Yellowstone! Mud Volcano
The activity at the thermal features of Yellowstone National Park varies day to today with both the above ground and the underground weather. This was our second stop at Mud Volcano, and it was much more active this day than the other, with huge plumes of steam. These are not geysers. They do not erupt. The output of super-heated water and steam is pretty constant. It is called a mud volcano because the water mixes with clay and emerges as a super hot slurry, with the consistency of heavy cream, and a smooth mud grey color. The close up of the plume is with the Sony a6700 and Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 75mm, in Program mode, and the two other shots are from closer with the Sony a5100 and Sony E 10-18 f4 wide zoom at 15mm equivalent, and Superior Auto with the Landscape Scene Mode selected. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Morning Swans on the morning river.
Trumpeter Swans: Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — These two handsome Trumpeter Swans were swimming upstream on the Yellowstone right past the carcass on the bank and the Coyote from a previous post. Again the light was challenging. ISO 16,000 challenging, but with some noise reduction in post, this is still a satisfying image (at least to me). Sony s6700 with my bird and wildlife modifications. -1 EV to hold highlight detail. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Sheepeater Creek
Sheepeater Creek flows at the base of Sheepeater Cliffs. We went there several times to try for the Pika who live in the talus at the foot of the cliffs, and each time I was captured by the beauty of meadows, the forest, the cliffs and the sky. Sony a5100 with Sony E 10-18 f4 wide zoom at 27mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Scene Mode selection. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Coyote on carcass
Coyote: Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Early in the morning, before the sun had worked its way down to Yellowstone just as you come into the Hayden Valley, we stopped to see what was on the elk carcass that was at the edge of the water on the far side of the river for several days while we were visiting the park. Only a Coyote. (One of the days we did not visit the valley, a bear came and dragged it away, but we only ever saw the coyote.) Challenging light, and a good distance away. These shots are at ISO 20,000, cropped and processed for noise in Photomator, but not bad at all. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed as above.
Yellowstone! Carcass
Grizzly Bear and Wolves (and Ravens): Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park — There was a bison carcass way out on the ridge in the Hayden Valley, at least a half mile from the road. that was attracting two Grizzly Bears and a small pack of wolves for several days while we were in Yellowstone. There was a Bear Jam on the road pretty much all the daylight hours of each day. They were far enough away so you could barely find them with naked eye, and on this day, the first day, the wind was blowing up over the ridge the road follows at gale force, and there was a lot of dust in the air. It was all I could do to keep my feet, let alone keep the camera steady. Still. This is a very heavy crop…4mp from 26…and it is a testament to the quality of the Sony sensor and the Tamron lens that you can see any detail at all, especially considering the atmospheric conditions. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Eagles are big
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — It always amazes me how small an eagle looks, way up in a tall pine on the other side of the river, even at 600mm equivalent…and how huge that same eagle looks once it spreads its wings to fly. It was not great light…late afternoon and overcast…but I am always happy to find the eagle when I visit the pond. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Hunter
Great Blue Heron: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I posted a hunting Coyote from Yellowstone already this morning, but here is a local hunter…hunter of the November marsh along the river just back from the ocean. About as different as you can get, but hunting is hunting, and if you take the time to compare the two you will see a similar attitude in both Coyote and Heron. A similar intensity. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Hunter
Coyote: Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — While waiting for the wolves and bears to be visible on the distant carcass in the Hayden Valley we were treated to this hunting Coyote, realitively close (at least compared to the bear and wolves), a hundred yards below us in the stream-bed. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Start them young!
Way to go! Start them young. Give them the experience. Nature will do the rest. This was taken as we photographed the Pronghorn the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park in September, in the little bowl below the road by the cottonwoods. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 207mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications (just because that is what I was using). Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! More Pronghorn
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Here you see the buck Pronghorn doing what I talked about yesterday…rounding up a couple of stragglers to keep his herd together, acting very much like a sheep dog. He is happiest when his charges are as close as in the second photo. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.