Blame it on the HP.  ‘The pictures on your blog are too small’, says the HP.  This in reference to the May 20, 2010 entry.  I respond that they are the standard size (which is about 520px by 347 px, in a frame template).  ‘But, you can’t see what the coyote is eating’, adds the HP.  I explain that I don’t usually publish cropped images, since it’s kind of poor form (a mild understatement in some quarters).  The look.  The look that says, ‘What, another silly rule from your geek-photographer cronies?’  Cronies?  I don’t even have any cronies…  Hmm.

So I sort of forget about the discussion.  Not for long though.  Two days later the HP says, ‘So, did you make up some close-ups of the coyote?’ Not yet sweets.  ‘You should do that so people can see what the coyote is eating’, the HP responds.  There are choices.  I make the correct one.  The results are shown above and below.

So what does the HP think of the cropped images?  ‘Ewww! Cool!’  Yep, blame it all on the HP.

The cropped images of the coyote and some partially consumed rodents were recorded at around noon on May 20, 2010, in the Hayden Valley of Yellowstone National Park using the Nikon D3s and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR lens at 400mm.  Exposures were all at f/8 with a shutter speed of around 1/2000s, ISO at 1600.  All shots were made handheld.  I’m not aware of any lens that is better suited to general wildlife photography than the 200-400mm VR.  It is not light by any means (~7 lbs), nor is it the sharpest lens at long distance, but the ability to shoot handheld is indispensable.

The official map of Yellowstone National Park may be found here.

A Google Earth image of the Hayden Valley appears below:

Copyright 2010 Peter F. Flynn. No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.