I captured these American Pika (Ochotona princeps) images during a shoot this summer in Rocky Mountain National Park, achieving one of my “checklist” photo goals for this summer. I put these animals on my checklist for a couple of reasons. First, obviously, they are highly photogenic. Second, they are a welcome challenge to photograph. Pika are smaller than a Guinea pig, move fast, and do not sit still for long. Third, their biology is interesting. Pika do not hibernate; instead, they spend the brief alpine summer collecting and drying hay to consume during the winter, making careful use of toxic plants to keep the hay piles from decaying.
The final reason, however, is sobering. Pika are relics of the last ice age, and are extremely intolerant of heat. (Some reports say that they will die within one hour if exposed to temperatures higher than 75 degrees Fahrenheit). To some degree they can move up slope to beat the heat, but for obvious reasons that only works until they hit the top. (The animals in these images, for example, already reside among the highest mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. They cannot go higher in search of cooler temperatures). Pika face further problems from global warming, because they depend on snow cover for insulation in winter. In short, Pika are at serious risk from climate change. I made these images to capture the Pika while I still can, and to bring some small amount of attention to their plight.
Ok, enough soapbox. I really like these images, though in reviewing and editing them I realize that I often tried to get too close to the Pika, struggling to capture frame-filling images (like the third image below). My favorite images from the trip show how the Pika fits into its environment (for example, notice how well the Pika above is camouflaged in the talus slope) and show just how small the animal is.
If you enjoy these images, please post a comment below. And please give a thought for the Pika next time you think about climate change.
Shooting in Arches is a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because the Park has some of the most spectacular (and photogenic) landscapes around. A curse, because lots and lots of photographers have made images of said spectacular landscapes. It’s easy to make images of beautiful scenery, but hard to make something original. The image above is illustrates both points. Delicate Arch is beautiful and iconic. But when I shot this image, I had to wedge myself into a firing squad of other photographers — all making more or less the same image as here.
The second image, above, is an attempt to break out of the photographic cliches of making “straight” photos in the Park. This is balanced rock — another icon of the park. I used the hazy clouds to make silhouette. Not spectacular, but at least it’s not a cliche.
This is another attempt to break away from cliche. The departure here has more to do with the quality of the light (hard, mid-day light) rather than the composition or subject. This is in Courthouse Wash (a great, spectacular, and kid-friendly hike). Instead of shooting this in the sweet light early or late in the date, I tried capturing an image in mid-day light. It says at least a little bit about the heat and hash light of the desert. (It also says that my kids won’t get up before dawn to hike so that I can shoot the sweet light, but that’s another story).
This image (of Turret Arch looking through the north window) is even more of a cliche than Delicate Arch. All of the calendar shots you’ve seen of this image were all made from the same six-foot by eight-food ledge opposite the North Window. Every one. Most have better morning light than this one (as you can see, the sky was heavily overcast, and I never got the sweet light I was waiting for) but I like this image because the light is a little different than usual.
Full cliche warning here (Balanced Rock) but at least the clouds are interesting.
I have posted a collection of red fox images. I hope to post some additional collections soon as I finish fleshing out the new site. Enjoy.
I have added many additional images to the Night Blurs collection. Enjoy!
These images are from an evening side trip to Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah made while I was camping at Arches with my family in late spring. When I captured these image, I was a little disappointed with the light. I hoped for a spectacular sunset, but a late-day storm largely blocked the setting sun. After reviewing these images, though, I realize that the storm light was a blessing in disguise — I like how these images capture the feeling of the misty storm light.
Incidentally, I did not have time at Dead Horse Point to really do it justice. (One of the hazards of combining a family and photo trip). This is a spectacular park, perched on the edge of a cliff 2000 feed above the Colorado River. I could easily spend several days photographing there. Highly recommended if you’re in Moab.
These is a multi-image panorama of the Monitor and Merrimack buttes, located just outside Dead Horse Point. (By mult-image panorama, I mean that the image is stitched together from several frames in Phtosohop. This image would print 26″ wide at a reasonable resolution). Frankly, the thing I like best about this image is that the subject matter is not a cliche. So many talented photographers have worked the area around Moab that it’s hard to make an image that one hasn’t already seen a million times before. Compositionally, this image is nothing spectacular, but at least the subject matter is fresh.
This is a horizontal view of the same scene as the opening image above. I can’t quite decide if I like this better or if I prefer the monochrome image below.
This is a wider horizontal view of the same scene. I converted it to monochrome and toned it in Photoshop. By zooming out, I changed the focus from the ridge running into the distance to the wash beside the ridge. The image seems a tad bit busy or “unfocused” to me, I still like it.
I stumbled across this image while I was searching for something else in my archive. I must have passed it over when I made my initial edit from the shoot, but on second review I decided I liked it enough to optimize it. This is the result. (As always, click on the image for a larger version).
Look for some more substantial, substantive posts soon.
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