Yellowstone! Not a zoo
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — It is easy to come back from Yellowstone with way too many photos of bison. When we first got there we could not find Bison. We saw only one or two in 2 days in the Hayden Valley, where they are generally plentiful, and none in West Yellowstone on our one visit there. ?? We assumed they were all in the Lamar Valley, and, indeed we found them there, several large herds. By then, and by chance, chasing a rumor of Grizzly, we found that they were back in sight in Hayden. One theory is that, because of the unseasonably warm weather, they were staying in on the high plateau meadows and not coming down into the valleys. Hard to say. Not a zoo. Yellowstone is not a zoo. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Ruby Red
Nothing so ruby red
as the leaves of beach rose
in late October
in Southern Maine
along the Bridle Path
back half a mile
from the sea.
If you have seen them
you know I am right!
And now you have seen them. Sony a5100 with Sony E 10-18 f4 wide angle zoom at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Scene Selection Landscape. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii telephoto zoom at 139 and 105mm equivalents. Program mode with my landscape and macro modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Contentment
American Bison: Slough Creek, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — For the most part Bison project contentment. They are eating machines, head down in the grasses 80% of daylight hours…and with their size and weight it takes that to keep them happy…content. That general air of complacency makes their sudden violent outbursts all the more impressive…and makes them as dangerous as they undoubtedly are. I would much rather face a wolf at 20 paces than a bison…and I would never do either intentionally. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Bison
American Bison: Slough Creek, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — We stopped at Slough Creek to see if we could see the wolves…but it was too late in the day. We did, however find this bull Bison standing guard on a ridge as the herd fed in the valley below him. As they say, a nice specimen. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm and 75mm equivalent…both ends of the zoom. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Old Faithful
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, October 2024 — Only with less of the old and less of the faithful! Still this hawk has haunted the edges of the marsh along one of my favorite trails for more than a year now, and has given me many photo-ops. I had not been out to the marsh since getting back from Yellowstone (due to heart issues), but I went yesterday for a short walk, and there she was, right where I thought she might be. Not great light…but still. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications and +1.7 EV exposure compensation. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Mousam and Roger’s Pond
I got out for a walk around Roger’s Pond by the Mousam River in Kennebunk, Maine yesterday and caught some of the now fading fall color or Southern Maine. Not in full sun, so a bit on the subtle side, but that is okay. It is the season. Sony a5100 with the Sony E 10-18 f4 zoom at 15-27mm equivalents. Superior Auto with Scene Select (Landscape). Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Attendant
Moose: Floating Island Lake, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — As I mentioned before, this bull moose was in attendance on the cow and calf. I am not certain how the cow and calf felt about it, but the bull was staying close. Here he appears to be attempting to herd them up over the ridge behind the pond, or, on the other hand, he may be trying to keep up with them as they go over the ridge. ? Anyway, it makes a great shot…and at the distance, about 300 yards, the Tamron at f6.3 keeps them all in focus. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! White Dome Geyser
While standing at Surprise Springs on the Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone National Park, we had another surprise. White Dome Geyser took that moment to erupt. It apparently erupts on an irregular schedule with an average interval of 20-30 minutes, but it has been known to be as short as 8 minutes and as long as 3 hours. It is among the tallest dome geysers in the park, though its plume only reaches about 30 feet. This shot is from between a quarter and a half mile away. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 273mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Hoping to get lucky
Moose: Floating Island Lake, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — It is rutting season in Yellowstone, and this bull moose was in close attendance on the calf and cow we found feeding at the edge of the reeds in Floating Island Lake…I am told that it is a rare sight to see a bull “guarding” a cow with a calf the way his was, but I think maybe he was just hoping to get “lucky”. He seems to have romance on his mind in this shot. The cow may be somewhat reluctant as she still has this spring’s calf with her, but if he catches her in just the right 12 hour period when she is receptive, he might have a chance. He does seem determined. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Canary Springs outflow
From below with the my telephoto zoom, this is the outflow on the Upper Terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Rock in the making as we watch and more layers of travertine are deposited. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.