My First Year as a Wildlife Photographer: Top 10 Photos
My first year as a wildlife photographer created so many fantastic experiences in my life. These experiences included countless nights of travel, including 20 states and 7 different national parks. During that travel, I was able to go on tons of hikes and even make new friends in the photography community! On top of having an epic year, I was also able to improve my photography skills exponentially. If you know me personally, you know I LOVE to learn and this year wildlife photography has been a huge part of my growth. Now, I am scaling my social media and even creating this blog and website. Let’s get into my top 10 photos from this year (FYI: They are all for sale in my shop!):
#1 Lone Wolf of Yellowstone Lake: This wolf was feasting on an elk carcass in Yellowstone Lake. Occasionally, she would leave the carcass to rest on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. During the short travel to her resting area, she took a turn and posed perfectly for me where I was able to capture this photo. Not only is it rare to get to experience a wolf in this capacity, it is even more rare to capture a wolf as well as Yellowstone’s unending landscapes in the same photo.
#2 Velvet Mist: This moose, located in Hayden Valley of Yellowstone National Park, shared a quick moment with me. I saw him disappear into the pines but knew there was an access road in that direction. So, I scurried away from the crowd and was able to set up in the wooded area ahead. He then appeared in the field, posing perfectly for me. Red willows in the foreground, pines in the background, and rain coming down overhead. A unique shot and moose experience!
3) Hiding in The Sage: Bison of Antelope Island State Park hiding in the sage on a late fall morning. I chose to make this photo monochrome to encompass the simplicity of the shot. Bison and Sage brush. Two common things at this park put together to make a stunning, wall worthy photograph.
4) Moping Oxbow Bend: Not wildlife… I know but bare with me. Sunset at Oxbow Bend filled with grey’s and lack of color. Typically during sunsets you would want lots of different vibrant colors, but on this day I was able to capture quite the opposite. Oxbow Bend was in a mood and I loved every second of it!
5) Pronghorn Blues: This is the first photo I ever captured that truly encompassed an animals landscape. The blue background, snow covered mountains, and grasslands projects the habitat of Pronghorns in Northern Utah, especially those living in Antelope Island State Park.
6) Silhouette and Sunshine: Bison bull pressed in front of a perfectly composed sunset at Antelope Island State Park in Syracuse, UT. This massive bull just finished wallowing, kicking up dust, and rising up to pose perfectly for this photo. The most unique bison experience I have ever captured.
7) Shadows of Bug Eyes: The most curious animal I have ever met. This doe of Arches National Park started off about 50 yards in front of me.. then got closer, and closer, and closer until eventually I got this shot. I love her big “bug” eyes, the shadows of the bushes around us, and the curious look on her face.
8) Yawnin Youngin: Young mule deer yawning during an early morning in Antelope Island State Park. Sitting low in the sage, this buck did not even know I was there. He was enjoying himself, strolling by, and trying to wake up. It is always an intense moment when you get to spend time alone with large animals such as mule deer.
9) Black & White Wapiti’s: Black & White Wolves of the Wapiti Lake Pack in Yellowstone National Park. These wolves were approaching me, among other photographers, while trying to cross the road off of Yellowstone Lake. They eventually got forcefully scared off by park rangers after feasting on an Elk Carcass for hours while bystanders (myself included) watched in awe. I particularly love this photo because of the Yellowstone thermals seeping out creating a hazy foreground. Sure, the picture of them without the haze might be sharper, but this one.. This one really encompasses everything Yellowstone has to offer.
10) You’ve Got a Friend in Me: Bison travelling with a small murmuration of European Starlings at Antelope Island State Park. European Starlings have a commensal relationship with Bison, both in Antelope Island and Grand Teton National Park. These small birds will eat bugs out of the bison’s fur without having any real effect on the bison themselves.
