10-OCT-2008
Moose dinner, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 2008
I was able to photograph this Bull Moose from behind as it reached forward to grab a choice morsel from the foliage along the Snake River. I like the way the upward thrust of the weeds behind the moose echo the upward thrust of its antlers.
09-OCT-2008
The eye of the bison, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 2008
We were able to get reasonably close to this bison grazing in a snow shower near Yellowstone’s East Entrance gate. My 300mm telephoto focal length brings us close, and a crop brings us even closer. The snow is falling so fast that my 1/80th of a second shutter speed can’t freeze the snowflakes in place. Instead, they become flying needles of blurred snow, creating an incongruous screen over the face of the bison and perfectly framing its baleful eye.
11-OCT-2008
Moose landscape, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 2008
Instead of zooming all the way in on this moose, which was grazing on a wash next to the Snake River, I pulled back my zoom to about 200mm, so I could create a landscape rather than portrait. The moose stands adjacent to the image’s largest feature – the huge boulder that links the land to the empty wash. The texture of the stones contrasts sharply to the texture of the grass, while the silky texture of the moose’s coat links the two. All three elements are part of the natural world, and all are interrelated. The Snake River and its surroundings are home to many of Grand Teton’s moose. And this image is all about that home.
13-MAY-2008
Grazing bear, Yosemite National Park, California, 2008
This is one of the most difficult wildlife images I’ve ever made. I made this photograph at 9:00 pm -- long past sunset. The twilight was essentially gone, and what there was left of it was purplish in color. Meanwhile, the large bear was far away, and on the move. I was hand holding the camera, and had to use ISO 800 in order to make a stable image. Even then, my shutter speed fell as low as 1/20th of second, usually causing camera shake at a long telephoto focal length. I coped with the obvious camera shake risk by taking advantage of built-in image stabilization. I also used my multi-imaging feature, which let me to make multiple images with only a single press of the shutter button. I made at least fifty images of this bear, and this was the one that worked the best. I cropped the image substantially to make the bear as large as possible. In wildlife photography, it always pays to make as many images as you possibly can and then choose the best of them. I liked this one because of the grass hanging out of the bear’s mouth.
14-MAY-2008
Angry squirrel, Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California, 2008
Photographing squirrels can be very difficult. They make small targets, moving very fast and unpredictably. This squirrel was angry at something and was running around the grounds of Yosemite’s elegant Ahwahnee Hotel making a loud chirping sound. The mid day sun was intense and the shadows were harsh. I waited until as much of the squirrel was in shadow as possible, and then lowered my camera down to its level. It paused its violent chirping for a moment to take my measure. Using spot metering and nearly the full length of my 420mm telephoto lens, I caught it with its teeth bared and front paws ready to strike.
23-MAR-2008
On the track of the tiger, Ranthambore National Park, India, 2008
There are only 26 tigers in Ranthambore. They are solitary animals and are rarely seen. But the people in these vehicles have high hopes as they enter the Tiger Reserve.
23-MAR-2008
Tiger on the hunt, Ranthambore National Park, India, 2008
After an hour of searching, we found this female tiger sitting in a clearing, watching for prey. Dozens of vehicles crowded the adjacent road and the disturbance caused her to abandon the hunt for the moment. She walked right in front of our truck. Our guide estimated her age at eight years. We were very fortunate to see her -- on my previous trip to India in 1990, I looked for tigers in four reserves over a two week period and saw only one. This time, we saw one within just an hour of starting. I made this image with my telephoto zoom lens extended to its full 420mm length.
23-MAR-2008
Marking territory, Ranthambore National Park, India, 2008’
The tiger in the previous image walked directly in front of our vehicle for minute or so, and stopped to spray the grass with urine -- telling the world that this land is hers. Many wildlife photographers prefer making portraits of animals. I much prefer interpreting their behavior and actions. This tiger is communicating with us -- she is showing us who the boss is here.
23-MAR-2008
Tiger traffic, Ranthambore National Park, India, 2008
The tiger in the preceding images continued to walk down the road in front of us for several minutes. At least five vehicles surrounded her at one point. She never looked up as she vanished into the bush just around this curve. There are no secrets in Ranthambore. Once a tiger is sighted, the word is spread, and every safari truck within miles converges on the spot as quickly as they can.
07-JAN-2006
Twilight, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, 2006
A wet-season safari in Zambia offers photographers abundant sightings of African wildlife in an emerald green setting under cloud-streaked skies. I have tried to take this image beyond just another wildlife sighting. I offer a surrealistic impression rather than a descriptive landscape. The twilight hovers between being there and not there, creating a painterly aura through muted color that makes this image seem less real, and more symbolic of a world that may be slowly slipping away. The two elephants are incongruously reminiscent of ancient mastodons upon the land. The incongruity of the dead tree standing amidst lush green surroundings implies the presence of death as well as life, while the horizontal streaks of clouds in the sky offer a counterpoint to the vertical threadbare branches. It is an image that takes us back in time, yet also implies an ecosystem in jeopardy.
03-JAN-2006
Creatures of the road, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, 2006
No matter where one goes in South Luangwa National Park, wildlife abounds on its roads and tracks. This warthog and francolin are keeping in step with their shadows near the Mushilashi River. I have used abstraction here to involve the imagination of the viewer. Rather than describing the appearance of these creatures (you can always consult a wildlife guide for such illustrations) I am suggesting nature at work here – with the large played against the small in an incongruent scale relationship. Neither the warthog nor the bird are mindful of each other. Each marches to its own stately beat, while the man-made track slices diagonally across their paths.
11-JAN-2006
Impala herd, Chichele Hill, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, 2006
Impalas are part of the Luangwa landscape. Chichele Hill is rocky high ground, and during the wet season animals frequently congregate there. Our tented camp at Puku Ridge, one of two camps I stayed at while in Zambia, was not far away, and I saw them grazing here every morning and evening as we passed by on our game drives. The concept of an integrated landscape of animal, vegetable and mineral subjects fascinated me, and I worked on it every day while at the Puku Ridge location. It was the randomness of this image that made it work for me. The boulders have fallen in place over the centuries; the lush blanket of green plants comes and goes with the seasons, while the herd of impala searches for sustenance. Most graze, but some are in motion, while others cast a watchful eye. (Watchfulness is important – a pride of lions makes its home in the same area.) This image offers a blanket of black, tans, and green – the colors of nature itself.