Making do....

I was hoping to do sunrise at West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone Park, but got there a little late.

The sun was already cresting the horizon.

Things were moving fast and I felt lucky to find this lodgepole pine tree to use as a focal point for the images.

By changing my location and staying low I was able to take advantage of the beautiful color and light.

All and all I was pretty happy with what I did silhouetting the pine tree.

Just down the road I found some more trees, but the sun was getting pretty high by then.

Lucky for me, the steam from the thermal features really helped to make interesting images.

Finally, I worked my way further along the lake to one of my favorite views. I keep going back to these lodgepole pines year after year and they're always good.











Only Yellowstone....

It was 90 some degrees the day before, but only 29 degrees as I stood along the bank of the Yellowstone River waiting for the sun to rise in the Hayden Valley. 

The sun didn't disappoint. 

There were enough clouds to make the sky interesting and not too much fog rising from the river. It was another good morning in Yellowstone.

Smoke from forest fires outside the park made the light a little different, a little hazy.

Later in the day as the temperature again topped 90 degrees I thought wistfully of my chilly morning along the river. Only in Yellowstone.

Fall elk in Wisconsin



A medium sized bull elk pauses before crossing the road.



I didn't expect to get the chance to photograph Wisconsin elk this fall, so I was happily surprised to find myself in Clam Lake for part of three days last week.

 

The fall color was already past peak as seen in these morning reflections. 


  





   


   






   





A spike bull browses at the edge of the forest.







 
   


 
  








A family of wild turkeys heads for the woods after feeding near the roadside.



A bull elk walks across highway 77 on an October morning.





 

Golden oak leaves are back lit in a forest opening.





An immature red-tailed hawk watches for a possible meal from its perch.

  

The weather was warm and clear. It got as hot as 85 degrees one of the days I was there. I saw only eleven elk, five bulls and six cows and calves. I also saw several bald eagles, a few red-tailed hawks, and a coyote.

Photographing elk in Wisconsin is nothing like it is out west. There are only about 180 animals in the state and they behave very differently than their western counterparts. The Wisconsin elk seem content to hide out in the sheltering forests of the Clam Lake area. They have all of the food and water they need right there in the woods and don't seem to seek out meadows or other openings to gather harems in the fall.

In Wisconsin it seems to be a matter of catching the elk grazing along the roadside or in the act of crossing the road in order to get decent photos of them. Even so, with some patience, persistence, and a little luck Wisconsin elk can be fun.

Yelllowstone book!

Sunrise through the steam at West Thumb Geyser Basin on the shore of Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone Park.

Hey everyone,
I put together and self published a 80 page softcover book with photos of Yellowstone Park called Only Yellowstone. If you're interested you can click on the badge on the right side of this page that says 'Yellowstone book'. It will direct you to the Blurb book website where you can preview the book and purchase it if you're so inclined. Or take a look at the book preview right here. 

Only Yellowstone by Jerry Mercier

Make Your Own Book

Thanks a lot and I hope to get some new postings up very soon.
Jerry