YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

The quest for the great wildlife photo, taken in Yellowstone National Park, has been a difficult endeavor, to say the least.

For months now there has been very little to photograph – most often because the elements of subject, light and background just are not coming together.

The quest for interesting subjects has taken me off of the road and across many a sage field, or down many a trail lately and while I see promising signs of ermine, otter, fox, wolves, etc., that is all I have been seeing – the signs that they WERE there but have moved on.

Well, to be fair, we have had a gigantic spurt of wolf activity, mostly for watching because the animals are far away, that kept me interested and hopeful for some nice photographs.  Mostly, it was a lot of hours of waiting, waiting and waiting some more, with very little chance to take far off photos.   No close photo ops, no chance encounters and not anywhere in the vicinity when multiple road crossings took place.  But, I was willing to take the chance that a great opportunity would come my way, and lose out on other photo ops.  I took the gamble and most lost – especially if talking about images to sell.  On the other hand, I gained in watching different wolves and learning more about the animals.  There is always a trade off.

And, while that wolf activity was taking place, the moose were finally being seen.  I went and found some one day but they were not in a place for taking photos so have yet to get one Yellowstone winter 2014 moose shot.  Might as well watch more wolves and wait for 2015!

The truth is, while I am a little nervous about feeling the need to add to my photo library, I came here for the wolf action that has been taking place.  Two years ago, so I have been waiting a long time.  Not sure how that watching is going to pay the bills but do know it is what is in my heart to do right now.

But, still, I have been looking for other photo ops – a trip all of the way to Cooke City yielded nothing.  Hikes on Blacktail Drive, across the sagy rolling hills of Mammoth to the Gardner River, another one following the Gardner River south, Wraith Falls, Blacktail, Tower, Little America, Confluence of the Lamar and the Yellowstone (2 times), Specimen Ridge, all of which are netting some muscle definition in my legs but zero photos.  It is tough to put in so much time and effort, only to come up empty-handed – tough because I can’t really afford it right now but also can’t rid myself of that hopeful feeling that wakes with me each morning.  I may be a bit of a depressive, half-empty sort, but am also an eternal optimist that today will be the day.  Probably the kind of thinking that gets gamblers in trouble, which is why I don’t partake.

There have been two saving graces – the big horn rut and a bald eagle that has been patrolling Gardiner Canyon, on the Gardner river, and picking up what looks like dead fish.  Perhaps a spawn taking place?  I should check on that.  No one seems very enthused about the big horns, even though I have taken some great shots of them, so how about the eagle?

I have had the pleasure of photographing this eagle on two separate days.  The first time I was driving home, talking to my mom on the phone, when I saw him land on a branch near a pullout.  Poor old mom had to go because my trigger finger was itching to shoot.

The eagle was after a fish and flew and landed several times before landing in the river to snag the fish.  Here are some photos from that event.

The eagle flew out of the tree and landed on a log in the river, but hesitated to get the fish even though it was already belly up.

But, he is not comfortable on the log and decides to take his fish and fly

In about 30 minutes or less, this bald eagle satisfied me with several wonder, fairly close, action images.  The light was low and so I had a slow shutter speed which blurred the motion of the wings – but that bothers others, not me.

I will be out again tomorrow, hiking and looking for that special photo op.