My Very first BLOG!

Wow!
I am so impressed with my daughter Lindsay's Stevens blog that I am compelled to share photo's myself. I will never be the blogger that she is. Mostly, my efforts will be to share some of my photo's and a few daily routines...

Wildlife Photography is my passion. Every minute that I am watching a beautiful cinnamon bear cool it's wounds in a stagnant pool or laughing out load at the childish antics of a new litter of coyotes life's stresses evaporates. I am then recharged!

I travel A TON for work. It takes me away from my family. However it allows me to spend time with my wild friends. My interest in Wildlife Photography goes back many years. Though my interest in photography began with taking pictures of my family. Starting with Linds..the cutest little red head that has walked the earth( not to take away from the cutest blonde "toe head" and that dark headed dark eyed boy). My home has seen a dark room, a studio and lots of photo lighting gear. My camera gear has always been Nikon. My personal photographer heros are Thomas Mangelsen, Moose Peterson, Joe McNally, and probably the greatest of all Ansel Adams.

Enough about me. There is a story behind every photograph.......

My first long lens (Nikon 600mm F4) changed everything for me. The distance I could photograph wildlife from was incredible. It allowed me to stay far enough away that the wildlife stayed calm and continued it's natural behavior. In most cases my position was not immediately noticed. The truth is in almost all cases the animal being photographed either, sees, smells, or hears me. Man they are incredible.

One early morning, that being the first morning with my long lens. I came across the largest bull elk I had ever seen. The pre dawn temperature hovered at 28 degrees. Wow what a sight! I had electricity running through my veins. With the camera to my eye the Huge Bull buggled. I fired off a half dozen frames. Within seconds the elk ran off.

I was amazed when I finally looked at the photograph. It was so cold that the breath of the elk as he buggled was visible. Every time I view this photograph it takes me back to that early morning!