Yellowstone Bull Elk

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14e II @420mm, ISO 640, f4, 1/800

Last weekend I watch Yellowstone Battle for Life on TV. I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I have watch that documentary. Every time I do watch it, I get the itch to go back out west. So instead of jumping in my car and driving 1,200 miles I sat down at my computer with a big cup of coffee. I wanted to do something different with the current image in my collection.

My last trip to Yellowstone it was snowing for much of my time out there even though it was early fall. I wanted to capture the snow and the warm colors of fall at the same time. I set out to change my "normal" editing process and set out of my comfort zone. I watched a couple "how to" videos on YouTube to see if I could come up with something of my own. 

Above is what I was able to come up with. Here is the older edit which I still like, however, it doesn't accomplish my goal of showing the warm fall colors.

Photo of the Week! Summer Time Fawn

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14e II, ISO 640, f4.5, 1/1250

I went back to look through some old files the other night since I haven't been shoot all that much and found this photo. I ended up with a number of great shots from this outing near my house. Last August, I saw a pair of fawns grazing in an open field about a block from my house. I raced home and grabbed my camera. As I was putting shoes on "SMACK" my D7000 with my 300mm f2.8 hit the title floor! I quickly assessed the damage made sure it was still working. Thankfully it was! I raced down the street and spent a good 30 minutes photographing this little bugger. 

The photo shoot is hard to forget, after all I damaged my new camera and ended up with great photos. Oh, did I mention that I got poison ivy as well!! 

One of my favorite images from 2011 was from this shoot.

Photo of the Week! Bull Elk, YNP

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14e II, ISO 800, 1/500, f4

This bull elk was relaxing near the road by Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park. All week during my visit this bull elk and his ladies where near the road. With such easy access to the elk harem, they were constantly surrounded by people. Early on my last morning however, he got his opportunity to enjoy a early season snowfall. 

The window had closed once more and more people got out of their cars and got a little too close. I was talking with another photographer when several other people walked right up the the bull elk with their cell phones to get a up close photograph. I was really afraid that this guy was going to get injured. 

Photo of the Week! Bull Elk

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14e II @420mm, f5, ISO 500, 1/160

Another image from my fall 2011 trip to Yellowstone National Park. I was lucky enough to have easy access each day to this bull elk near West Yellowstone, MT. I was amazed at the size these animals but that sure didn't stop folks from walking entirely too close to get photos with their iPhones or point and shoot cameras.

Photo of the Week! Bison Couple

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14e II, ISO 400, f4, 1/800

Just off of the Nex Perce Creek in Yellowstone National Park was a large herd of bison. This bison couple was on the edge of the herd near the creek making it easier for me to isolate. Just as I set up my camera the male picked his massive head up from grazing to stare at me. He took a moment to check me out then continued to graze.

Elk Panorama

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 70-200mm VR I, ISO, f5, ISO 640

Half of this photo is my favorite from day 1 in Yellowstone National Park.  While I was waiting to catch my flight home at the Bozeman airport. I stitched two HDR photos together in CS5. I like the painterly feeling of this panorama. I really feel like it shows the viewer what the mood was like when I took the photo.  I still have many photos to process from my trip. Check back soon for more from my Yellowstone trip!

Photo of the Week! Bison

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14e II, ISO 640, f4, 1/800, +2/3ev

This bison was grazing along the Nez Perce Creek in Yellowstone National Park. This was just one of a large herd that was gazing in an open field all week long.

Yellowstone Day 3

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, ISO 200, f5, 1/400

Day three was a long day in the park. It started early so I could make the trek from West Yellowstone to Lamar Valley. As some of you may know, Chad and I had an absolute blast out there last year. I knew it was remote that I would come across a elk carcass that was near the road that wolves were feeding off like last year, but I had to try. 

Not long after entering Lamar Valley I saw my first car jam. I stopped and asked what everyone was looking at. A lady said there are 3-4 wolves laying down out in the field. No way! Could I be this lucky again? No, was the answer. The wolves were over a mile out and could only be seen with a spotting scope. Which the lady was nice enough to let me view the wolves through. As we were talking about the wolves I asked if they had seen any grizzly's yet. She said there was a sow and three cubs that just went into the tree line 5 minutes prior to my arrival! Dang! Missed'em.

After spending a good chunk of time in Lamar with not much going on (other than the wolves laying around) I decided to head to Canyon. That's when I ran into my next car jam. Due to the number of cars it had to be a bear jam, and sure enough it was! I quickly parked my car, grabbed my camera and set off to see my first grizzly. There is was in the middle of a field digging up the ground to eat. I'm not sure how long I watch/photographed the bear, but it was long enough to realize that I forgot my jacket, hat and gloves in the car. Although the bear was a little too far out I was able to make a shot that I'm happy with. I usually shoot fairly tight on my subject, but I wanted to show the setting the bear was in when I made the image.

More to come! I haven't even come close in getting through all of my photos.

Yellowstone Day 1

Nikon D7000, Sigma 24-70 @70mm, ISO 640, f5, +2/3ev, 3 Shot HDR

As many of you may know, I'm in West Yellowstone right now on my fall trip in Yellowstone National Park.  I have been watching the weather on and off for the past couple of weeks. The forecast for the area was rain/snow Thursday and Friday October 6th & 7th. The second that I arrived here it started snowing. I quickly checked into my hotel and grabbed my camera gear and set off to the park. 

At first, there was a light drizzle with a few snow flakes flying.  As I drove further and further into the park (OK, I only went to the Madison Jct. 14 miles away) the snow really started to come down. I wanted to stay close to West Yellowstone due to the weather and the light was going to fade really quickly. The good news is that I saw roughly 40-50 elk with two large bull elk. I didn't take too many photos on day 1, but this is my favorite. 

This photo is a three shot HDR. Since the light was really poor, I wanted to try something new to me. An HDR with animals in the photo is something that I have been thinking about, but just didn't have the right opportunity.

Well, its hurry up and wait for the park to open again. I'll keep you all posted on how this trip goes!

Photo of the Week! Fawn

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14, ISO 640, f4.5, 1/1000, +1/3ev

Earlier this week I saw a couple of fawns in a field near my house. I went home grabbed my camera and heading out to the field. As I was walking through the tall grass I told myself to watch out for poison ivy. Well, of course I ended up with poison all over my knees and shins! I am happy with how the photos turned despite getting poison ivy.

Photo of the Day! Buck!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, ISO 400, +1/3ev

Here is another late season buck from a couple of weeks ago. I can't wait for next fall to find this guy again!

Photo of the Day! A Cautious Deer!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/1250

This is a somewhat plain image, but it caught my eye because of the cautious look of the deer and the deep woods feel. Let me know what your think!

Photo of the Day! So Childish

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/tc14 @420mm, f5.6, ISO 400, 1/2000

I just had to post this photo! On a morning that I woke up to 5 inches of new snow, I needed to laugh at something.

Photo of the Day! Juvenile being Juvenile! White-tail Deer

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ 500 ISO, f/5.6, 1/1600

From our white-tail deer shoot. I just thought this was too funny not to post! I usually only post my best work, and while this is maybe not my favorite shot technically. IE the shadow on his face and the twig in front of his body. But this shot gave me a smile, so I thought I'd share it with you all!

White-tail Deer pt 2

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14 , ISO 500, f6.3, +2/3ev

At the time, I didn't think this would be the last image I would make with my beloved Nikon D90. Just a few days after I made this image, I sold it to upgrade to a Nikon D7000!! Enough about that, I'm still amazed of the sharpness of the 300mm f2.8 with the 1.4x teleconveter attached.

Photo of the Day! White-tailed Deer

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14, ISO 500, f6.3, +2/3ev

Last Monday Chad and I were out looking for white-tailed deer just minutes from downtown St. Paul, MN. This was my first visit to the area, but Chad had been there before. To my surprise there were deer everywhere! 40 to 50 deer just roaming around the park allowing us to shoot without worrying about spooking them.

Photo of the Day! Banff Chipmunk!

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f/4 AFS + TC-17E II @ 500mm, f/7.1, ISO 400

This little guy was seen near Johnston Canyon. We saw several of them as they curiously approached the hiking trail toward the falls. Maybe somebody could help me out with the specific species? If so, please leave it in the comments!

First Time Seeing a Wild Black Bear!

Nikon D90, 300mm f2.8 w/TC14 @420mm, ISO 400, f6.3, 1/640

Over the last couple of years I've been camping, hiking, biking, generally out in nature without seeing a black bear. My wife and I camped at Bear Head State Park were black bears are "common," and still nothing.

Again, our trip to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National park would prove to have many firsts for us.

Around lunch time, we were heading out of Lamar Valley and heading back to Mammoth for lunch when we came across this black bear. Surprisingly, there was just one other car pulled off to the side of the road watching and photographing it. However, that didn't last long. A short time later several cars and a park ranger arrived. We spend around 5 minutes with this bear while it was roaming around looking for food.

I was shooting out of the passenger side of the vehicle as the bear came closer and closer. With all of the people watching the bear, the ranger asked everyone to leave the area to allow the bear to cross the road.

Although, we didn't spend hours watching the bear like we did with the wolves it was still a great experience. On our next trip out west hopefully we can come across a grizzly!

Photo of the Day! Coyote

Nikon D90, Nikkor 500 f4 w/TC14 @700mm, f6.3, ISO 400, 1/320

It might seem strange, but one of our goals going out west last year was to see a coyote. Coyote's are everywhere in Minnesota, but are very rarely seen in the day light. Just minutes after entering Grand Teton National Park we saw our first of many coyotes.

This coyote was feeding off of a elk which was likely killed the night before by wolves. I like this image because it shows the size difference between prey and coyote.

Photo of the Day! Pronghorn

Nikon D90, Nikkor 500mm f4 w/TC14 @700mm, f8, ISO 400, 1/1250

The Pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America. This one stood motionless for nearly 10 minutes in Grand Teton National Park for us last fall.