Partners in the Hunt

I saw a similar pair hunting last year and had to get a photo. Most of the time they are separated by several feet and only visible on opposite edges of the frame. I watched two pairs in prairie dog towns and was lucky to get these guys close together. Maybe next time I'll get an actual prairie dog hunt. Finding a pair is also a good way to find the badger that is much more camouflaged than the coyote. Coyote and badgers hunting together is well documented and beneficial to each. From what I have read when one gets a meal the other does not attempt to steal it from the other.

Smile for the Camera

This red tail hawk was soaking in the last of the afternoon's warm sun as I pulled up. I watched him for awhile and then he smiled.
Then I asked him to give me a great big smile but it didn't make quite as good a picture.

Technical: Initially I thought this was a ferrigonous hawk but the color on the neck leads my to believe it is a red tail.

Badlands Morning

The sun was still below  the horizon as the wind was creeping up to the 25 mph range. A couple hours later muted, dull color was the rule. This is the familiar rock formation at Fossil Trail taken from a little different perspective.

Technical: ISO 800, 1.3 seconds, f 11

Badlands Badger

Badgers fascinate me! Last fall I watched one at long range while it hunted with a coyote and I put it on my shot list to get quality footage this year. Shot lists are wish lists that frequently go unfilled but yesterday it worked out better than could be imagined. It started by being stalked by a badger, a little worrisome with only a tripod to hide behind. Later in the morning this guy, different than the first one, was busy fluffing and preening as I watched while kneeling in the dirt. 

Technical: Canon 7D, 600mm + 1.4 telextender, uncropped

What was that?

I'm a hunter by nature. It's in my genes and every fall I hunt deer, well actually I hunt year round. I haven't killed an animal in at least 15 years but I still head out with a camera when everyone else is in the woods with a gun. Last week I went out looking for deer and came upon this unsuspecting little guy. I'm sure his mother is in the processing plant and he is getting by on instinct.

Who is a giraffe?

Each of these views tells a different story about giraffes. Do you like the inquisitive giraffe, best buddies, or the video of them satisfying an itch? (View at full screen to clearly see the itch.)

Technical: Adjusted for contrast in Lightroom. Sony a7r2 and canon 100-400 mm lens for all images

Cheetah and Gazelle on the Move

We were encouraged to do some panning and slow shutter speeds shots by our guide. It's hard to shoot images in a new place and know that at least 95% will not turn out. This cheetah had multiple stalks on a herd of gazelle so I could do play with some settings. As you can tell from the ISO it was very late in the afternoon.

Technical: cheetah 1/8 sec @ISO1600, gazelle 1/50 @ISO6400

It's all how you look at it.

 I had a bad week with camera issues. My Sony took a beating in Yellowstone and will cost $600 to repair. Who would think a broken HDMI port with cost an arm and a leg? After 10 years of trail cam placement in public areas I finally had one stolen. It was only a matter of time but I'm a sucker for thinking the best in people. Heading to Menard's for a cable lock.

Overall this fall has been the one of best in years with more travel and photography than ever. I'm looking forward to November to catch up with editing. You will be seeing a wide variety of shots from Yellowstone and Kenya over the next few weeks.

Technical: first shot looking down into log. second shot taken with camera placed on leaves and shot using delayed shutter release. wide angle, f22 and f16

The End of Color

It's about gone, only tiny pockets of color remain. I've often thought November is the toughest month to reveal in a photograph. The difference between March and November can be subtle. Crisp leaves and intact puffballs are one of the few indications of the end of autumn. If you can find some color to photograph, go for it. You won't see it again for a few months.

Technical: recorded a couple weeks ago. Off camera lighting, converted to black and white in Silver Efex Pro