Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 15: The Wild CoyotePosted by drfl on October 29th, 2010

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l, f/4, 1/1000 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

After seeing two Coyotes – One at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska/Iowa and one at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri, and being completely unprepared and too far away, I was finally able to capture a coyote at a reasonable distance. As I was preparing to leave after photographing the elk that I detailed in two previous posts this week, I saw something running through the grass away from the herd of elk. My camera ready, I snapped several photos of the wily critter as he made his way through the tall grass. I followed him for a little while and from a distance, watched him hunting and pouncing. Amazingly, from the large crowd of people, only one other couple joined me in watching the coyote frolic. After a while, the coyote was done with us and took off into the grass.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/500 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Excited at what I had witnessed and captured, I took my camera back to the cabin and showed my wife and daughter the images of the coyote. As it was too early for my daughter to rise (she is three after all), I told my daughter that someday she could come with me to see the coyote in the early morn too.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Toward sunset that day my family and I made our way back into the park to travel up to Bear Lake to capture sunset. As we were stopped in an elk viewing traffic jam, we saw the same coyote running by the side of the road. I snapped a few shots then, but I was pleased to know that my entire family was able to witness the coyote as he ran. After the trip, when people ask my daughter what she saw in Rocky Mountain, she enthusiastically answers “Coyote!!!”

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/800 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 14: Moose! (A Cautionary Tale)Posted by drfl on October 28th, 2010

On the first day at Rocky Mountain, I wanted to hike up to Big Meadows on the west end of the park.  I had heard that moose frequent the area and I wanted to see if I could get a shot.  When I arrived I was enamered with the pleasant stream and frosty foliage so I began shooting my surroundings.  As the sun began to illluminate the sky I stood up from where I was positioned in the stream to turn around and see a big, dark, beast moving my way.  In my hand, I had the wrong camera and wrong lens and my bag was several yards back towards the big guy. Slowly, I moved back to my bag, careful not to make too sudden of a move.  I grabbed my camera and popped up just as he was about to duck back into the forest.  I only got a couple of shots before he was gone.  The images I captured were unfortunately at too low a shutter speed to be crispt, but at least I was excited that I saw a moose (a fairly rare occurance).

I continued to shoot the meadow for sometime when I saw him (or what I thought was him) coming back up the valley.  I quickly moved to the trail that went through the forest bordering the meadow hoping not to disturb him.  After walking for about 5 minutes I realized that I wasn’t sure where he was.  I popped out of the trail and encountered him face to face!  I took two shots and realized that I was being idiotic (Moose are considered more dangerous creatures than Grizzlies by many, especially in the fall) and I quickly retreated to an abandoned and mostly destroyed cabin.  He passed me by on the trail, his shoulders higher than my head.  I waited a couple of minutes before following, careful not to sneak up on him.  I didn’t see him again as I descended back to the trailhead.  It wasn’t until I analyzed the photographs that I realized that I had actually encountered two different moose.  I didn’t get much of a shot, but I did get something to remind me of the experience – for next time! (Be prepared and be careful!)

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 13: More ElkPosted by drfl on October 27th, 2010

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l, f/4, 1/250 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

I couldn’t help but post a second day of Elk.  I must admit, the morning was fruitful on images of these large creatures.  In this series of two this bull bugled loudly and then shared a moment with a cow.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l, f/4, 1/320 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 12: Bugling BullsPosted by drfl on October 26th, 2010

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/800 sec.
Near Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

During the fall months when the elk bulls are in the rut, crowds of people gather to watch these creatures.  When I visit Rocky Mountain, I don’t mind stopping occasionally to watch the powerful elk, but I am not a fan of crowds and usually prefer the solitude that a trail before dawn has to offer.  Unfortunately, I became ill a couple of days into my stay in Colorado and my wife encouraged me to rest.  Unwilling to completely comply, I decided to not hike one morning and to join the crowd and spend a couple of hours photographing the elk.  Here are two captures of bull elk bugling, the sound reverberating across the valley.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l, f/4, 1/125 sec.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 11: A Colorado ChipmunkPosted by drfl on October 25th, 2010

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/160 sec.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

This week will be filled with wildlife. Today, I’m starting small with two chipmunk photos. This critter visited us while we were picnicking at the Endovalley picnic area. I love his fat chipmunk cheeks!

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/160 sec.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 10: Final RestPosted by drfl on October 22nd, 2010

Today is the last day in the aspen leaf series. I found this leaf after hiking up to Big Meadows on the west end of Rocky Mountain National Park. I was particularly drawn to the contrast of the warm hues of the leaf with the cool tones of the foliage.

Come back on Monday for wildlife week!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 50 CM, f/9, 2 sec.
Big Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado