An oyster catcher chicks first days emerged from the egg.
This area is the intertidal zone at the Wellfleet National Audubon...
I was archiving my photos from the trip and I just happened to stitch this panorama together. This is the view from the end of the National Elk Refuge at sunset. You can view the road out, Miller Butte, and the Teton Range. Just beautiful. Click for a larger view.
(Anyone recommend a good panorama print center?)
Heading out this morning we were finally greeted by overcast and cloudy skies. The temperatures are rising here from the frigid temps they were before. Although the clouds didn’t stick around for long it sure was a pleasure working with the soft lighting.
As soon as we drove into the National Elk Refuge the big horn sheep were already by the side of the road. Its not always a given they will be there or even in sight. They seem tame to humans being around, but are not intimidated by our presence. After a while there was a traffic jam from everyone trying to get the best shot and not hurt the bighorn sheep. The biggest three males I’ve seen at Miller Butte came on down as well and caused the most traffic. Not moving for anyone, haha.
This little guy was the main subject for half of the morning. I can’t tell you how long I waited for him to stop eating momentarily and pick his head up for his portrait. To get him in a more vertical oriented stance was even more difficult. So worth the wait though. It’s always worth it to photograph the cute and cuddlies.
Here was Ma and Pa. They were part of the small herd hanging out at the beginning of the trail. The road is just below the bottom edge of the frame. They were that close! I never get tired of photographing them.
This is one of the older males that made their way down to the road. The males usually stay back while the ewes are the ones that wander. The larger and more developed the curl the older the individual (for males.)
Some testosterone was still laying around even in winter!
The weather in Jackson Hole has been exquisite and a fantastic boost to my photography. We need to remember that sometimes the best photography is in some of the worst of conditions. I want to add something to that though. If you look at the photograph you’ll find that the bighorn sheep is backlit. Often people shy away from backlit scenarios. Most expect a black subject; however this isn’t always true. If there is snow or enough reflective light you get this fantastic separation from the background for your subject. It can make them pop off the page. Commonly done in portraiture by adding a hair light or such. Just using a much bigger source.
These bison have moved into this wheat looking field for the past two days. Quite clever if you ask me. I loved the shades of contrasting color and have wanted them to get close enough to photograph. Many photographs later I believe I got one that shows enough of their face to make them out. That catch light really helps as well on such a dark subject.
After chasing the light to fit our subjects as the sun was setting we came upon this bald eagle. We actually spotted it from other cars pulling over. Finally got a chance to get a decent shot of him. I tried to get closer, but he wasn’t having that.
One other thing I need to do is figure out a way to get video I’m shooting streamlined. I have some great stuff I have been shooting in the down time and I really want to share it with you guys. I’ll see what I can do when I get back home in a week or so.
Having spent last night until about 1am photographing the stars we were due for some extra sleep. Don’t get me wrong we woke up to the alarm at 7am, but we re-woke up around 8:30am haha. Not enough energy to get up and face the cold. Once up however we first headed for the National Elk Refuge. A practice that will pay off with a little patience. By The time we got there it was about 9:30am and the big horn sheep were just starting to make their way down the butte. With the way the sun rises it took another 45min to get the refuge fully lit. Miller Butte is one of the featured locations within the refuge. It’s a single, unpaved, one way road covered in snow and ice. That adds to it all though!
You want to talk about graceful? These big horn sheep make it down some spectacular cliffs against gravity; which waits for no one. This guy here was just in a fantastic location. The situation provided the perfect isolation for a slightly blurred background and only the subject matter in focus. He rose up to greet the sun. Something I can imagine must have felt like an eternity.
If a big horn sheep were to strike a pose I think this would be it. A handful of males made it half way down at just the right level to get them full in the viewfinder. The light kept us there for hours just photographing away.
Say it with me now, “Awwwww.” Hehe, these little guys were the most adventurous of the bunch. The herd spread as far as the road we were standing on until the top of the butte. Just walking by the car and down the trail. Something I have never seen or experienced. I guess they are getting slightly accustomed to people. I’d hate for the young males to think my rental was a competing young buck though, haha.
Big males have been wandering around the park, but never getting off their butts to say hello. This gorgeous creature finally decided to greet us after 45min or so of waiting. Believe it or not there were atleast 11 of them within binocular distance. Normally these are very solitary animals so to find such an abundance was just a real thrill.
Chasing the sun (we seem to be doing that a lot lately) to get some subjects in the last golden hours of the day we rushed hustled flew drove promptly to Gros Ventre to see what was hanging out. As soon as we made the turn the same herd of pronghorn were back where we first found them. This image pretty sums up how they felt about us. Not too patient or cooperative.
As the sun left so did they. Driving up to see if I could get another chance with them I soon gave up. Unfortunately some people didn’t. I knew the light was gone, but people and their pop-up flashes thought they had the physics defying key to get the shot… Either way I threw on my 50mm f/1.8 (yep a 100$ lens) and took this shot. The Teton range was fading in color and if you look carefully (sry I can’t make it bigger for the net) part of the herd is working their way towards them. A fantastic way to sum up the day. Here’s hoping there is room for more to come!
P.s. if anyone has used the Sigma 50-500mm lens before can someone explain to me how a lens will focus out at 500mm, but not when it is zoomed in and pointed at infinity? It seems to have magically developed a massive front focus issue where it can’t find infinity… Yet all my close-ups are tack sharp. It’s a frustrating issue to say the least. If you have any ideas drop me a line. If your like me then fighting with your equipment will make you want to see how well it can fly if you catch my drift 
