 Let's start with HDR. By popular demand the images above are ones used in the HDR image below. Seven images 1/3 stop separating each image. My first and probably my last wildlife HDR image. This little guy held really still for me for about one and a half seconds (thank you nikon). It was almost noon. Harsh daylight. I lost the shadows if exposed for the highlights and blew out the highlights if I exposed for the shadows. HDR here we go!  The Bad Boy theme? When first approaching this den he was very timid. And so where the multitude of others in the same area. But when the big lens came out and the even bigger poster boy for weight watchers appeared they all dove in their dens. Except this Bad Boy. He was calling me out. The neighbor bully. One tough dude! He must have just jumped off his Harley. Click on the image and check out his beard how it is blown to the sides. Circa ZZ top Bad Boys! I held my ground when he took this Ninja stance. As I shouted hold still he winked (really he did) and held still. Not too many wildlife subjects hold as still as he did. Of course I thanked him. Texture - his fur is unbelievable. I really think the HDR process brought out the individual hairs definition. I doubt he would let me pet him. I can't tell if his fur is soft or maybe a little stiff. What do you think? Maybe a little conditioner or just right?
 This is fun. Yesterday's blog answer is..............Shedded Snake Skin! O.F. was the winner. Remember this is the guy with more smarts than Einstein, and Kelly talking about concrete combined. Too easy. No hints Today. What is the subject in the photo above? Family, employees and anyone with an apple computer are all eligible. Good for another certificate. One hint! I shot this during the day.......:-)
 Nikon D-3, 105 f/2.8 VR lens, R1C1 light System Both lights +.7 EV, Kenko 36mm extension tube, -2.67 EV, ISO-2000, f/29 For several years now I have owned an R1C1 Wireless-Close-up-Speedlight-System. Here and there I have played with it. I have never taken the time to really get down and dirty. You know - Read the Manual! And put this Nikon cool system to work. This weekend was Bear Lake weekend. I think I have slept in my own bed 5 days in the last 25, maybe 30. Who's counting? Attached to my Nikon 105 f/2.8, VR lens the R1C1 creates great opportunities for close up (macro) photography. So why not test the system even further? I invested in Kenko Extension Tubes. Yikes talk about getting close! In some respects I wish I had a 200 macro lens. The 105 with extension tube(s) puts you inches from the subject. Never tried drugging a bug before. Most insects don't like a huge piece of glass with two or four white flashes attached. I found a couple of suiters! Did a little bribing. Like the grass hopper above. It's amazing if they let you get that close how much character you get to see. He was turning his head. Moving antennas around. Those thousands of little eyes checking me out. I wonder who they see when near or far sightedness (sorry that's the best I can spell it sounding it out) affects their vision? Bright sunlight and two flash heads. The mix was to turn down ambient light about two stops and push up the flashes by almost 1 stop. This way I got the deep shadows and greater contrast with the "hopper" to the plant. To even get any light in the background and front shadow areas I had to push the ISO to 2000. At f/29 it was getting pretty hard to fill. Overall it turned out good.
Now the Black Beauty! Not hard to find. She greets me every-time I arrive and leave Bear Lake. This little (or in spider "BIG") beauty calls my meter box home. Arriving I open and turn on the water. When leaving the water goes off. She is always there. A wonderful greater if I may say so. Though a little spooked when I first take the lid off she eventually calms and wants to get close. A little camera shy though. I chased her all over the lid until she finally realized she was to be famous. A blog superstar. At least that is what I told her. Really like I have mentioned before I ALWAYS talk to my subjects even if their heads are down and coming at a high rate of speed directly at me. On her belly is a bright red hour glass. I thought a little personal photographing her belly so I did not pursue that. Click on the picture and look close. She must be european. Hairy I must say. What was really interesting was the rings on her two front legs. Why do they need 8 legs? If you look at her back you can see the reflection of the two strobes. Kinda like a catch light isn't it? Almost all the metadata was the same as the grasshopper. Except the EV was -1.67. And the flashes EV was set at zero. I did however lower the ISO to 400. You can see it in the detail. It was a really fun afternoon. I found what I think was a 4' blue racer snake. She did not want anything to do with me or my camera. I gave her a word or two!
 Holy Cow (in this case Bull) Batman. I really, really, really wish I had taken a photograph this MONSTER in the wild not on an ELK farm this week. I have a hard time admitting that I shot this at an ELK farm in Rupert, Idaho. Even thought about figuring out a way to cut out the Bull and put him in a wildlife photograph setting. No Guts No Glory? He's still the next to the biggest I have ever seen. Wild or not!
 No big quarrels. Just a slight disagreement. My wife is my best and worst critic. For 30 some years she shrugs off most my work. She is a purest. A famous violinist. An artist. I married UP! She see things like...well like....like I don't see. I play the stereo and the Ipod. In tune I might mention. Her criticism of this photo was the blurry waterfall. I tried to explain that I used a slower shutter speed to get that very effect. Didn't win her over. I kinda like it. In post it was run through topaz with a filter called simplify. If you look close it has a slight water color feel to it. It won't be hanging anywhere in my house near the Thomas Kinkaid's. Maybe I will post it at work.........
 Sometimes they have had enough of us......and show what they think about us!
 Another missed opportunity... I am on my soap box again with this one! Just as my daughter and I set up to shoot two beautiful bucks, out of a car runs a very young man on a dead run towards the deer. He is on a mission for mom and dad. Get as close as you can with the point and shoot and take a picture. Hurry because it will run. DUH!!!!!!! When will these people realize that close means Bye, Bye to the wild life. Or hello to the antlers in your gut. Either one is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!! Along with the deer in the photo above was a big beautiful five point buck. He was headed for a clearing with all kinds of yellow and purple flowers. The shot of a life time for two eager and patient photographers. BUT NO. I gestured to the little two legged monster to stay back. No respect for me or the wishes of those around me. I look at it this way. Everyone has the right to witness these beautiful creatures of the wild. Equally. That means that if the animal is NOT affected by our presence we are the right distance from said animal. To photograph the wild at a distance of comfort for the animal is expensive. $10,000.00 for a 600mm lens $1,000.oo for telecoverters $6,000.00 for camera. $1,600.oo for tripod and head That's just the beginning. So why are people so inconsiderate first, of the animal then second, of those that wish to photograph the animal in it's natural state and natural state of mind? It's no wonder I prefer to hike back to find wild animals. It puts me alone with the wild. Hopefully at a great distance from the point and shoot public. My daughter is blogging on our trip also. A very nice perspective for me to see. Find it here.
 N43,20.4591 W110,43.4617 Nikon D-3 105 f/2.8, 1/100 sec @f11, ISO 1250,
When Lindsay and I saw this caterpillar I new it was going to be put to the Topaz Software in post. In the shade of the tree the little guy was more of a silhouette. The juxtaposition with the leave added some interest. Topaz came through with what I envisioned. My grandson was freaked by the insect. Looking close at it kinda explains it...spikes and all.
 N 44,33.1167 W 110,24.1832
August is definitely not the month for wildlife photography. In Yellowstone there are still many opportunities to view and photograph them... even in August. Buffalo were in abundance, cow elk could be found in regular vistas but the stand out this trip was deer. Usually much less obvious these guys were everywhere. Because of their shy nature little time is allowed to set up and shoot when coming across a deer. The photo above was the exception. Near Lake Lodge this gentleman and two others were posing for a small crowd. (I am still not convinced that these aren't rangers in deer outfits). A little too docile for me. They are not backwoods, jump and run at any sound deer. Probably could have pet one of them...like some tourists attempted to do. The shot was taken wide open with my six hundred lens. Nothing fancy done post shooting. Have some fun and go into Google and see where I shot the pic. This high tech stuff is cool.
 Where is home? The place(s) we love the most? Or that sacred place where families converge? The incredible wildlife spectacle in Yellowstone is home. Home to an abundance of wild characters. A photographers playground. Starting saturday I will be their guest for several days. The photo above of he pronghorn takes me to Lamar Valley. My patience was tested this day. Pronghorn are one of two fastest land mammals on earth. And their keen senses are superior to most. Not easy to approach. This guy was grazing with his gals for several hours just over the hill from where he is in the photo. The presence of a human is not wanted at anytime by this breed. I laid low for what seemed like eternity. Expecting the family to approach me on this ridge. At one point my need for a world class pronghorn shot was less necessary than hours of picking ticks from my torso from laying in sage and grass. So I started to stand just as Mr. Big Shot came over the hill. Only six or seven frames of this guy. One in focus. I think he was debating if my presence was enough for him to run from his true loves. He wasn't gone long. In fact he just circled around to the other the side of the group. Quite a guy. Putting his gals between himself and the big bad photographer.
 I'll never be a painter. This is the closest I will ever get. Not close at all!!!! Thanks to Topaz software I easily converted this shot to look like an oil reproduction. Hopefully non of you very talented oil painters are offended. I do not plan on using this filter much. If even again. It seemed to work for this particular scene. It will be interesting to see how it prints on canvas. I'll let you know.
Alea, Lindsay and Dan... This assignment was hard! I haven't seen my grandkids for two weeks, I listen to talk radio, haven't looked in the mirror for quit a while and work with a bunch of contractors. Not a lot of laugh out load stuff to photograph. I did try to shoot four horses with their heads hanging out of the side of horse trailer. At 70+ mph. I'm not sure what was more humorous me driving with one knee while I leaned toward the drivers side window to photograph the horses? Or the horses that looked like a quartet singing "O Sole Mio" after just having false teeth replacement. Man can horses pull funny faces? The picture did not turn out. My truck has role up windows. Shooting through car glass windows doesn't make for the sharpest picture. I could have leaned way over and tried to role up the window. But(t) the car on my drivers side might have turned me in for "mooning" on the freeway. So the buffalo lady above will have to do. Oh by the way. I'm not sure why she is sticking her tongue out at me. I only asked her stop and pose....... PS. does her hair look a little like Penny's?
 Before you call my wife and tell on me....... This day the rain fell most of the day in Yellowstone. Deepening the colors . A natural increase in contrast. The overcast sky made photographing black bears - PERFECT! This beautiful gal held my attention for a long period. In fact through at least two downpours. She was so good to keep her distance. We paralleled each other up the canyon for about a quarter-mile. I had a slight advantage that I was higher than her for most the time. Didn't make for the best perspective. Then her elevation and mine leveled out. I lost my slight advantage. A ranger was walking with me though. I thought I had a personal body guard until the ranger asked if I thought I could out run him (him the ranger, not the bear). I pushed it a little when I took this shot. She was probably 50 yards away. Notice that the bear is eyeing the ranger not me. Must be the man in uniform thing. Not often do we get this type of photo opportunity. Especially with crowds gathered. The rangers do a great job to protect the public from the wildlife. I really think we should do more to protect the wildlife from the public. The time that the bear and I walked up the canyon paralleling each other, she only looked over at us twice. Shooting 16 gig with shots of her face down in the grass gorging herself on the greens. In the end one shot was good. I like the sharpness in her eyes. The soft lighting helped with the contrast of her black fur. The grass looks enhanced but is not. This ones a keeper for me. Didn't hurt that I had a great model...........
Too many times to count I have missed a great shot. At the top of Washburn mountain a grizzly will often pass by. One occassion a very large group had assembled at the last turn-out before heading down the north slope. The hope was to see the big grizzly that has unusually light colored fur. She had walk that similar path a few times the same week. Usually just as the sun was going over the mountain. Almost on cue the grizzly with her two cubs appeared from over the ridge. A mix of emotion from excitement to fear spread through the crowd. It was difficult to photograph. Shooting directly into the sun made for very difficult exposures. Unless you like silhouettes. Most were just elated to see a grizzly in the wild. The more serious photographers frustrated with the conditions. As attention was focused on the grizzly and her cubs like the last note of Beethoven's 5th, I just happened to turn and see just over the hill and down from the crowd another grizzly. Better lighting, and easier to compose. I shot like crazy. I was the only one getting the shots of grizzly "b". Until I mentioned the new arrival just as the best shots were departing. The lesson I learned that night and have seen many, many times is that as photographers you must look all around. Don't miss the small stuff while focused (literally) on the big shot. The photo above was taken when I had set up for a scenic shot last week in Yellowstone. I had my camera and the 24-70 lens on with a polarizer and a .9 ND grad filter ready. The wait was at least 2 hours for the shot I took. Waiting and waiting. The ground was moving all around me. These cute little critters were having the party of the week. Soon I was more interested in these guys than the lighting of the scene I had set up for. Long story short - the 600 was out quickly and set at ground level. I had a blast photographing these hyper-active furry little guys. WHAT A BLAST! The big scene was still being watched though. In the end I was very pleased to get a scenic that I had wanted for years. I now have a file of these guys in all types of poses and actions. Always look at every level and all around you when shooting. The best shot just may be right behind you.
 What did I hear most of today. "How was Yellowstone"? It barely needed an answer. Anybody that even slightly knows me knows the answer to that question. It rained every day, most of the day except Friday. For photography not all bad! The filtered light made for a lot of fairly easy exposures like the one above of the Goose and the Gooselets. What did however make this photo a little difficult was that I was shooting through a fog that was rising just in front of the birds. Look at the bottom left of the photo it is a little lighter or "milky". Thanks to post shooting darkroom opportunities I eliminated the majority that was in the photo. Some call this color cast correction. There a several methods for removing color cast. Here is the way I learned it from the master Moose Peterson. And here is a different method. Learning this technique is essential. I have used the process on occasion like in the photo above. Take the time to learn this technique and you will never regret it.
 Going home tomorrow... It's been a great week. Today it rained heavy most of the day. Still had some great stories and experiences. Can't wait to share. One in particular is the buffalo calf in the photo above. It was my last hours in the park and somewhat emotional. I'll try to get the story out tomorrow or Monday........ Thanks Yellowstone for a week of no sleep and great adventures!!!!
 N 44 degrees 57.338 minutes W 110 degrees 31.304 minutes
 N 44 degrees 46.409 minutes W 110 degrees 44.109 minutes
Holy Cow am I tired. Tomorrow is the last day of this great week of fun. Late in....Early up....
Today I finally found the cinnamon bear that I photographed last year just after it fought with a black bear. He has come full circle. Now he is in love. I witnessed bear love today. I can't post it because this a G-rated blog. So I just left you with them heading of into the evening light together.
If you go on my web site you will see this same bear. The evidence is his eye. When he fought the black bear his eye was permanently damaged. You can see it in the photo above.
If you read my editorial comment this is the grizzly and cub that was intruded upon by a tourist and her daughter. I was fully expecting a long period of shooting and possibly a few real fun shots. BUT NO!
Hayden Valley......a beautiful place at 6:30 p.m.
My belly shot of Sand Hill Cranes just before a woman approched me and my friends. Scaring them away. After reading my comments it should be obvious why I prefer being away from the road side shots. Finding places back away from the public. It makes for more time with the animals. And allows me to reap from the efforts I make to photograph animals in their natural environment.......
 Nikon D-200, 600mm lens, 1/1000 sec @f/4.0, ISO 100
Last winter the famous tree holding the eagles nest along the Madison River fell. Everyone was amazed when this mated pair came back to the same spot and built a new nest in a tree next to the where the old one stood. They had been nesting in the old nest for years. Tonight my time with them was fairly short. Two reasons. One is that I forgot my mosquito repellent. Man the bugs were eating me alive. The second reason was that I was on the verge of making a public scene. I thought it best that I leave. There is a prominent sign in both directions that says there is to be NO stopping, standing, parking, or walking for the quarter mile near the eagles nest (the code number is noted on the sign). The park is concerned that the nesting eagles will be disturbed and not return to nest here. BUT NO!!!!!! Like smokers littering anywhere they want, everyone but me was exempt to the posted restriction tonight. A park ranger came through several times and moved everyone out. As soon he would be out of site back they would go. *(&^$%@#%^&
 Nikon D-200, 600 mm lens, 1/1250 Sec @ f/4.0, ISO 320, EV +0.33
With the day mostly overcast the light was soft. The soft light made exposing pretty easy. Most of my subjects to were at great distances. That required me to use the D-200 on my 600 mm lens. The net focal length is 900 mm. Good reach for skittish animals. The ducks in the photo above were fighting over something. Maybe just having a family quarrel. It put my manual focusing skills to the test. You can see that when I was shooting them it was raining a bit. Had to push up the ISO a bit and open the lens wide.
 Nikon D-3 24-70 f/2.8 lens, 1/50 sec @ f/13.0, ISO 200, EV -.67
I loved the effect that the mist/steam off the water gave to this scene. Bad thing is the leading lines go one way and the subject is on the other side of the photo. Oh well...I even waited a while but the elks never ame around. I just like the colors and depth.
 Nikon D-3, 200-400mm lens, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200, EV-.33
Ok our little secret. If my wife finds out I will be grounded from Yellowstone. Just up from Mammoth towards Swan Lake Meadows are a couple of big ponds. Though they are down from the road pretty far, I heard that bald eagles "picked" fish from them. This time of year the eagles are very busy feeding the little ones. So I headed down. Had my gear in my pack, vitamin water, a granny smith apple and my rain gear. On the way down I stopped to rest and for a minute. As soon as I started to walk again, coming over a slight ridge (about 50' away) was this cinnamon black bear. A little less distance than the park recommended 1oo yards. The last time I was anticipating the change of my pants when almost kissing a bear, I fell down and froze. I did not get a shot of the bear charging me. Now the last time it was a full size grizzly mom (with three cubs). This time the bear was a two year old cinnamon black bear. Not too big? We were both a little startled. The photo above is my attempt to get a picture of a bear fifty feet away having a staring contest with me. No time to set up the tripod. Just handheld. I would not normally post a picture with this much motion in the photo. The two of us had a good talk. I showed him my monopod and mentioned that I have been in fights before without the monopod and won. "It's a great defensive tool", I explained. I'm not sure he had heard too many threats from humans before. With a small snort and the show of teeth (from the bear) and a grunt from me. We parted ways. Next time I will set up the tripod and ask him to wait a second and pose for me.
 The tanks are in the grounded bedded by 1100 tons of the specified pea gravel. Time for some stress relief...............
Tonight the cameras were out searching for something that moved on two, four or any number of legs. Best thing to do is hike before the sun goes down. Posed on a rock was this cute little guy (the message got out that I was looking for a model). Approaching was a little tenuous. I may be buying another pair of pants. But soon he realized that I was looking for a model not dinner. Close up our conversation turned to his posing. He took my advise to tilt his head slightly to grab those catch lights. I'll send a copy to him to hang on the den wall. I do love that catch light!!!
 Numenius americanus. Yes that would be a Long-billed Curlew. Yikes! Curlew!?? Who came up with that name? The boy named SUE? Look at that beak. Holy freak beak Batman! These guys don't do a lot of necking. I worked hard to get close to photograph them. No Go. Maybe the beak doubles as a radar to find humans getting too close. First time seeing this bird. I was really surprised to see it in an arid valley wandering around desert life. By the looks of the bird they may have been cast out of the Bird Club!
 I threw this photo in for a similar reason. I shot this on the gibbon river in Yellowstone last week. I can honestly say I have never seen a pair of geese standing on a large rock. So there is truth to the story about two birds and one stone........  The cliffs and rock formations near Dinosaur-land are spectacular. This particular one is several hundred feet high. Note the size in comparison to the trees at the bottom. It did not have the red and/or yellow colors that is seen a lot in southern Utah. It was truly a black and white picture for me.
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Let's start with HDR. By popular demand the images above are ones used in the HDR image below. Seven images 1/3 stop separating each image. My first and probably my last wildlife HDR image. This little guy held really still for me for about one and a half seconds (thank you nikon). It was almost noon. Harsh daylight. I lost the shadows if exposed for the highlights and blew out the highlights if I exposed for the shadows. HDR here we go! 
The Bad Boy theme? When first approaching this den he was very timid. And so where the multitude of others in the same area. But when the big lens came out and the even bigger poster boy for weight watchers appeared they all dove in their dens. Except this Bad Boy. He was calling me out. The neighbor bully. One tough dude! He must have just jumped off his Harley. Click on the image and check out his beard how it is blown to the sides. Circa ZZ top Bad Boys! I held my ground when he took this Ninja stance. As I shouted hold still he winked (really he did) and held still. Not too many wildlife subjects hold as still as he did. Of course I thanked him.
