Glacier National Park suffers from no shortage of iconic vistas and formations. Hidden Lake lookout, above Logan Pass, is a place you can lose yourself taking in the iconic vistas and mountain peaks. Even the locals (Mountain Goats, Marmots and Bighorn Sheep) seem to stop to enjoy the views from time to time. They also seem to enjoy watching visiting photographers as I found out. The Mountain Goats (photos to come) might just surprise you by being right behind you and Marmots aren’t too shy about inspecting your gear. In fact on a previous trip to Glacier National Park a Marmot tried to take off with my tripod. Now that I think about it perhaps the locals here are closet photographers when no one is around
Special thanks to BorrowLenses.com as both of these photos were made using their Zeiss Distagon T* 3.5/18mm ZE and Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lenses.
Hidden Lake - Glacier National Park, Montana
Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) - Glacier National Park, Montana
Photo Details:
(Top) Canon 5D Mark II, Zeiss Distagon T* 3.5/18mm ZE, 1/125 sec, f/10, ISO 100
(Bottom) Canon 5D Mark II, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM, 1/320 sec, f/5, ISO 400
Lenses via BorrowLenses.com who I recommend highly!
Yet another urban wildlife encounter ends in death. Yesterday, Wednesday March 29, 2011, a mountain lion was spotted in Redwood City and killed versus tranquilized and relocated. This time I was able to be on site with in minutes of the sad conclusion to this urban wildlife encounter to capture a few photographs.
The last time I wrote on an urban wildlife killing, Two Coyotes Killed In Golden Gate Park, San Francisco – Why Care? there was a huge uproar. At the time residents of San Francisco took a heightened interest in Golden Gate Park’s new residents, but before anything could be done to help the animals a rash decision was made to have the coyotes killed. Since that time the San Francisco bay area has seen a baby deer shot by Oakland police (Outrage over deer shot by Oakland officer) among numerous other sightings of various predators that creep back into urban areas from time to time. (more below)
Invariably safety or liability are the justification for eradicating wildlife in urban settings that are ever encroaching on shrinking natural habitat. While I am fully understanding of safety concerns, consistently the equation in managing wildlife in with an eye on liability is short sighted. The lack of natural predators in urban environments has created a population explosion in fauna including including possum, skunks, rats, raccoons, etc. It is a natural response by larger predators to seek out food sources where they are plentiful and this is increasingly the case in neighborhoods with in short distance of open areas (such as this Redwood City neighborhood). It would seem the vast majority of people fail to remember that predators roam wide areas (urban and rural) and can cover long distances (5-40 miles) in short order.
Sadly the part of the equation seldom evaluated or taken serious by authorities is the benefit these animals provide as it relates to Ecosystem Services. Cost is seen in terms of man hours and liability, but authorities seem to be ever blind to economic benefit of natural ecosystems. Predators, given the chance, would fill a much needed role in “Regulating Services – pest and disease control”. With out factoring in the cost benefit of Ecosystem Services, cost is skewed and used as regular justification for the killing of wildlife. (more below)
Kill Shot Location - Redwood City Urban Mountain Lion Killing
As noted in my earlier writing those living in urban neighborhoods seldom are aware of natural fauna that make up the areas they live. Education is a huge problem, as our day to day routines drive us to focus on anything and everything but the natural resources right under our nose. Travel to a pristine location such as Yosemite or Yellowstone and cars will stop on the highway creating small traffic jams so people can catch a glimpse of wildlife, yet wildlife in our neighborhoods are seen as pests in need of eradication. As a naturalist its painful to see this dichotomy of public perception and no doubt how our news is reported (or unreported as such encounters become more common) is of great influence in how the public reacts to wildlife encounters. You can see the fear exploitation in yesterdays local news segment on the mountain lion killing below to see how the general population is primed to be fearful of natural fauna rather than become educated to their behavior, precautions to take and environmental pressures they’re under.
Revisiting my experience when I first arrived to the scene…
When I asked a neighbor if the mountain lion situation had been concluded with the animal being killed her quick response was, “I certainly hope so”. While I empathize with her safety concerns I can’t help but see a sad day when such attitudes drive remaining natural species to extinction.
Home Owner Wally Oliver Being Interviewed about Redwood City Urban Mountain Lion Killing
This Weeks Friday Freebie iPad Wallpaper: Anemones & Pebbles Friday Freebie features an image to liven up your iPad display with images from my travels… all for free.
If you’re into macro photography there are few things that beat exploring a tide-pool. Some time ago I posted the original version of Anemone & Pebbles just after I picked up my Canon 1Ds Mark III. The detail in the photo blew me away. This weeks Friday Freebie is a tighter crop of a sister photo and it’ll certainly enhance your iPad experience. Enjoy.
Click here to download your free iPad wallpaper. Have a great weekend!
Note: This image is distributed for personal use only and all rights are reserved. If interested in using this photograph commercially please contact me.
If you’re in the mood for a laugh then I highly recommend watching this comedic over-dub to some great BBC wildlife footage. It’s short, funny and I dare you to watch it just once.
I’ve been watching this video as of late to lift my spirits, for reasons I’ll explain in another post.
Few would argue that one of the cutest sea mammals around are Sea Otters. Whether they’re grooming, using tools to crack open shellfish to eat or just warming themselves in the sun Sea Otters seem to have an eternally cute appearance. As Sea Otters rest in rafts you never know what pose they might take. The rare combination is the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” pose between neighboring otters. I happened to get luck one morning witnessing and seeing this classic pose. I do wonder if I’ll catch this pose again… I hope so.
Recently I had a horrible experience getting a much needed photo for an assignment due to increased traffic and limited space. Here are 3 critical steps I learned to overcome these obstacles.
#1: Arrive Early & Be Assertive
I make it a habit to always arrive early to the location of my shoot. This enables me to find the best location to work, scope out different shots, set up shop, locate new & old friends as I wait and ward off others who might intrude on my working space. It’s very important that if others are intruding on your space that you be assertive by give them a clear message as to where your working space begins and ends.
#2: Defend Your Space, Never Give An Inch
If others are not getting the message stand your ground. The minute you give an inch is the moment you lose the respect of those around you. This can be incredibly difficult and even tiring if enough traffic is present interfering with your shoot, but it is worth it in the end. Gaining the respect of those around you will ensure that you can work effectively to get the shot you’re after.
#3: Never Miss An Opportunity to Turn Lemons into Lemonade
While it may seem unorthodox that you have to be assertive and defend your space it is quite normal. In time it’s important to always reconnect with those you’ve had troubling encounters with to reestablish a professional relationship. While awkward at first it’s important to take the high road as you never know how or when word of mouth may impact your ability to get work published or obtain future assignments.
Fast food has an altogether different meaning for Sea Otters. Voracious they’re almost always hunting and clams are among their favorite quick meals. This photo was captured shortly after the clam was pounded with a rock… a common sight to see. Sea Otters make fast work of shellfish, so shortly after this the hunt was on for another meal. In all the time I’ve been photographing Sea Otters this was one of the bigger clams I’ve seen eaten.
I’m due to head back out on Saturday January 23rd to photograph Sea Otters and a variety of shorebirds on my next Sea Otter photo tour. There’s still availability if you’re interested. For those who enjoy Sea Otters, but won’t be able to join me enjoy my growing Sea Otter photo portfolio.
California Sea Otter Eating a Clam - Elkhorn Slough, California
Canon 1Ds Mark III, 1/640 sec, f/8, 840mm (600mm + 1.4x)
In 2009 I was very fortunate to have had some incredible photo opportunities. Selecting my best photos from this past year was much more difficult than choosing my best photos of 2008 and 2007. After taking the time to review the best of the tens of thousands of photos I took this year I narrowed my choices down to the best 50, then best 25 and finally down to these 10 best photos. To view higher resolution versions of these and my other favorite photos of 2009 less the heavy watermark check out the video at the end of this post.
Honorable Mentions:
Honorable Mention #4: Clark’s Grebe and Fish (Aechmophorus clarckii)
This was one of many wildlife photos taken during my Sea Otter Photo Tour trips this year. While Sea Otters are plentiful one cannot ignore the amazing variety of bird life in this area as well.
Honorable Mention #3: Sinopah Mountain Reflected in Two Medicine Lake at Sunrise – Glacier National Park
In early June I was fortunate to arrive in Glacier National Park after a late snow storm. With in the next few days I was graced with amazing scenery and light.
Honorable Mention #5: Yosemite Valley Chapel in Snow Storm
The highlight of the later part of this year was to be present for 11 inches of snowfall in Yosemite valley. It was an incredible experience capturing the essence of winter and the holidays while photographing Yosemite Valley Chapel.
Honorable Mention #1 Illumination
The Sierra foothills are an amazing place and I was quite fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to photograph an Oak tree under an amazing sunset sky.
My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2009:
#10: Sea Otter and Sleeping Pup (Enhydra lutris)
The highlight of every Sea Otter Photo Tour is being able to photograph Sea Otter pups with their mothers. This was one of my favorites.
#9: Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus)
While in Costa Rica I was very fortunate to see a master of camouflage, the Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus). Their intensely green scales and leaf shaped head make them incredibly challenging to find.
#8: Racetrack Textures – Death Valley National Park
One of my favorite landscape abstracts taken at the Racetrack in Death Valley National Park during one of my many photo tours this year.
#7: Mount Grinell Reflected in Swiftcurrent Lake at Sunrise – Glacier National Park, Montana
An early morning view of Mount Grinell reflected in Swiftcurrent Lake just before fog obscured the view.
#6: Zabriskie Point Sunrise, Death Valley National Park, California
Remnants of a storm that swept through the Sierra Nevada mountains added to an already amazing view of Zabriskie Point at sunrise. This was one of the many great landscape opportunities to be had during my Death Valley photo tour.
#5: A Brown-throated Sloth and Her Baby Eat Leafs – Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Wildlife in Costa Rica is plentiful and this special moment of a Brown-throated Sloth and her baby feeding on leafs was one of the many highlights of my trip. My wife was dismayed that this wasn’t my top choice for 2009 as it was her favorite of the year.
#4: Star Trail Abstract
This ultra long exposure of the Milky Way over silhouetted mountains is among my top favorites this year.
#3: Racetrack Light Lasso – Death Valley National Park, California
Never satisfied with the status quo I had a blast experimenting with some light painting on my Death Valley photo tour. After hours of experimentation I came away with 5 excellent photos similar to this, but this is my favorite.
#2: Pattern Abstract I
In 2009 I was working on numerous photo projects, many of which are still under wraps for the moment. One photo that inspired me to start yet another project was this nature abstract. Stay tuned as there’s more to follow for this project.
#1: Mobius Arch Star Trails
7 hours in the field and numerous more in post-production, this photo of Mobius Arch with star trails in the background came out exactly as I had envisioned. Extremely fond of this location I’m always striving to capture something new when I visit.
Bonus: Best Photo Not Taken By Me…
Normally I highlight photos that I’ve taken through out the year, but this is my favorite photo taken by someone else. Baby G should arrive in early June and if my wife and I are lucky we’ll know the sex tomorrow.
Best Photos of 2009 video
Music “Comfort Zone” courtesy of General Fuzz
Thanks a ton General Fuzz your music makes the video!
Check out more of General Fuzz’s great music at http://www.generalfuzz.net
