Otter Family Portrait

Every time I drive by a bend in the Lamar River I look for these guys. This time I drove past, backed up, and identified a rock otter (from the same lineage as a stump bear). Then I noticed these guys swimming in the water. My next hour flew by! Video captures their personalities and activity better than stills, you will see more of these.

Bison crossing Lamar River

 

This was one of those moments, actually several minutes, that will forever be in my mind. It was a "Serengeti" moment in the Yellowstone.  Images of wildebeests crossing flashed as I witnessed this event. I was alone at the river's edge watching this unfold. Another videographer was several yards behind me and there were cars on the road but I was alone with the herd as it crossed, almost in fact and definitely in spirit.

Spring in Lamar Canyon

Spring run off frequently brings flooding and dread in the prairie states. It brings excitement when I see the normally sedate mountain rivers suddenly full of life and energy. This was filmed last May in the Lamar Canyon. Turning the volume up only approximates the deafen roar that was heard at the river's edge.

Cloud over Lamar River

With the early arrival of winter it's a perfect time to review images from Yellowstone last month. A bright rim of light on the western horizon one evening encouraged us to stay in the valley after sunset. My daughter and I worked the edge of the river as the color was changing. Shadows were brightened in Lightroom.

Lamar River Canyon

My recent posts have explored water during spring in Yellowstone National Park ranging from yesterday's calm sunrise to today's roaring canyon. The challenge is finding the shutter speed to interpret the character of the river. This was recorded at 1/250 second.

Swollen Lamar River

Three dozen people were watching the drama between two grizzly bears on a bison carcass. My binoculars could almost make out the bears so I turned my attention to a more nearby subject.  There is something very relaxing sitting along the Lamar at dusk. 

Lamar Canyon

To me Yellowstone is wildlife, water, and a sulfurous aroma (perhaps odor to others). The river canyons are usually dark with black water making it a challenge to get an image that does not have the water as a black hole pulling your eye into it. The dawn light reflecting on the Lamar River brightened the water making this an opportunity too good to pass up. I can photograph wildlife and water. How to photograph the sulfurous aroma will take some more thought.