An Animal to Admire

Bison are incredibly well equipped to survive the harsh winters of Yellowstone National Park and the Great Plains. Their heavy coats protect them from temperatures as low as -25 degrees F. Their bodies are so well insulated against the cold that snow and freezing rain that land on them don't melt. This is why bison are often seen with faces totally covered with snow or frozen moisture as they exhale. Bison use their massive heads to sweep aside deep snow as they search for the grass below. 

Their adaptations notwithstanding, about nine of every 100 bison will die during the winter. Most of these were ill, injured, old or in poor condition at the start of winter. Young bison facing their first winter have a higher mortality rate, with between 20 and 40 of every 100 not surviving. Major causes of death include accident, lack of food and predation.

Colorful Domes

I reached back in my photo files for this image of some of the colorful domes of a church inside Moscow's Kremlin.

Under the Big Arch

As its name implies, Utah's Arches National Park is home to a lot of natural stone arches. The park contains more than 2,000 documented arches, in addition to balanced rocks, fins, pinnacles and other geologic formations. 

During a hiking trip to Arches a few years ago, I photographed each member of my group standing under this iconic arch. This image is my favorite of the ones I took. 

If You Like Nature Photography ...

I love photography, and I love sharing my photographs with others.

I also love elephants, and I am very concerned about the survival of this amazing species. To that end, I am selling custom, made-to-order wall calendars, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Elephant Crisis Fund (www.elephantcrisisfund.org)

Each calendar features a different full page (8-1/2x11 inches), full-color photograph each month. (The picture to the right shows the calendar page for January 2019). 

Through Nov. 27, the cost for each calendar is just $20, domestic shipping and sales tax included. These are not mass-produced calendars. You get to choose the subject of the calendar from the possibilities below.

elephants
bears (grizzly and polar)
trees
landscapes
silhouettes
birds
bison
Yellowstone
Utah's natural beauty
big cats (lions, leopards, cheetahs in any combination)
American wildlife
African wildlife
scenes from the American Southwest
sunrises/sunsets
African wildlife
Yosemite

Or you can mix and match images from any of the categories above. 

Payment is accepted via PayPal. Calendars will be delivered in about a week from the day they are ordered.

Chipmunk with Nut

This cute chipmunk was sitting near Yellowstone Lake, in an area populated by numerous geysers and other thermal features. I was lucky to spot the little creature scampering across the ground, and my 400mm lens allowed me to get some close-up shots without approaching too closely. She/He sat there for several minutes gnawing on the nuts held in his hands. I like the small yellow flowers behind the animal as well.

Flying Monkey

I watched this young gelada monkey in northern Ethiopia climb this dead tree, then sit atop a limb looking over the terrain below. Suddenly it leapt into the air, and I was fortunate to be able to catch its leap with my camera.

It landed safely on the ground a few feet below and then scampered off to engage its fellow youngsters in play.

Lavender Sunrise

My group got up really early one morning to photograph the sunrise over Yellowstone Lake from the West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. This gorgeous scene was the reward.