Yellowstone Bison 2026

I made a quick trip to Wyoming last week, and had only a day to spend in Yellowstone.  So I made the decision to focus exclusively on wildlife.  The scenery is stunning, but I've seen and shot it before. Wildlife sightings are more likely to be unique and special.  But the title of this post isn't "Yellowstone Wildlife" because, well, nature doesn't respect my wishes or schedule.  So I saw no moose, no bears, and no wolves.  Only two elk that I just caught out of the corner of my eye as I was passing them, so no shots.  One deer from a considerable distance.  But what did I see? 

American Bison.  LOTS of bison, which fortunately are quite photogenic.

OK, not a bison.  One Uinta Ground Squirrel posed for me on the Blacktail Plateau Drive.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Animals sticking their tongues out will never not be funny to me.

This big fella was conveniently grazing right along the side of the road entering Lamar Valley.  As I stopped my car to take his portrait, he looked right at me and made a sound that I interpreted as a polite request for me to keep moving.  Which I did.

Lamar Valley is known as the American Serengeti.  Seeing this herd in the river did give me Great Migration vibes.  No crocodiles in the water, though.

It's a small thing, but I like how this guy was swishing his tail.

He was swishing and snorting at the lovely lady next to him, actually.  You go, playah.

I didn't notice whatever the heck is dribbling out of this guy's mouth until I was processing my pics.  It's pretty gross, though.

I didn't quite catch this guy rolling around in the dust, but at least the aftermath makes it pretty obvious that's what he was just doing.

I always love seeing the babies this time of year.

Grazing shots are always nice and peaceful, especially when there's a little catchlight!

A final young one being independent, and I'd adequately scratched my wildlife itch.  The abundance of bison in a variety of situations made up for the lack of variety in species!

Related Links:

• Wyoming Wildlife, Part I
• Badlands National Park: Bison
• Wind Cave National Park
• Wichita Mountains NWR, Wildlife
• Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Part I
• Yellowstone Wildlife 2023
• Genesee Park Bison
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, April 2025

 

Brainard and Isabelle Lakes, July 2026

It had been four years since I'd been to Brainard Lake Recreation Area to take pictures of moose and hike to Lake Isabelle.  That was quite long enough in my opinion, so I talked a fellow photographer in the neighborhood into joining me for a trip up there this past Wednesay.

Setting the alarm for 3 a.m. turned out to be be the right call, because we got there just in time to catch this predawn color in the clouds.

Brainard Lake was noticeably lower than in the past, but no less beautiful during golden hour.

We scoured the willows on Brainard Lake's southern shore, but moose were nowhere to be seen.  So we were left with shooting reflections in the still waters at the lake's western edge.

Some driftwood in the water did its best to make up for the absence of moose, with compelling textures.

After giving up on the moose it was time for my favorite hike in Colorado.  My sixth time on this trail, and it never disappoints.  The wildflowers and cascades were as striking as ever.

The final cascade before reaching the lake was absolutely bursting with bluebells.

I have never not taken a picture at this spot in all my visits.  Why wouldn't I?

Like Brainard, Lake Isabelle was also lower than I've seen it in past years.  There was less snow on the surrounding peaks, too.

The outflow was likewise modest.

As we headed back, my buddy hiked a bit farther down along the cascade you walk across right before reaching the lake.  Not surprisingly, it's just as lush and picturesque wherever you look.

As pretty and plentiful as the wildflowers are along the trail now, I didn't find myself compelled to stop and shoot close-ups of many of them.  Just this lone Subalpine Fleabane poking from between some rocks.

Even without moose, the hike was as enjoyable as ever.  We covered 5.89 miles and 627 feet of elevation gain in a little more than  2 1/2 hours, not counting the roughly 45 minutes we spent taking photos.  A truly terrific morning!

Related Links:

• Lake Isabelle, June 2022: Part II
• Lake Isabelle, June 2022: Part I
• Brainard and Isabelle Lakes, July 2018
• Lake Isabelle, July 2015
• Lake Isabelle, August 2014
• Lake Isabelle, July 2012

Columbine Trail

Prior to today I'd gone hiking in North Cheyenne Cañon Park in Colorado Springs three times, and enjoyed every one.  So when I was looking for a place to hike today, I decided to make Trip #4!

The Columbine Trail was today's option, which was made even more attractive by the road being closed for construction so I wouldn't hear cars as I was enjoying my nature.  North Cheyenne Creek was looking pretty as I started off from the trailhead around 7 a.m.

It's not immediately obvious how big this waterfall is.  Not sure I can even call it a waterfall, since it's only about two feet tall.  Charming, though.

I'm getting some really nice sunburst shots with my new Nikkor 10-24 lens.  Possibly because it hasn't gotten sand and oil inside yet to add distracting lens flare?

Helen Hunt Falls were flowing more briskly than I'd expected.  I didn't lug my tripod with me, but handheld was still fine.

I lowered the ISO to 100 and shut down the aperture to f/29 to see if I could get that nice feathery look to the water.  This was the best I could manage, which tells me that if I intend to shoot waterfalls in the future I should bite the bullet and carry the tripod to get the longer exposures.

I did the 9.18 miles and 1,674 feet of elevation gain in a tidy 4:06.  Apparently I can hike faster with only one camera body, a smaller lens, and no tripod. :)

Related Links:

• Mount Muscoco
• Kineo Mountain via Seven Bridges Trail
• St. Mary's Falls, April 2024

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, June 2026

I made my eighth trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge earlier this week to take some animal photos.  Full disclosure: None of these trips have been great.  I haven't gotten that amazing Bison photo, or even seen Burrowing Owls, much less a Black-footed Ferret.  That said, I've also never had a bad trip.  Taryn joined me a couple of times when she was young.  I've seen (and shot) pretty sunsets, feeding hawks, baby owls, and plenty of deer and prairie dogs.  This visit was another good one.

A leisurely circuit around the Wildlife Drive was all I had planned.  This White-Tailed Deer doe showed only mild interest in me before returning to her grazing.

This doe seemed even less intrigued, which I honestly find kind of impressive.

Western Meadowlarks are pretty much another slam dunk on a RMANWR visit, though I usually see them closer.

The Black-tailed Prairie Dogs never disappoint.  These scuffling youngsters were especially adorable.

This Grasshopper Sparrow had a song in his heart that he was only too happy to share with the world.

Desert Cottontails are also just about a lock to spot.  Munching greens was just as important to this rabbit as it had been to the deer.

I hope one of these two can be the first to say that they're sorry.

Prairie dogs eating > Rabbits and deer eating, because prairie dogs grab their food in their cute little paws.

Like I said, another good visit!  I did see the bison herd, but they were a good distance away and backlit.  No owls or ferrets.  I imagine I'll take another shot soon!

Related Links:

• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, April 2025
• City Park & Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, July 2019
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: Mule Deer and Sunsets
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Hawks: December 2015
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: November 2014
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: May 2014
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: October 2012

French Polynesia 2025: Tahiti

When our cruise around the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia came to its sad but inevitable end, we found ourselves back in Papeete with nearly 12 hours until our flight back to the States.  Danelle had once again brilliantly arranged a way for us to pass half of that time -- a guided driving tour around the perimeter of the island.

First stop was 'Ārahurahu Marae, which had the statuary I'd expected on Raʻiātea.

It also had Plantains, which have a uniquely photogenic flower.

Next stop was Cascade Vaimahuta.  I'd decided to forego my tripod and wide angle lens on this tour and was simply carrying my Nikon D750 with its 80-400m zoom lens, mostly due to fatigue and also so I could spend more time just enjoying the sites with Danelle and less time composing photos.

Here at the waterfall I somewhat regretted that decision, but I'm not not happy with the shots I did get.  No chance of capturing the falls' full 263-foot height this way, though.

Botanic gardens like the Jardins D'eau De Vaipahi are always target-rich photo environments.   This Giant Red was an obliging subject.

And yet another waterfall at the water gardens, which were honestly very nice.  We even got to see some of the sacred blue-eyed eels that we'd missed on our ebike tour of Huahine.

The last stop was a lively public beach -- Plage de la Pointe Venus, so named because Captain Cook chose this spot to observe the transit of Venus between the Earth and the Sun here in 1769.  My attention was focused lower, where I noticed this Brown Land Crab...

...and this Red-vented Bulbul, apparently unfazed by the nearby plastic bag.

A fitting farewell to a truly beautiful part of the world that I'm privileged to have been able to visit!

Related Links:

• Bora Bora
• Raʻiātea
• Mo'orea

French Polynesia 2025: Mo'orea

My wonderful wife booked a photo excursion for our cruise ship stop on the island of Mo'orea.  The talented Loreleï of Eyes of Moorea Photography drove us around to several picturesque locations, offering helpful tips on composition and technique. (Editor's Note: She also graciously reviewed this post and provided corrections and clarifications.  What a wonderful person!)

Our first stop was the Parc Public de Ta'ahiamanu, where I zeroed in immediately on this good boy sleeping on the beach.

In the dog's defense, it was a pretty idyllic location for a nap.

Loreleï was directing the group's attention to another spot on the beach, with a postcard view of ʼŌpūnohu Bay.

Hey, that's our ship!

I spotted some small birds hopping about that I hadn't noticed anywhere on the islands before -- Chestnut-breasted Munia.

We drove south and stopped at an unnamed location at the bottom of the bay -- the island's only black sand beach and witness to its ancient volcanic activity -- where a coconut obligingly sat in the surf.

Turning around has often served me well.  In this case I actually turned around and then walked north across a bridge, where I encountered this scene.  The original Tahitian name of the large mountain is the Tohi'e'a, which translates as "hot beast" and is the highest point of the island at 1,207 meters (3,960 feet).

Back in the truck and off we went to a field of sugar cane.  Most of the group were taking pictures of flowers on one side of the road.  I turned around again, crossed, and took this shot of Mou’a Roa, which translates to "long mountain" in Tahitian or Bali Hai from the movie South Pacific.

Pineapple plantation next, where I decided to get a little more closer for my shots...

...and closer still!

Last but not least to the Belvedere Outlook, with this beautiful view (ha!) of Mount Rotui and Cook's Bay (Paopao in Tahitian).

Really a fun experience in a gorgeous setting.  Loreleï definitely knows her stuff, and I was delighted to learn a few things!

Related Links:

• Bora Bora
• Raʻiātea
• Tahiti