Jan 14, 2021 | AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D3x, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Yellowstone Tree These striking trees stand tall against mostly clear skies. Ground water and steam runoff from Yellowstone’s thermal features periodically floods the area around these lodgepole pine trees; killing them. Several geysers can be seen steaming in the background. Then silica precipitates upon the dead tree trunks creating the white “bobby sock” trees. This silica slowly impregnates the wood and over time, could eventually petrify the wood.
The Back Story This image of this lone tree was captured along the foot path to the Mud Pots. After a repositioning a few times, it was a simple click. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Day Trip to Yellowstone NP |
| Location | Yellowstone NP near the Mud Pots |
| Date/Time | 9/20/2012 12:29 pm Local Time |
| Weather | Sunny Skies | 60°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click capture along the walk to the mud pots |
| Gear | Nikon D3x with 17-35mm lens |
Jan 13, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Coyote, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D300, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Coyote This Coyote is tracking a vole. In the winter, voles make up a good portion of a coyotes diet. Although I usually like my wildlife images in color, this image seems to magnify the Coyote’s intensity in its hunt. Also, the coyotes pointier nose and ears are easier to clarify as a coyote instead of a wolf.
The Back Story This image of a Coyote tracking a vole was captured very close to the Canyon Village. It was a simple click from the window of our vehicle. Using the vehicle as a blind can make capturing wildlife images easier particularly in national parks where the wildlife are familiar with vehicles. It’s also much safer. Wildlife is, well, wild. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Day Trip to Yellowstone NP |
| Location | Yellowstone NP near Canyon Village. |
| Date/Time | 10/22/2009 6:16 pm Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 59°F | Light Variable Winds |
| Method | Simple click taken from vehicle while stopped along the road |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with 80-400mm lens |
Jan 12, 2021 | AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D3x, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Yellowstone River The mighty Yellowstone River flows north out of Yellowstone NP into the Missouri River. It was not frozen due to the thermal features of the park. With the sun partially obscured, this image has a certain mystique about it.
The Back Story This image was captured from a bridge over the Yellowstone River a few miles inside the north entrance to the park. Actually, aside from the cold, it was an easy click. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Winter Day Trip to Yellowstone NP |
| Location | Yellowstone NP along the Yellowstone River |
| Date/Time | 11/19/2011 1:05 pm Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 14°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Park in a turnoff area, hike to a bridge over the river, click |
| Gear | Nikon D3x with 17-35mm lens |
Jan 11, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Daily Image 2021, Elk, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D200, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Elk Bugling Fall in Yellowstone can be majestic with the Bull Elks bugling during their mating season. It’s truly the call of the wild. The unique, distinctive sound of an Elk bugling can be heard for miles. This Bull Elk had gathered a rather large harem around him. The Elk are in their best condition in the fall; ready for the coming winter. Harsh winters at Yellowstone can also provide some interesting images. Normally, black & white wildlife images just don’t work for me. Color just seems more natural to me. However, this image really captures the spirit of rut season in Yellowstone for this ionic animal.
The Back Story This Elk was far from the road and on the other side of a long grassy field close to the Madison River. We had to hike a good half a mile through tall grass and some tree stands without alarming this Elk as well as numerous elk around him. The D200, a DX camera with a 1.5 crop factor, makes a 400mm lens an effective 600mm lens. Even with the long reach of the lens, the hike had to be slow and cautious. As a wildlife photographer, I try hard not to disturb the wildlife. Also, Elk an be aggressive animals; even dangerous, year-round. Males get even more aggressive in the fall during rut. Finally, after finding a location close to a stand of trees, I setup my tripod for numerous clicks. See Elk | a 7 Image Story for more Elk information and images. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Fall Day Trip to Yellowstone NP |
| Location | Yellowstone NP along the Madison River |
| Date/Time | 9/24/2008 5:43 pm Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 58°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Park in a turnoff area, hike closer to the Elk herd, setup tripod, clicks. |
| Gear | Nikon D200 with 80-400mm lens, tripod |
Jan 10, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D200, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Hard Winter Harsh winters at Yellowstone can provide some interesting images. This particular day was relatively warm for a February day in Yellowstone. It was above zero. It’s not unusual for February to see temperatures of -20°F to -30°F. The Bison in the background looks pretty lonely.
The Back Story Capturing this image was pretty simple. A short hike from the snow coach and a simple click captured it. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Winter Day Trip to Yellowstone NP |
| Location | Yellowstone NP |
| Date/Time | 2/22/2009 12:28 am Local Time |
| Weather | Overcast Skies | 6°F | CALM Winds |
| Method | Leave snow coach, take a short hike to edge of river valley, simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D200 with 80-400mm lens |
Jan 9, 2021 | AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D200, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Firehole Falls There’s nothing like Yellowstone in the winter. It’s my favorite time to visit. The falls are located about half a mile upstream from the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers at Madison Junction. With only a 40 foot drop, Firehole Falls aren’t real tall; just majestic, with unsurpassed rugged beauty. It was a cold, overcast dull day in the middle of winter. This image looks better to me in B&W.
The Back Story Capturing this image was not so simple. Do Not Try This! Several People Have Been Injured! The falls lie about a hundred feet below the road. It was bit of a decent and climb back up to get this shot. In fact, it’s dangerous. Actually, the park rangers have now blocked off the way down to the river. Probably, too many people were falling; it’s really steep. I was the only one from the snow coach foolish enough to make the trip to the river bottom. I would not try it again without an experienced climbing buddy and a rope. Once along the river, what a reward. To capture this image, I used a tripod with its feet in the water. The river bank hugs the canyon wall so there’s not much room to maneuver. I tried to fall in the river, but luckily was unsuccessful. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Winter Day Trip to Yellowstone NP via Snow Coach |
| Location | Yellowstone NP at Firehole Falls |
| Date/Time | 2/22/2009 10:50 am Local Time |
| Weather | Overcast Skies | 3°F | CALM Winds |
| Method | Leave snow coach, climb down steep river bank (trail now closed, too dangerous), put tripod in water, capture images without falling into the water, climb back up the river bank (really need a rope), be happy you are still alive. |
| Gear | Nikon D200 with 18-200mm lens |
Jan 8, 2021 | AF-S DX 12-24mm f4G IF ED, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D200, Yellowstone
Fine Art Portfolio | Mammoth Hot Springs Rock This rock is actually build up of travertine from a hot spring . At Yellowstone, the rain and melted snow seeps into the earth. The cold water gets warmed by heat from molten magma deep underground. The hot water with dissolved limestone rises up through small fissures. The spring is very old with a very slow water flow rate. The water flows from several vents on its top and side. The flow starts and stops quite often. Some days it does not flow at all. Once the water gets above ground, the dissolved limestone solidifies into a white, chalky mineral called travertine. Travertine forms the terraces at Mammoth Springs as well as other formations like this one, found nearby. Although algae on the Travertine tints it light shades of brown, orange, red, and green, I like it better without color.
The Back Story Capturing this image was supper simple. Just park in the parking lot at the upper terraces and follow the trails. There’s plenty of room to reposition for the best possible composition. Then, this image was a simple click. For more images and information about Yellowstone, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Day Trip to Yellowstone NP |
| Location | Yellowstone NP on the Mammoth Hot Springs upper terraces |
| Date/Time | 11/08/2007 2:54 pm Local Time |
| Weather | Mostly Cloudy with scatter rain showers | 42°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Follow the road to parking area, wait for rain to stop, make a simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D200 with 12-24mm lens |
Jan 7, 2021 | AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II, Daily Image 2021, Fine Art Portfolio, Fine Art Portfolio Posts, Nikon D3x, Wolf Park Wolves
Fine Art Portfolio | Grey Wolf Although I seldom capture images of captive wildlife, this image from Wolf Park was clearly captured as a work of art. B&W wildlife images seldom look appropriate to me. For some reason, this image stands out as the exception. Wolf Park researches wolves for local universities and wildlife conservation groups. Also, they provide wolf education to the general public. The main wolf pack inhabits a very large habitat area which includes woods, grasslands, and a lake. The wolves have been socialized with humans from birth, but they are still considered wild. They are treated very well and cared for during their elderly years. A couple of times a year, the Wolf Park staff teaches wolf photography and allows small groups of photographers to capture images of the wolves inside their enclosure. It’s a rare experience to capture dramatic images of wolves, which is almost impossible in the wild.
The Back Story The experience of capturing these images was truly amazing. It’s an creditable experience, which is totally impossible in the wild. Before going into the enclosure with the wolves, instruction is required on safely interacting with the wolves and general behavior while in the wolf enclosure. The instruction is included in the price of photo classes and photo shoots. After the instruction Wolf Park staff took us into the enclosure to capture images. The wolves were very close to me. Obviously, certain restrictions apply. For more detailed information, see the Photography Page on Wolf Park’s website. The enclosure is so big, our class had to follow the wolves around the lake as they moved from one area to the next. Even though they are accustomed to people and sometimes seem like they are posing for the shot, other times they just wrestle and play, as though we were not there at all. For more images and information on Wolf Park, see Wolf Park Wolves | a 7 Image Story.
Details…
| Event | A Day at Wolf Park |
| Location | Wolf Park |
| Date/Time | 3/10/2012 4:47 pm Local Time |
| Weather | Sunny | 55°F | 14 mph Winds |
| Method | Take a class on wolf behavior & enclosure rules. Go inside enclosure and capture images. |
| Gear | Nikon D3x with 70-200mm lens |
