Creatures: Opus One

Commenting on the Bryce Canyon posts, my friend Beck had this to say:

I still love the reputed comment of Ebenezer Bryce, who homesteaded the area in the late 1800’s: 
"Hell of a place to lose a cow”


“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”

― Dorothea Lange

The quote from Dorothea Lange (best known for her Depression Era photographs) rings so true in a serious photographer's life.

The big cats were photographed in Wild Animal Park, now known as San Diego Safari Park.

As luck would have it for a photographer: she was fierce, she was ferocious, she was loath to temper her fury and eager to manifest anger and aggression. She was... yawning.

 This coyote was shot in Yosemite Valley, and as luck would have it, turned out to be quite delicious. I love the winter coat this one sports. Our coyotes here along the southern California coastal region where I live don't exhibit such thick and lush winter fur.

Bee Ball. It was getting late in the afternoon when in Alta Laguna Park, Laguna Beach, California once, that I heard the no-mistaking-about-it humming sound of an approaching swarm of bees. I looked around and spotted the dark, amorphous bee blob heading in my general direction. I happened to be near the park's tot lot, when the blob slowed down and proceeded to  mass itself on the branch of an elderberry tree growing next to the tot lot. It took on the shape of a giant pineapple, suspended there in that little tree. Those visiting the tot lot left quite hurriedly, pretty much giving me that portion of the park to myself.

At certain times of the year, bees tend to migrate if the hive they live in gets too crowded. A second queen bee is produced in the hive, after which, part of that colony gathers around her and forms a protective shield. This swarm then takes off to other parts in order to start a new colony.

Over the years, I've seen many swarms pass over and through Alta Laguna Park, as I work there as its park gardener. They seem to generally travel in an east-to-west path and tend to fly low; anywhere between three to twenty feet above the ground. I can always tell when they pass through if I hear panic and pandemonium somewhere in the park, especially from those within the confines of  the tennis courts. Many people freak out when they see and hear them, although there is no real danger of getting attacked by swarming bees. Granted, there are those that are very allergic to bee stings, and are rightly alarmed, but to those that are educated in the life of a migrating bee, the unfolding comedy can be priceless.

Migrating bees have one goal in mind: stay with the queen. They have no desire to make one's day miserable. Where she goes, they go. The queen will lay down and rest somewhere towards the evening, safely ensconced within her living shield of accompanying worker bees. The following morning, the swarm stirs and moves on.  When taking this photo and several others of the swarm, I got as close as six feet without even one nervous buzz from a pair of bee wings. I'm not advocating people to nonchalantly walk up to a bee ball and poke at it with a stick. They are safe though, to approach at a respectful distance and marvel at the natural wonder at hand. It may be a different story with an established hive, as they tend to be territorial and defensive of it.

I did see a car covered in bees once when living in San Clemente, which is located just down the coast from Laguna Beach. Again, it was late afternoon; a woman parked on the street and ran in to get something at a corner liquor store. When she came out, much of her car was draped in a living mass of writhing bees. The cops and a fire engine were called out, that portion of the street was closed off, and I'm assuming they were waiting for a beekeeper to show up and scoop them away. I couldn't stay to see the outcome, as it was getting dark and I had to get home.

Things may be a little different now, that Africanized bees are part of the picture. But remember one thing: a bee is a bee is a bee; swarmers only wish to be with the queen and move on. If the queen happens to land on you, well, that may be a story to save for the grand kids one day... if you live through it.   ;-))

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Series 2

One thing about Bryce Canyon from a photographer's point of view is that it actually is very easy to get stunning photos if one adheres to a couple of principles:

1. Shoot during the Golden Hours: just before and after sunrise and sunset.
2. Compose your shot well.

The geologic chronology and morphology of Bryce Canyon is roughly this: First there is a level area that erodes into a plateau, which erodes more, forming a fin, that further degrades, creating a window or an arch, that eventually crumbles to form hoodoos.

 One of many trails leading down into and amongst the hoodoos.

 

As the sun reaches higher into the sky, those wonderful, rich, vibrant and fluorescent colors become muted and muddied in appearance. The next best time to view Bryce for a Kodachrome moment is at sunset. In fact, below Bryce Canyon in an area which is part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante, is a region named Kodachrome Basin in honor of the once ubiquitous Kodak film which was known for its warm and vibrant colors. Kodachrome Basin is so named for the colors and hues which are showcased within the rock in this area.

I find myself mesmerized by the photo above. The way the hoodoos are lockstep lined up, along with their general shape, reminds me of the columns and colonnades one would find in old and abandoned Hindu temples, far from civilization, guarding the memories of many events of an ancient past tucked away within its myriad rows. I particularly find the uppermost strata to be most fantasy-provoking.

Natural Bridge is one of several arches that inhabit Bryce Canyon. 

This photo of Natural Bridge was created using the photographic technique known as HDR, short for High Dynamic Range. For you geeks out there, below is a definition describing how the technique is achieved and why:

HTG Explains: What is HDR Photography, And How Can I Use It?

This wraps up the Bryce Canyon series. Next comes photos I call Creatures.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Series 1

"Bryce is nice." Bryce Canyon has truly got to be one of the most visually stunning of our national parks.

Located in southwestern Utah, the colors and shapes of the hoodoos are enchanting, mesmerizing, and just plain fun to look at and walk amongst. Bryce Canyon is not an actual canyon, but an amphitheater formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of shallow sea, river, and lake bed sedimentary rocks of an eroded escarpment of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. (phew)

A hoodoo is:
                      "A hoodoo is a tall, isolated rock formation that is common in dry regions.
                           Erosion usually leaves bits of resistant rock that protects the weaker rock layer beneath it."

                                                                                                                             -Wikipedia

 

Thor's Hammer captured at early morning light.

The best time to view Bryce is in the early morning as the sun rises. Early morning rays are not hindered by obstacles such as mountains due to the relatively high elevation of Bryce Canyon, and stream in at low, oblique angles. the rim averages between 8,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation.

As the sun begins to flood the spires and bathe them in that warm, ruddy glow of early morning, the play of colors from the sun, coupled with the natural hues of the rock cause them to light up and reflect the light, bouncing off and amongst the various formations. This intensifies the light and the color to such a degree that the hoodoos seem to fluoresce internally, giving them a glow as if a light were placed inside them. It truly is remarkable to behold! This area of the park is known as Queen's Garden.

 

Named after Queen Victoria, queen of England. Queen's Garden is governed under the realm of a formation known as Queen Victoria, who holds court there. She is sovereign and maintains dominion over this section of the park.

Queen Victoria. No, I didn't take this photo, although my kids might think so.

 Looking down from this vantage point, Thor's Hammer is visible at the right of the photo. Notice the vibrancy of the rock colors in the early morning.

 Taken a little later in the morning, the sun's position is higher and beginning to shift the rays towards the blue spectrum. At the top right one can see "The Wise Men" offering their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ King baby Jesus.

For the Birds: Take Four

Double-Crested Cormorant. La Jolla, California.

Brandt's Cormorant showing a male's colored pouch.

 A cormorant rookery located on an extremely hard to reach cliff face next to La Jolla Cave Point.

 

Heermann's Gull

 

Western Gull

 

I got a kick out this cute little white duck when visiting Wild Animal Park. Initially, he was being photographed due to the bright red beak contrasted against the snow-white feathers. He spotted me spotting him, and a curiosity fest ensued. I had a very large lens mounted on my camera, all perched on a tripod. This seemed to capture the little duck's attention as he eyeballed the strange sight in front of him up and down for a bit, before swimming up closer to get a gander at just what the heck I had and what I was doing.

This little guy would cock his head one way, and then another, at the same time leisurely swimming in one direction and then back. I got quite a few good shots, but this one I feel captured the essence of what this duck may have been feeling and thinking.

This is a Cactus Wren that I photographed from the front porch of a motel room I was staying in while on a photography trip to Joshua Tree National Park, California. About fifteen feet from where I was sitting one afternoon after spending time taking photos in the park, a movement caught my eye in a large cholla plant growing on the motel grounds. It showed up and then would suddenly disappear. I knew it was a Cactus Wren, as no other bird in their right mind would attempt to land on such a precarious perch as a spine-infested cactus, let alone a cholla cactus.

Upon closer inspection, I was delighted and amazed to find a Cactus Wren nest snuggled within the loving (?!!!) branches of the cholla. This little wren finds a suitable place within a cholla and then proceeds to line the space with whatever may be appropriate to create a nest. I would love to see an immature and unsuspecting bobcat, coyote, crow, or raven attempt at getting to her eggs and young!

That wraps up the bird photos. Next, we move on to Bryce Canyon in Utah. See you then!

-Andy

For the Birds: Take Three

La Jolla Cave Point in La Jolla, California, is famous for the mating colors displayed by the California race of the male brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis.

From roughly December through February, the normally drab male of this species dons bright apparel in order to attract potential mates. The neck and top of the head sprout black, fuzzy feathers, while the pouch turns shades of red and green. The pouch colors can be rather intense, especially in strong light.

These birds tend to roost and congregate at the tip of the point in fair numbers and can be seen leaving the roost to forage and return throughout the day. There is an observation deck at the point where one can watch them from an elevated view.

In order to help attract a mate, the male will perform a ritual known as "head throwing". He will stretch out his neck, lift his head up high and open his beak for several seconds in order to dazzle any prospective females. He will continue to do this throughout the day during mating season. This pelican is in the company of several Brandt's cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus.

For the Birds: Take Two

Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret is considerably smaller than its kin the Great Egret pictured below, by about half. It is distinguished of course by smaller size, with yellow feet and yellow around the eyes. The Great Egret sports black feet and green around the eyes.

Great Egret

Great Egret

For the Birds: Take One

Many of these bird photographs were shot at Wild Animal Park and are not on my current web site yet. It is now known as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Eventually these photographs will be included after redesigning and updating the site.

S curve

 

Looks to be a hatchling. Or me first thing in the morning.

 

Until nest time! (Nest... next... get it? Never mind.)

Revisited: Big Sur #3

These are the last of the Big Sur series of photos I took several years ago. I love the place and wish to visit again soon, although that sentiment seems to be an underlying theme to places already visited. I end up wanting to go somewhere new, and rarely, if ever, will go a second time to the same place just to photograph. As it is, there are so many places I want to visit and photograph that one lifetime would not cover, considering I may only have a handful more of good years that could be devoted to some serious photography endeavors. Of course, there will always be exceptions to this rule.

The images below were taken around sunset and just past, known to photographers as the "Golden Hour". There are two golden hours actually: the time just before and during sunrise and the same applies for sunset. After that, the light becomes too harsh and contrasty. You, yourselves have experienced it.

When does one watch the sunset, and why? Favorite time of the day for me? Sunrise. Things are quiet, the air cool, still and fresh, and the sun is low -- bathing the earth with a warm, soft glow. This is especially pronounced in the fall when the sun comes up low on the horizon and seems to take its pleasant and sublime time before reaching up into the upper strata of the sky.

The silhouette of the man above is one of my favorite Big Sur photos. It isn't spectacular, but it does express a sense of serenity; of someone coming down to the water's edge in order to sit, admire, and reflect for a period of time, and to temporarily be at peace with one's self and with the world.

 

 The shot above was taken some ten minutes after the sun was completely down. What appears to be fog is actually the shore break. The effect is achieved by setting the camera on a sturdy tripod and in this case, exposing for 30 seconds.

Point Sur Lighthouse. Taken well after sunset, with an exposure time of 4 seconds. Supposedly haunted. GACK!

That concludes the Big Sur photos. The next set of pics is for the birds.

Revisited: Big Sur #2

Flotsam and Jetsam. Garrapata State Park

Big Sur coastline, Bixby Bridge in background. This general area is one of the easier access points to the shore along the Big Sur drive where one can observe sea otters. Easy to watch, but very hard to photograph properly.

McWay Falls. In order to preserve the pristine nature of this phenomenal little cove, all human access is prohibited.

Dune Doodles, Pfeiffer Beach. Tracks left by little critters crawling over and burrowing under the dune sands. Arch also visible, created by some wind blown dune grass swaying back and forth.