Yellowstone! Cow and Calf up to their necks
Moose: In our first early morning encounter with the moose family at Floating Island Lake in Yellowstone National Park, both the cow and calf were in the water, walking (or swimming in the case of the calf) along the edge of the reeds, feeding below waterline on the wilted vegetation. With the warm direct sun, and the reflections in the pond, it was a sight to see and a treat to photograph. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Old Faithful
I already shared the close up shot of Old Faithful. We arrived at the lodge, after about 30 minutes of looking for parking, just in time, according to the geyser clock in the lobby, for the next eruption, and made it out to the nearest corner of the boardwalk with seconds to spare. It does not matter how many times you see it, or how many photos or videos you see, there is nothing like being there. One second the mound of colored rock is all there is to see, and the next, after a tentative spurt of steam or two, there is a column of boiling water and steam 130 feet (or more) tall. The roar. The rush! I barely had time for a few shots with the a6700 and the Tamron at 75mm equivalent…and then to switch to the a5100 and E 10-18 f4 at 27mm equivalent, which you see here. Superior Auto with Landscape scene mode selection. Processed in Photomator. Next time video 🙂
Yellowstone! Mountain Goat
Mountain Goat: Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Though we made two attempts on the Beartooth Highway were people were seeing Goats close, this shot from high on the rim above the Madison River was as close to a Mountain Goat as we got…and this is a 1mp crop from the full 26mp Sony sensor. It amazes me that it is even this good considering the distance (876 yards by my friend’s rangefinder), the light (the mountain side was in shadow), and the extreme crop needed to make the Goat big enough to see. 🙂 Mountain Goats love this kind of terrain…these little shelves in the sheer rock faces of the the volcanic mountains of Yellowstone and the Rocky Mountains in general. I hope to see one close up one day. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Firehole Springs?
I think this is called Firehole Springs. It is on the Firehole Lake Drive at any rate. A common thermal feature of Yellowstone National Park, these boiling springs are fascinating. Dangerously so. You do not want to put your hand in there. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 75 and 508 mm equivalents. Program mode. Processed in Photomator. Video assembled in LumaFusion and resized for upload in VDIT.
Yellowstone! Parking Area Security Yellowstone Style
Raven: Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Every parking lot and pull-off in Yellowstone has its Raven. They might work in shifts, but there is always one waiting when you park up…rarely more than one at a pull-off, and only one even in a fair sized parking area. The big parking areas, of course: Old Faithful, Tower Falls, Canyon Village, Fishing Bridge, etc. have a small squad of them, but fewer than you might think. They are apparently very efficient and very protective of their assigned area. I bet there is a waiting list for every position. This handsome bird was at the main parking on Firehole Lake Drive and he was so bold that he continued to explore the contents of an unattended duffle bag in back of a pick-up as we approached (undoubtedly checking for explosive materials…someone has to do it 🙂 Ravens are very smart birds, tool users, and the zipper on the duffle was no challenge for this obviously experienced bird. We got so close, with him sitting on the rail of the pick-up, that I took this head-shot, showing off his mid-night plumage and bright eye and stout beak as the wind ruffled his feathers, at 600mm equivalent. He remained on station, until the pick-up’s owner and family came back and dismissed him and put the duffle back together. Job well done. He did not go far. He was still sitting in the grass near where the pick-up had been when we pulled away. Doing his job. Keeping parking safe. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Surprise Spring
Off Firehole Lake Drive you come to Surprise Spring, a crystal clear hot spring with an intermittent steam eruption. It was not super active on the day we visited, but it is still surprising and surprisingly beautiful. Just look at those colors. The video captures it a bit better. Sony a5100 with the Sony E 10-18 f4 zoom at 15 and 27mm equivalents. Program mode and, obviously, movie mode. Processed in Photomator. Video edited in Lumafusion and VidDay (resizing for posting).
Yellowstone! Elk Cows
Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — While the big bull elk are the stars of the show, it would be a mistake to pass over the more subtle beauty of the cows and calves. Especially in the early morning sun. These four shots are from the herd that hangs out in and around Mammoth Hot Springs…#24’s harem. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent, except for the cow and calf which was 384mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Roaring Mountain
Roaring Mountain, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — A soft rock (solfatera) mountain with many fumaroles (steam vents). This mountain side has been an attraction since the early days of the park. Apparently it was much more active in the early days, and you could actaully hear the roar, but it still puts on a show when the temperatures are cool. The fumaroles are the hottest thermal features of the park, as superheated water flashes to live steam as it emerges and not just hot mist. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 75mm equivalent, and the Sony a5100 with Sony E 10-18 f4 at 27mm equivalent. a6700, Program mode. a5100, Superior Auto with Landscape scene mode selection. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! moving the harem
Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — #24 moving his harem and family up over the foot of the upper terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs. Bulging all the way. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent (close ups) and 99mm equivalent (wide shot). I am really enjoying this lens for both wildlife and landscape. 🙂 Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Above Old Falls Pond
It would not be fall in southern Maine (or at least to me), if I did not get out to photograph the stretch of stream above the bride at Old Falls Pond. This is the Sony a5100 with the E 10-18 f4 zoom at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Mode selection. Processed in Photomator.