Yellowstone! Cow moose in the morning
Moose: upper Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — People had been telling us for a few days that they were seeing moose by the Pebble Creek Campground, and we had looked for a few days on our way back and forth from our lodging in Silver Gate, but to no avail. We got out early this morning and drove directly there in hopes of catching one. We caught them just leaving the meadows behind the campground and headed up over the hill to the west. As we were leaving though there was a car off the road down the way the moose had been going, and sure enough there was a cow moose grazing at the edge of the willows just barely 25 yards from the road. As we were photographing her, another cow came out of the willows just a way back toward the campground. This one was obviously carrying at least one calf, and maybe two. It was a great encounter. And it only got better. Stay tuned. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pilot and Index Peaks in Autumn
Not quite in Yellowstone National Park, but on the boarder in Montana, Pilot and Index Peaks dominate the skyline from the east, coming down off the Beartooth Highway into Cook City. The fall foliage in the foreground marks the season. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 117mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Roadside Mule Deer
Mule Deer: Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — We saw surprisingly few Mule Deer in Yellowstone. This one was right beside the road with its mother and another fawn just coming into the park from the Silver Gate entrance, crack of dawn as they say. Taken from the car window at the maximum ISO I allow, 25600. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed (with noise reduction) in Photomator.
Maine! Bluebird in the berries
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Out looking for Eagles…there were none there along the river where I look, but there was a mixed flock of small birds feeding in the berries along the edges. Nice light for the Eastern Bluebird. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent, plus a heavy crop. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Beartooth Highway: Above Timberline
The strange alpine landscape of the Beartooth Mountains just east of Yellowstone National Park, above timberline. Lots of lakes in the deep valleys. Sony a5100 with E10-18 f4 at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape scene mode selection. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Sisters
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Two bison moving along side by side makes a good portrait. They are massive animals and it is hard to appreciate the scale in a photo. I would have had to zoom out to 300mm to fit these in the frame. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Skulking Sparrow
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I have noticed that the late staying Song Sparrows this November are staying mostly on the ground and mostly deep in the brush. It is amazing what Subject Recognition, eye-tracking auto focus can do. I had to use manual focus to help the camera find the bird behind the foreground obstructions, but one it found the bird, it locked on and stayed focused on the eye as the bird foraged deep in the brush under a dense bush. You can see the out-of-focus branches in front of it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Bison bugle
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — You have to be aware all the time when photographing Bison from the Lamar Valley road that there are, very possibly, bison behind you, just over the ridge where you can’t see them…and that they will sneak up on you when they are ready to cross the road to the rest of the herd. This bull bison had his harem behind us, but fortunately was in a challenging mood, and sounded off as soon as the herd, and its rival bulls, came in sight. He was still pretty close already when we turned. He did lead his harem across the road, and it looked for a few moments like we were going to see two dominant bulls go head to head…but nothing came of it…there is lots of space on either side of the Lamar road, for as many bulls as you might like to see. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications (just because that is how the camera was set from a sequence of head butting young bulls across the road). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Cardinal aglow
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The early morning light on our back deck caught the Cardinal when it make one of its rare visits and I just happened to be standing the open deck door photographing feeder birds. I know this does not look quite real…but it is indeed what I saw in the moment, just the effect of the light. I have not manipulated the photo other than global adjustments to shadows and highlights and sharpening. The glow is all the sun and the bird! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. -0.3 EV to preserve highlights. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Butting bison
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — The rut was really over by the time we got to Yellowstone, but there was still some rutting behavior among the young bulls. Just play but fun to watch. Head butting is part of the dominance ritual, and helps the herd to know who is boss. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.