Posts Tagged ‘Black Bear’

May
23
2012

Yellowstone Diary: May 14, 2012

We set off from Salt Lake City at around 08:30 on May 14.  A promising day with very clement weather.  We arrived at the west park entrance at around 13:30 after making a few supply stops at West Yellowstone, MT.  The west entrance to the park is just a couple of mile east of the town

It does not take very long to leave the hustle of West Yellowstone behind in favor of the beauty and serenity of the Madison Valley.  Here we found elk in abundance, and also bison, but no calves.

We made our way first eastward 14 miles to Madison Junction, and then northeast another 14 miles  along the Gibbon River to Norris.  From Norris the road heads directly northward for about 20 miles to Mammoth Hot Springs.  At approximately 15 miles along this route there is a rest area named Sheepeater Cliffs, and here we found the lone yellow-bellied marmot shown below.

The image above was recorded at around 14:40 MDT, using the Nikon D4 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm,  Exposure was f/5.6 and 1/2500s, ISO 800 – yeah, I was in a bit of a hurry to get the shot off before the critter ran off.

We continued north to Mammoth, and then veered eastward through the Blacktail Deer Plateau.  Elk, pronghorn, and bison were scattered along the Northeast Entrance Road.  At the Tower Junction we encountered a small group of bison (below).  These animals were pretty skittish, and as soon as they crossed the road they provided us with a rather entertaining display of their running abilities

The images above (one) and below (four) of bison were recorded at about 16:30 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400mm lens at 400mm.  Exposures were f/5.6 and 1/100s, ISO 800.

Near the Thunderer Trailhead in Soda Butte Canyon we encountered the Moose cow and calf (nearly grown) shown below (next four images).  These images were recorded at 17:10 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400mm lense at 400mm.  Exposure was f/5.6 and 1/500s, ISO 3200.

On the return trip westward we encountered several herd of bison – all of these groups contained sturdy calves as shown below.  The three images below were recorded along the Northeast Entrance Road at around 17:45 MDT using the Nikon D4 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm,  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/1600s, ISO 1250.

On our way out of the Lamar Valley we stopped for a shot (below) of the valley looking south from the eastern edge of Lamar Canyon.  Image recorded at 18:00 MDT using the Nikon D800E and the Af-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8 at 45mm, Exposure was f/11.0 and 1/125s, ISO at 100.

The area below Junction Butte is a haven for many species, including bighorn sheep, bison, mule deer, coyotes, and as shown below, pronghorn.  The image below recorded at 18:30 MDT, using the D4 and the 200-400mm lens at 400mm.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/800s, ISO 1250.

Finally, at the end of the day, or at least the end of the light, we encountered this black bear along the short spur road that leads from the Northeast Entrance Road to Petrified Tree.  Images recorded at 19:30 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400mm lens at 400mm,  Exposure was f/5.6 and 1/1250s at ISO 3200.

Images in this entry were processed using Photoshop CS5 (extended) with capture and output sharpening conducted using Photokit Sharpener 2 and Nik Software Plugins (Viveza 2, Color Efex Pro 2).

How did the new Nikon bodies perform?  The D4 is a truly remarkable innovation – although the sensitivity is very similar to that of the D3s, the dynamic range has been dramatically improved – even in the harshest lighting conditions, details in shadow and highlight regions were recoverable in ways in which no previous camera system has been able to render.

The D800E saw limited use on this portion of our adventure – tune in later for a more extensive review of results for this exciting instrument.

Copyright 2012 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

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Posted in Adventure, National Parks and Monuments, Wildlife Photography | 2 Comments »

May
05
2012

Postcards from Glacier National Park

Looking towards higher ground from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  HDR image recorded on July 23, 2011 at around 09:45, using the Nikon D3s and theAF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens at 35mm.  Exposure was f/11 with five source images bracketing +/- 2.o EV, +/- 1.0 EV, and 0.0 EV.

Looking eastward from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 10:00, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 38mm.  Exposure was f/16 and 1/60s, ISO 200.

There was extensive construction along the upper sections of the Going-to-the Sun Road in the summer of 2011.  The automated signal rigs shown above were a common sight.  Image recorded on July 23, 2011 at around 10:30, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 24mm.  Exposure was f/11 and 1/125s, ISO 800.  Handheld.

We found this billy goat just above the Going-to-the-Sun road at a spot below the Garden Wall where we had to pause for road construction.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 10:30, using the Nikon D7000 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens at 400mm (600mm in FX).  Exposure was f/8 and 1/200s, ISO 1600.  Handheld.

Mountain Goat calf near Logan Pass.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 17:30, using the Nikon D7000 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens at 200mm (300mm in FX).  Exposure was f/9 and 1/1250s, ISO 800.  Handheld.

Nanny goat near Logan Pass.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 17:30, using the Nikon D7000 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens at 200mm (300mm FX equivalent).  Exposure was f/9 and 1/1600s, ISO 800.  Handheld.

A Glacier Park Inc ‘Red Bus’ is shown parked at the Logan Pass Visitors Center.  These 1930’s vintage renovated convertible buses operate throughout the park.  Image recorded on July 23, 2011 at around 11:15, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 28mm.  Exposure was f/11 and 1/640s (+1.0 EV), ISO 800.

The view north from Going-to-the-Sun Road into Lunch Creek and Piegan Mountain.  Image recorded on July 23, 2011 at around 11:30, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 24mm.  Exposure was f/16 and 1/125s (-0.67 EV), ISO 200.

Near the north end of St. Mary Lake we encounter this log jam.  Image recorded on July 23, 2011 at around 13:15, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 24mm.  Exposure was f/16 and 1/160s, ISO 800.

 

Heavy Runner Mountain (left) and Reynolds Mountain from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 11:00, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 24mm.  Exposure was f/11 and 1/125s (+0.33 EV, normalized in ACR), ISO 200.

The view west from Sun Point on St. Mary Lake with  , from left to right, Citadel Mountain, Fusillade Mount, Reynolds Mountain, and Heavey Runner Mountain,  in the distance.  Image recorded at around noon on July 23, 2011, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 36mm.  Exposure was f/16 and 1/3205s (+0.33 EV, normalized in ACR), ISO 800.

Steel sighting-map at Sun Point.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 11:00, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 36mm.  Exposure was f/16 and 1/100s (+0.33 EV, normalized in ACR), ISO 200.

West bank of St. Mary Lake from the green side of Sun Point.  Image recorded at around noon on July 24, 2011, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 36mm.  Exposure was f/11 and 1/500s, ISO 800.

We found this bighorn sheep ewe along Swiftcurrent ridge near Lake Sherburne in the Many Glacier region of the park.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 14:00, using the Nikon D7000 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens at 400mm (600mm in FX).  Exposure was f/8 and 1/200s, ISO 1000.  Handheld.

Finally, two images of a black bear sow (above) and her three cubs (below) navagating the shoreline of Lake Sherburne.  The foliage on the lake around Lake Sherburne is extremely mature in spots, and this bear family had to go amphibious to get around some significant obstacles.  The young bears seemed to have no fear of the water, and followed their mother without hestitation.  The color of the black bears in the Many Glacier area is remarkably variable, with many cinnamon-color animals.  Image recorded on July 24, 2011 at around 14:00, using the Nikon D7000 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens at 400mm (600mm in FX).  Exposure was f/8 and 1/800s, ISO 800.

The images included in this picture-postcard summary represent only the briefest overview of the photographic possibilities present in Glacier.  The images were recorded on July 23 & 24, 2011, and are included in a more or less geographically organized fashion, in the way that you would encounter places along the Going-to-the-Sun road from west to east.

Copyright 2012 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

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Posted in Adventure, National Parks and Monuments, Wildlife Photography | 4 Comments »

Nov
21
2011

NE Entrance Road

The NE Entrance Road is one of the major thoroughfares of Yellowstone National Park, linking Tower Junction to the southwest and the northeastern park boundary.  From its western terminus at Tower Junction, the road heads northeast about 0.75 mile to the bridge over Yellowstone River.  The road turns to true east after the bridge.  The road then tracks along the Yellowstone and Lamar Rivers at the base of Specimen Ridge to the bridge at about 4.5 miles, and then another 0.6 miles to the junction with the road leading to Slough Creek Campground.  From the campground, traveling east another 0.75 mile brings you to the west end of Lamar Canyon.  The length of the canyon is about 1 mile, and opens at the east end to the broad expanse of the Lamar Valley.  The road then heads southeast along the Lamar River for 2.75 miles to the Yellowstone Associate Camp, and then another 2.8 miles to the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek.  The confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek is a major park reference point, and both rangers and park cognoscenti refer to the location as ‘The Confluence’.  From here to the park boundary the road runs alongside Soda Butte Creek.

Assuming that you are coming from points west, and after passing through the Lamar Valley, it is just when you think you have left Yellowstone’s geothermal features behind that you run nearly right in Soda Butte at 2.3 miles east of The Confluence.  This extinct cone is just a few feet south of the road.  This is where we associate the story with images.  The image above was shot at a turnout about a half mile southwest of Soda Butte (1.8 miles east of The Confluence).  There is a minor stream here that drains the high ground to the north into Soda Butte Creek.  The relatively abundant water supports the growth of Chokecherry and other leafy plants, generating a stark contrast again the pale green of the sage.  The image was recorded at 11:30 MDT on October 16, 2011, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR at 23mm.  Exposure was f/11 at 1/25s, ISO 200, +0.33 EV.  A dark and mostly rainy day.  The image was processed using Photoshop CS5 with Nik Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 4 plugins.  Capture and output sharpening was applied using Photokit Sharpener 2.

A Google Earth image of the location appears below:

Traveling northeast along the road brings you, after 3.3 miles, to the Pepple Creek Campground, the last camping spot along the road. After traveling another 1 mile you will arrive at the Thunderer trail head (3K3) parking lot and the entrance to Soda Butte Canyon.  Soda Butte Canyon is tucked in between the Barronette Peak to the northwest and The Thunderer massif to the southeast.  The road continues through Soda Butte Canyon, coming after about 1.5 miles to the narrow Icebox Canyon.  There is a very nice picnic spot just at the northern end of Icebox Canyon – we saw a small Griz on the far side of the stream here in the early spring of 2011.  The road continues through Soda Butte Canyon reaching the WY state line at about 5.8 miles further, and the park station at about 2 miles beyond the state line crossing.

This region of the park is home to many animals, including both Black Bear and Griz, but because of the relative steepness of the canyon walls on either side, the wildlife is only visible when they are basically right along the road.  This situation presents a minor hazard, since it is possible to encounter Griz with relatively little advanced warning.  If you stop along the road here, I strongly advise you to keep your bear spray close at hand.  On this visit was were fortunate to catch a glimpse of a Black Bear foraging along the north side of the road.  The location was approx 100 meters northeast of the turnout for the Thunderer Trail.  We were able to watch this bear for about 30 minutes before it wandered off into the dense forest. I have come to notice that Black Bear rarely look directly at me, and perhaps even avoid direct eye contact.  Many species consider eyes-on to be a threatening gesture, and I suspect that Black Bear are quite adept at avoiding conflict.  This behavior is quite distinct from that of Griz, which will tend to keep a steely bead on you at all times.

Images of the Black Bear were recorded at around 17:30 MDT on October 16, 2011, using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/4.0 and 1/125s to 1/200s, ISO 6400.  Yeah, here as in many posts, these images are possible because the D3s + VR exist.  The noise is actually pretty modest, but the color noise components were reduced using Nik Dfine.  Additional processing was applied using Nik Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 4 and Photokit Sharpener 2 plugins.

Copyright 2011 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

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Posted in Black Bear, Fall Color, National Parks and Monuments, Wildlife Photography | 2 Comments »

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