Come on Sun, You Can Do It

I spent a considerable amount of time in the Upper Geyser Basin on this trip. I saw Old Faithful erupt more than twenty times(even at night), but this was my favorite eruption.

Everything came together and made for outstanding images. 

Remnants of storm clouds from the night before moved across the sky.

Just a minute earlier with the sun hidden behind the clouds the scene looked like this. To the east I saw a gap in the clouds and rooted for the sun to come out before the geyser erupted. "Come on sun, you can do it."  

I visited with a guy from Ohio, one of only a few dozen people waiting for the eruption at 7:30 in the morning. We both continued to wait and hoped for the sun. 

The conditions were perfect for great images, the golden grass, the beautiful clouds, the blue sky. All I needed was the sun.

Old Faithful coughed a little and burped a little water and steam, indicating an impending eruption. I held my breath, waiting on the sun.

Just as a column of super heated water and steam shot out of the geyser and over 100 feet into the air everything came together. The clouds parted and the sun shone through.

It was even better than I had hoped. There was more steam, the colors were more vivid, and the eruption lasted longer than most. Old Faithful had shown its best.

The colors and light were unbelievable. I was smiling and laughing as I photographed the scene.

The eruption lasted only a few minutes, five at most. Lucky for me, the sun made it through the clouds just in time and stayed out for at least six minutes. Perfect.

After the eruption a column of steam rose from the cone of Old Faithful Geyser and steam from Castle Geyser mirrored it.

What an excellent morning in an outstanding place. Only Yellowstone.

Finally....

A few years ago I noticed a blue flag iris like this growing at the edge of a pond in summer. I never took any photos, but really liked how it looked.

At the time I didn't even know what kind of flower it was.

Over the next couple of years I noticed the flower growing near different ponds and lakes I visited.

Every time I found them, either the flowers were past their prime and not looking the best or I didn't have my camera with me.

This past weekend everything changed.

I went looking to photograph elk near Clam Lake Wisconsin and only saw two elk after sunset. Needless to say, I didn't get any elk photos, but I did find a great looking blue flag iris growing at the edge of a small pond.

 

The first evening I found the flower I only had a couple of minutes to take pictures before the sun went behind the trees and I lost my light.

So I was there the next morning by 6:30 to get another shot at it. In my head I had an idea of the image that I wanted to create. 

I'm glad I went back because I was able to get the photo that I had imagined and a bunch more as well.

It's Been Awhile

It had been more than ten years since I had gotten close to a new born white-tailed deer fawn in the wild. And more than twenty years since I was able to make any photos of one. A few days ago my luck changed and I got to spend some time with the fawn above.

I spotted the small fawn standing with it's mother and went to get my camera. On my approach, the doe ran off and her fawn dropped to the ground and lay there. Being motionless is a young fawn's primary defense. 

Just after birth the doe licks her fawn clean and make it as scent free as possible. The fawn then lays in a sheltered location and rests while its mother eats or rests nearby. The doe moves away from the fawn so it doesn't draw the attention of any possible predators.

As I approached the fawn I talked quietly to it and worked quickly to get the photos I desired and limit the stress on the little deer. After I finished photographing the baby white-tail I left, and it was still lying motionless in the grass at the edge of the woods. About twenty minutes later I went back to where the fawn had been laying and it was gone.

What a great evening in northern Wisconsin. This was the second new born fawn I had been close to in about a week and this time I was able to get some pictures. Talk about good luck.

Baby Geese

A beautiful ball of golden fluff. This baby Canada goose is probably a couple of days old.

Another gossling and a beautiful blue sky.



In order to keep the gosslings safe and their parents happy, I usually only spend a minute or two with each baby goose.

This adult Canada goose is a really good parent, telling me to keep my distance while shielding its gosslings. Most geese stay near water while the gosslings are little. At the first sign of possible danger the adult geese lead their babies into the water and out away from shore. The water provides safety from most mammals, but leaves the gosslings open to predation from snapping turtles and large fish.

Just for fun

I have made thousands of photos of common loons over the years and this is my favorite.

The red eye and the striking combination of white and black, along with the almost surreal quality of the green water make this one of my favorite wildlife photos.

The reflection of green coniferous trees along the shoreline gives the water its beautiful green color. The loon's own striking coloration and patterns do the rest.

I would like to thank Ben and Margaret for inviting me to their place on a northern Wisconsin lake and Ben for his good nature and patience during the early mornings we spent on his boat. This image wouldn't exist if it weren't for their generosity and kindness.

Home on the Range

I left Wisconsin on a trip out to Yellowstone awhile ago. I drove through the night and was somewhere in North Dakota as the sun came up. I pulled off the highway to take a few photos of the beautiful sky at sunrise. It was a chilly October morning, but it felt good to be out of the car, good to be outside. After photographing this scene and driving away I noticed the sign at the freeway exit. Home on the Range.

It was a good place to be.