Posts in Category: animals
Yellowstone! Momma Moose
Moose: Floating Island Lake, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Mom moose seemed to prefer the reeds under the water…perhaps because they were more tender. In this portrait the colors make or break it…the autumn tones of the reeds, the early morning sun, the reflections in the water. And it is, of course both head-and-shoulders and over-the-shoulder. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Moose
Moose: Floating Island Lake, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Another morning, same moose. The bull, cow, and calf were at Floating Island Lake in Yellowstone when we returned the next morning. This time the bull was more cooperative, standing side on rather than butt towards us. We had to wait until the sun moved the shadow of a tall tree off him, but then he posed nicely for us. This is not a particularly large bull, which is why, perhaps, he was riding close attendance on this cow and calf, hoping to improve his chances when she is receptive. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm and 187mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! The business end
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — As I mentioned before, Bison are eating machines, head down and sucking up grass 90% (well at least 80%) of daylight hours. Catching one with its head up for a photo requires patience, and a while to spend with Bison. Eating is the business of bison, and this is the business end. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
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.
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! 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! 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! 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! 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! 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.