Sunsets at The Azure Gate

Although I essentially focus on wildlife, I won't pass up an opportunity to photograph a nice sunset, or moon, or other landscape. I must admit, however, I am not very good at landscapes. They overwhelm me and so I often can't get the composition right or the color right or the focus right. Nonetheless, here are three photos taken at The Azure Gate in the past week:

Javelinas are Back

Yesterday just before sunset, eight Javelinas came prancing through our property. Two of our guests saw them right away and came out with their camera. I saw them as they wandered over to a waterbowl for a drink. I immediately went and told guests (from Canada) after which they came out with their cameras. Javelinas are fascinating to watch, especially when they come in small "herds" like this. Javelinas present the photographer with a challenge. Their bristle-like hairs shimmer when nervous making focus more difficult. You might think you have one in focus, but turns out not to be so. In any case, a fun and exciting day at The Azure Gate B&B.

HOOFED MAMMALS: Mule Deer Stories-IX

The last of the Mule Deer stories (for now) will be another example of "stopping to smell the roses (sunflowers)." Again, I was in Yellowstone looking for wolves, grizzlies, and moose. While I was tempted to power through and keep searching, I decided that a few minutes photographing these Mule Deer bucks eating amongst the wildflowers would be a nice break and in reality wouldn't take up much time anyway. Note that there is still velvet on the antlers, so they (the antlers) are still growing -- I think this was July.

HOOFED MAMMALS: Mule Deer Stories-VIII

Animal babies are always fun to watch and photograph. I wonder sometimes whether I am the first human being they have ever seen -- especially when they seem curious about me. Wildflowers also give wonderful color to a photo as well as tell you something about the time of year and the terrain. Occasionally, you get both babies and wildflowers as in today's photos. The first is a young Mule Deer found atop Mount Elden near Flagstaff. I was actually looking for Black Bear without success, but ended up pleased with the young deer:

In an area like Yellowstone it is easy to pass up photos of deer --- even elk and bison, because I am really looking for Gray Wolves, Grizzlies, and Moose. I remember something DeWitt Jones, a photographer for National Geographic once said, "Every once in a while don't take your camera with you, just simply enjoy nature with the naked eye." While I do that from time to time, the message also is, "don't be so quick to run off looking for something else when you have a beautiful "scene" of nature right in front of you" -- i.e. "stop and smell the roses." Such was the case with these Mule Deer fawns trotting through the wildflowers trying to keep up with their mom: 

HOOFED MAMMALS: Mule Deer Stories-VII

Whether it is Mule Deer or White Tailed Deer, they are so plentiful that photos have to be unique or otherwise special in some way. I have said before I will usually stop and look at deer, but won't photograph them unless the lighting, background, is different. Today's photos are from Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge in Central Oregon. The first photo was taken in the Springtime. I thought the bird on the deer's back was unique. Didn't realize until I got the film developed that the deer was also "pooping" at the time.

The next photo was taken during the hot summer. Notice the Mule Deer still has velvet covered antlers. The tall grass makes this a good photo.

Now, we are into winter for the last two photos. The first is a large buck with a doe. Notice the velvet  is gone from the antlers. In the last photo, the thistles and the coloring make the photograph.

HOOFED MAMMALS: Mule Deer Stories-VI

Sticking with National Wildlife Refuges for a while, here are two photos. The first is a Mule Deer Buck at Julia Hansen Butler National Wildlife Refuge in Washington State. The second photo is of a Mule Deer Doe taken while she was crossing the Vegosa Creek at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico (not Nevada).

HOOFED MAMMALS: Mule Deer Stories-V

Here is another wonderful photo from another of my favorite places: Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Southeastern Oregon. Hart Mountain is noted for its Pronghorn. Lots of stories there, but I will save them for another time. Wild animals in snow, like wild animals in water make for beautiful photos because of the contrast and because it tells the viewer more about the situation. Obviously cold, this doe didn't seem to mind. She didn't seem afraid of me, but never took her eyes off of me either.