoach I thought to myself I didn’t do so well today behind the camera. Total frame count for the day was only 287 but then I looked at my images and now I’m very excited to go out again tomorrow when the forecast is for more the same. It’s going to be a great week, I just feel it!
Photo captured by D3s, 200-400VR (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 6, 2010 | Moose Adventures, Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Yellowstone8065.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Oh man, yeah, we’re hooked bad! Yellowstone is just so gorgeous and we love sharing our long time love affair with this park with others. So we’re goming back in 2011 to offer a five day Yellowstone Adventure. Based out of West Yellowstone, we go into the park and surrounding area each day with one goal, shoot! Wildlife and wilderness are our subjects as we travel in the luxury of a snow coach throughout the park.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Bison8081.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
This is just a small sampling of the photographic possibilities. With just one vehicle and our permit, the possibilities are limited by only one thing, time. We’re in the park before the sun rises and out by the glow of headlights. The party is limited to just five (with staff of 3). You spend your entire day with Moose (yeap, stuck in the same van with him) receiving one on one instruction for probably more time than you want. It is cold, it is white, it is long days and it is a lot of photography! The dates are 07-11 Feb 1st week, 14-18 2nd week, 2011, price is $4295 (half down to reserve spot) and includes instruction, snow coach transport into the park and lunch. This year’s trip (which starts in a couple of days) sold out in a couple of hours so don’t think about it too long. 760.924.8632
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 15, 2009 | Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
Our time shooting together just flew by! We were already at our last shoot and as you can see, and clouds finally floated in. We went back to the Alabama Hills for a number of reasons. The biggest being that it’s a totally different place in the evening. I took the guys to a place I really like for sunset, obviously I’d been there before so the challenge for me was to do something new.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2547.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Pretty quickly I latched on to this rock. I had the 16Fish attached and the combination of the lens and the rock’s shape intrigued me. I shot it and one of the first problems was the exposure on the left over the Sierra. It was blown out and no matter what I tried, I couldn’t pull it. So I ended up doing a 7exp HDR. I’m very happy with the results.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2571.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I then turned the corner and looked at the same rock with the 16Fish and saw another shape and photo, even though it was the same rock. With the turn I was no longer getting the blown out clouds over the Sierra so this was a simple, single click.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2585.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Then, being really quick on the draw, I wondered what would happen if I continued on the same path. You see what I got. It’s kinda cool it appears to be three different boulders when it’s all the same. Then to finish off the series, I went to the complete other side and did a landscape covering the boulder and the world around it.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2736.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Sharon & I want to thank John, Adam, Ray, Patrick, Rick and Russ for permitting us to share a little bit of our backyard and bring to life for them an unique part of our wild heritage!
Photos captured by D3x, 16Fish on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 14, 2009 | Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
Except me that is. This once very busy hub of the Owen’s Valley has long since faded away to become one of its many lost towns. It’s not a ghost town, folks still live in Keeler and the post office, though a hole in the wall, and still delivers mail. While you will find some things on the web about Keeler, I have the feeling that my little tribute to it here might bring more folks to its door step. Be respectful, it is private property.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2446.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The residents have a sense of humor, especially when it comes to the plight of their town and the toll time has taken on it. Keeler Beach where Haz-mat suits are required is just a hint of the tongue-in-cheek attitude these hearty souls have about their home. The sign was in shade so a SB-900 set at 200mm -2 was used to make the white lettering light up.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2417.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The old train station hasn’t seen a train for decades. Its many layers of paint is slowly giving way to time and making a great photographic subject along the way. Hours could easily be spent just photographing its many sides. While you could shoot it any time, I prefer in the afternoons when the most interesting portions are in shade and the colors more vibrant in the waning light.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2438.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Then there is this contribution to the day. I see many things appearing on these discarded television sets in the future. I think the time travel they once offered to the residents of the forgotten town of Keeler still have a little travel left in them. At the very least, the town of Keeler was the last type of landscape the group was expecting on an Eastern Sierra adventure. That’s the fun of traveling with me, you just never know where I’m going to take you.
Photos captured by D3x, 24PC-E / 85PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film.
