Coyote on White - Yellowstone National Park via West Yellowstone Entrance
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR shot at 400mm and f/10

The Coyote on White

March 04, 2018 in Photo Notes

What and Where?

"The Coyote on White" was photographed during a NANPA sponsored photography outing in January, 2018. Enchanted by the graphic character of cold wintery landscapes, I could not pass up the chance to taste a bit of a Yellowstone winter. Having seen many striking snow-covered images from the park, my desire to experience it for myself became more of a need than a want.

While we lodged in West Yellowstone, we spent sunrise to sunset traveling the park via slowcoach (actually called "snow coach," but slowcoach might be a bit more apt description). With oversized wheels and a somewhat roomy interior, we effortlessly traversed plowed and unplowed roads as we made our way from snowy riparian lowlands to highland plateaus. The snow coach is a necessary evil if one intends to see more than an isolated region of the park. While a pair of snow shoes and tent would have allowed for a more deliberative photographic experience, time constraints eliminated this as an option.

Why it Works?

While we did manage to see a wolf making its way towards a herd of bison, this fleeting moment was the only time in which I actually laid my eyes on one. Were it not for an encounter with a fish-seeking coyote, I would not have seen any mammalian carnivores during our brief time in the park. Fortunately, as our first day was coming to a close, we found the coyote pictured here perched on a rock looking into the Madison River. To cut the distance between the animal and my lens, I hiked through hip high snow making my way to the bank of the river. Now, with 30 meters and a river between us, I watch the coyote staring into the water as it searched for a fish. With my finger poised on the shutter release, I waited as the snow fell and my digits froze. Ten minutes felt like an hour as I internally pleaded with the animal to jump into the river and retrieve a fish... but, it just was not meant to be. About fifteen minutes into the wait, my subject retreated towards the forest following its well worn path. Were it not for something in the distance that caused it to stop for a second or two, the "Coyote on White" would not have been made. While not a wolf, this is the type of photo I had hoped to make. I wanted to isolate a carnivore in a snowy landscape while preserving environmental elements that create a sense of place. Here the reddish coat of the coyote and the spruce to the upper right create a bit of tension in an otherwise field of white. The recognizable form of the animal and tree anchor our eyes and our minds as we wonder where the coyote is going.

Ecological Notes

Winter is an ideal time to photograph wildlife in the park, as the lack of vegetation and monotone landscape makes the otherwise invisible, visible. "The Coyote on White" was not the carnivore photo that I intended on making upon deciding to visit Yellowstone in January. Wolves are a keystone species in the park with their selective predation on elk and deer. By actively thinning the herds of these browsers, the wolves positively impact riparian and montane plant diversity which in turn increases the net biodiversity of the park. In fact, a number of studies have demonstrated that the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has actually influenced the way the Yellowstone River meanders throughout the park. Armed with this knowledge of wolf ecology and the significance of keystone species, I arrived in the park with the intention of producing some kind of wolf-landscape.

*Great Gray Owl - Sax-Zim Bog, MN*
*Nikon D810 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR*

The December Owl

December 28, 2017 in Photo Notes

What and Where?

“The December Owl” was photographed at the Sax-Zim Bog in north central Minnesota. Named for its proximity to the towns of Sax and Zim, “the Bog,” as it is known to birders, is a major hotspot for observing Boreal species. This long-time birding destination for Minnesotans has now become an integral part of national and international birding excursions for those seeking to add a few unique and hard to find species to their lists. Resident and migratory populations of great gray (Strix nebulosa), hawk (Surnia ulula), boreal (Aegolius funereus), and snowy owls (Bubo scandiaca) can be found throughout various times of the year. While owls may be the main attraction, they are not the only birds in town. Northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), northern shrike (Lanius borealis), spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis), boreal chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus), yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris), black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), and gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis), are just a few of the many northern birds that can be easily viewed from a vehicle or during a short walk. The bog is a wilderness treasure and offers Minnesotans an opportunity to observe a species richness that once defined the northern third of our state.

The great gray owl pictured here was one of three that we found on this day. This was not my first trip to the bog, nor was it my first opportunity to photograph this species; however it may have been my best great gray photographic opportunity to date. The day began at 4:00 a.m., the time I left the house to meet up with my long-time friend and photography companion Brian. We have have been chasing birds with cameras since1992 always in search of unique and interesting nature subjects. My first trip to the bog was with Brian in 1996, so it was fitting that he and I would experience this day’s owls together. By the time we were done, we observed and photographed three great gray and three hawk owls doing what they do. Seemingly oblivious to our existence, the owls hunted, perched, preened and slept in our presence. By the time the sun began to sink below the horizon, we etched the experience into memories coded by neurons as well as bits and bytes.

Why it Works?

After scanning the near 1400 images I made on this day, “The December Owl” immediately rose to the top of my take. While not one of the many flight shots captured, nor an owl with prey in beak and talons, this is the one photograph that really spoke to me. During our three hour drive to the bog, I claimed that I wanted to see the quintessential owl in its ecosystem. I wanted atmospherics, I wanted details, and I wanted to convey a sense of place. However, by the time we arrived to the miles of wilderness where slow driving and careful spotting replaced highway speeds, it looked like the day was a bust. The sun was rising, but the sky was thick with clouds. The overcast conditions were so oppressive that I sincerely believed I would be returning home with empty memory cards.

After passing on a hawk owl hunting in the distance, we headed to some familiar territory in and around the black spruce bog. Deflated by the light and the lack of owls, we decided to make one more pass and this was when we found “The December Owl.” The snow began to fall just as the tripods and lenses came out. Pictured here perched on a horizontal lichen covered branch, the photo is strong for three reasons. First, the owl appears to be making contact with the viewer with its bright yellow eyes and broad facial disk. Second, the animal is a strong element within the photograph, but not so strong that the habitat disappears. And finally, the falling snow and soft light conveys the sense of time and place that I was hoping to capture.

Ecological Notes

The great grey (or great gray) owl is the largest owl in length and girth, ranging between 61 to 84cm. All feathers and no meat, while great grays are the largest in size they are far lighter than other “large” owls. The great great has the largest facial disk of any raptor, and relies on the shape and size of the disk as it plunges into the snow to seize upon its prey. The asymmetric distribution of ears allows for the owl’s capacity to hear mice and voles scarring below a foot or more of snow. This visually blind hunt is a unique feature of the species and allows the owls to thrive in northern habitats where snow drifts are common.

Great gray owls have an expansive range that includes northern habitats throughout North America and Eurasia. Found from the Yosemite Valley in California to as far east as Quebec, the owl is rare but not endangered. One of the most exciting birds of the north woods, the rarity of great gray sightings is due to their tendency to live where people do not. With a strong preference for thick boreal habitats, the mottled pattern of brown and black feathers can be easily mistaken for the bark of pines and spruce that make up their habitat. Conservation and protection of this species is entirely linked to the preservation of their habitat. Like most non-humans on the planet today, the expansion of our species is what threatens this one the most.

Please check out the video link made by my buddy Brian during our day long adventure… it is totally worth two minutes of your time!

On the Edge

September 23, 2017 in Photo Notes

What and Where?

“On the Edge” was made along the rugged Northwest coast of Vancouver Island in August, 2017. For seven days, the 71' foot Ocean Light 2 sailboat was our "base-camp" for wildlife and landscape photography. Equipped with a zodiac for visits to shallow inlets and the rough rocky coast, we had the flexibility to pursue wildlife and landscape opportunities throughout this unspoiled region of the Pacific. While most of our humpback, otter, and harbor seal images were photographed in calm and protected waters, the Stellar sea lions always seemed to beach themselves along rocky islands where the surf hammered away with an unrelenting intensity. Access to these locations required the zodiac, and photography here was as unpredictable as anything I have ever experienced. At no time did I feel as if the boat were not experiencing the same unrelenting surge of water that the seals endured day in and day out.

Technically speaking, I relinquished much of my control to the modern electronics in my camera. In an attempt to freeze the water and reduce the inevitable motion blur derived from the unsteady zodiac, I set my camera to auto ISO and a minimum shutter speed of 1/1250 of a second. While I retained control of the aperture by shooting in aperture priority, I let the camera select an ISO that would maximize (actually minimize) the shutter opening based on the parameters I selected for the lens. For photograph pictured, the photo was taken at ISO1400 and f/11 with a Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8VC G2 lens and Tamron converter that I was testing on this day. Despite the crazed shooting conditions, the vibration reduction built into the lens and autofocus capabilities of my Nikon D500 camera allowed me to produce a surprising number of decent photographs.

Why it Works?

Tamy and I saw some pretty amazing animals and landscapes during our seven days at sea, but this day was one of our all time favorite photographic experiences. This type of "cowboy shooting" reminded me of our African safaris that produced an infinite palette of opportunities. The image, "On the Edge," has an interesting balance with the sedate sea lions to the right serving as foil to the active ones on the left. The foreground water and background forested mountains frame the action in a way that draws the viewer into the photograph. The behavior of the animals, rough seas, and frozen waves create a level interest that seem to keep the eyes engaged and searching throughout the image.

Ecological Notes

Steller sea lions are the sole member of the Genus Eumetopias. Dwarfed by the northern and southern elephant seals as well as the walrus, Steller sea lions are third largest pinniped and biggest of the eared seals. Female sea lions stop growing after their fifth year and weigh between 240 and 350 kg. In contrast, the males grow continuously until they reach sexual maturity, and can weigh as much as 450 to 1120 kg, The extreme dimorphism in male and female mass can be attributed to the intense competition between males for maintaining territorial boundaries, and thus reproductive access to breeding females.

Residing near the top of the food chain, Steller sea lions prey on many fish species and mollusks throughout the Pacific and Bering Sea. Known to eat northern fur seal, harbor seal, and sea otter pups, the Steller sea lion is not without its own dangers, as they can fall prey to migrant orcas and great white sharks. In the 1970's and 80's the Eastern population of sea lions saw a steep decline. While there are numerous hypotheses for the precipitous fall, their present populations now serve as a conservation success story. This once endangered marine mammal was removed from the endangered species list in 2013 because of a strong recovery that extends from the Aleutians Islands to the North Pacific.

The Bear Walk

July 20, 2017 in Photo Notes

With the proliferation of photography related blogs, YouTube channels and social media boards, one more discussion about best practice is probably just an exercise in redundancy. Yet, the need to do something with my ever increasing library of images now provides the impetus for this next series of blogs. Having already penned 101 Photography Tips, I thought it might be valuable to articulate my intent behind a given image from the past, present or future. By putting words to the process, I hope to contribute a useful tidbit to the reader and provide an opportunity for some reflective practice that may help all of us grow and transition to a new cognitive and artistic place.

What and Where?

“The Bear Walk” was taken at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary near Orr, MN. The sanctuary is contiguous with Superior National and Kabetogama State Forests. Black bears visiting the sanctuary roam from Ontario, Canada into Voyageurs National Park and throughout the national forest habitat. Comprised of 360 acres, the VS Wildlife Sanctuary is an extension of the black bears’ natural range and is a great place to photograph spring cubs and late summer adults that are preparing for their long winter nap. While my June visit to the sanctuary was focused on young cubs, I also hoped to make some interesting photographs of adults moving throughout a variety of habitats. In producing this image, I used a Nikon D500 with its 1.5x crop sensor, Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR lens, and an Induro Stealth 3-series tripod with a heavy duty Induro BH3Ls ball head. With the lens set to 300mm, the D500 produced an effective focal length of 450mm, thus suggesting a bit of intimacy between the subject and the viewer. At this magnification, I was able to maintain a safe working distance from the bear while minimizing my impact on its behavior. In addition, my choice of focal length and aperture of f/5.6 led to the compression of foreground and background foliage that appears to be smooth and tastefully out of focus.

Why the Image Works?

In photographing adult bears, I was searching for a way to convey the power and strength in the bear’s morphology without producing yet another Wikipedia-esque image. To move from documentation to something a bit more compelling, I knew that I had to include environmental elements and a bit of character in the subject. Shooting between episodes of showers, the bear’s dark and wet fur reflected the soft light that was bouncing between the grass and clouds. The moisture helped to define the otherwise amorphous black coat as well and suggest detail in the fur, face, and eyes. While the gaze of the bear might have seemed intentionally directed at me, this was not the case as the image presented was the only photo in which this bear was looking up. The mix of eye-contact and exposed paw walking towards the viewer were the elements of power and strength that I hoped to capture. Finally, the tall grasses blurred by my choice in aperture produced a natural frame for the subject.

Powered by Squarespace