A Bear and a Bridge

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This really is a month for the unexpected! On our last day at Yellowstone, we set off early knowing we were heading toward the other side of the park and hoping that an early start would bring more opportunities to see wildlife.

As we sipped our coffee and drove down the road, we suddenly saw a bear ambling across the road. You might remember from yesterday’s post that Geoff had his heart set on seeing a bear during our visit…so imagine our excitement and the jolt of adrenaline when we spied the bear ahead of us on the road! I grabbed my phone as the bear looked up and headed off to the side of the road. I started taking pictures as it headed off, stopping and looking back at us then continuing into the trees.

I was excited that the photos captured the bear…and with some editing, showed some of what we saw. After consulting with some folks at an information center, we think this is a grizzly based on the hump on the back and the fact that it is collared. (They said they believed only the grizzlies are collared in the park…not the black bears.)

This bear sighting was truly the cherry on the top of this trip to Yellowstone! Even the rainy day couldn’t dampen our spirits or spoil our adventures.

As a lark, later in the day we decided to take what we thought was a quarter mile hike to a natural bridge in the rain. Donning our rain jackets with hoods on, we headed down the path through the woods. That quarter mile turned out to be at least a three-mile round trip in a steady downpour…and totally worth it! The natural bridge was spectacular!

We ended our day with dinner at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, a delicious and relaxing ending to three days in the park. The rain stopped and the sky brightened. As we drove out of the park towards our hotel, the sun and clouds gathered to create a gorgeous skyscape. We stopped not far from the arch to take this final photo at Yellowstone.

Our time in Yellowstone has been amazing, filled with the unexpected. We’ve enjoyed exploring the natural beauty, spending lots of time outdoors, and piquing our interests to learn more about the natural world.

There is so much more to say…and so many more photos I’ve taken on this trip. I’m sure you will be hearing more about my adventures in Montana and Wyoming!

Beyond Old Faithful

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Today’s Yellowstone adventures took us well beyond Old Faithful and the thermal features that marked our first day in the park. Today we set out in search of wildlife and waterfalls and found so much more.

Geoff loves bears…and has his heart set on seeing a bear in the park, so we headed toward the northwest entrance and the Lamar Valley where folks at the Yellowstone Association recommended for possible wildlife viewing. And while we didn’t see bears, we did see some other wildlife.

We followed a road we didn’t travel yesterday, and not far into our drive Geoff saw this amazing bird of prey. He quickly turned the car around and passed by it again…as it sat and posed while I took its photo through the open car window. A bit of research has us believing it is a golden eagle.

After such a great beginning we were optimistic as we headed off the beaten path and followed a dirt road for 6 miles in search of other animals. We saw beautiful meadows and listened to the songs of birds as we drove the bumpy, dusty path at about 10 miles per hour with the windows open…but nothing beyond birds and squirrels showed themselves. As we headed into the Lamar Valley we were feeling much less optimistic when we noticed cars pulling off the side of the road. In Yellowstone, that is a signal that someone has spotted something of interest. And sure enough, there were buffalo…a lot of them in the distance. Over a stretch of about 10 miles we saw several herds and some big bull buffalo right up close to the edge of road. We watched them wallow in the mud and listened to them grunt. The calves frolicked as the adults ate and rested. This guy was pretty uninterested in the traffic, people with cameras, and even noisy motorcycles going by. And he made a great photo opportunity for me. If you look closely, you can see the rest of the herd in the distance.

Later in the day, with the help of a photographer with a huge telescopic lens, we located an osprey in a nest with chicks out on a rock formation in the canyon. If you know what you are looking for, it is barely visible in this shot. Geoff was able to get a shot where you can see the birds using a camera with a more powerful zoom than my iPhone.

Toward the end of our day, we also caught a glimpse of some elk and some mule deer…but not close enough for photos.

In addition to wildlife, we also saw amazing waterfalls and canyons today…and spent some time at over 8800 feet! There is still evidence of the devastation of wildfires in some areas, but there are also spectacular forests and green meadows. Here’s a view across the meadow at well over 8800 feet.

I was surprised to learn that Yellowstone has its own version of the Grand Canyon. As we headed out to Artist Point, we saw both the spectacular Canyon Falls and canyon views to take your breath away! I was lucky and glimpsed a raptor in flight, catching the dark wings and white head. I think it may have been an osprey in flight. Catching the just right light to bring the colors to life in a photograph is challenging, but I think this one begins to catch the beauty. This particular spot makes it clear why the park is called Yellowstone.

And a little unexpected treat…way up high on an overlook above Canyon Falls a couple asked me to take their photo. And after I did and handed them back their camera, as I was about to walk away without taking a photo of my own…I was feeling uncomfortable way up high and feeling like I had taken photo after photo of these falls, I noticed a rainbow!

These few pictures are only a scratch on the surface of today’s adventures. It was another day filled with the unexpected and the wonder, beauty and majesty of our natural world. We have another adventure planned for tomorrow…what more will we find in this amazing place?

Zigzagging Through Yellowstone

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A trip to Montana for some work inspired a side trip to Yellowstone National Park–a place neither my husband nor I have ever visited. And after a long day of hiking and exploring and photographing…zigzagging through Montana and Wyoming, on boardwalks, winding roads, and dirt trails, it’s nice to take a little time to reflect (and to put my feet up!).

What trip to Yellowstone would be complete without a trip to Old Faithful? This world renown geyser is iconic. It erupts pretty reliably about every 90 minutes…and draws a large crowd that gathers, jockeying for front row seats. I’ve been interested in taking photos of people lately…and this crowd gave me ample opportunity!

And somehow, we managed to arrive at Old Faithful moments before it erupted. I was able to walk right up and move into a great place for experiencing the eruption. It starts slow, burping steam and spewing water, gathering momentum and height as each burp shoots water and steam higher and higher into the air. At its height, I could feel the warm drops on my body, like a gentle sprinkle.

One of my favorite times of the day was the quiet time we found out on a trail away from most of the thermal action. We hiked through a forest, over a river, up and down trails, enjoying the quiet magic and natural beauty. We heard the loud clicks of insects and watched a chipmunk nibble the leaves of a plant growing up near a fallen tree. I loved watching these butterflies light on the plant in front of me.

As we continued back toward the trail head, we caught a glimpse of Old Faithful…from the back, through trees, far from the crowds gathered.

Later in the day we continued our explorations as we headed back in the direction of our hotel. We almost missed this amazing display of color…thinking we had already seen geysers. And this unedited photo only captures a fraction of what you see in person!

As we headed further down the road to catch a glimpse of some paint pots, the light was beginning to change as clouds gathered and the sun dipped behind them. I love the way the light and shadow plays with these bare trees with the clouds as a dramatic backdrop.

The sky continued to darken as we came around the corner to find this geyser spewing. It seemed to be in continuous action, with water and steam shooting high into the air.

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that we soon found ourselves in a huge downpour. Luckily, we had made it to the car before the sky unleashed. And after a pretty good soaking, the skies began to clear and sun emerged again. As we got closer to the North entrance of the park, the sky was bright and the clouds once again white and puffy.

And the sun was in a great position to take a perfect picture of the historic arch, marking Yellowstone as our first National Park. What a beautiful place! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds as we set off on another zigzagging Yellowstone adventure!

**A side note…I decided on zigzagging for this photo essay because of the zigzagging boardwalks and walkways in the park. Here’s one example:

Weekly Photo Challenge: People

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Do you speak in images? Enjoy taking photos to document your experiences or just to express what you notice in the world? Love to share them with others? Welcome to the weekly photo challenge! I post a new challenge each week…check in regularly and join the fun!

I recently read an article in Wired magazine about Instagram photographer Daniel Arnold. He is an iphoneographer like I am, only he focuses exclusively on photos of people–mostly in urban spaces. I usually take pictures of things, with special attention to natural beauty. But this week I have been focusing on photographs of people–most of whom I don’t know. I experimented with taking photos that feature people on Monday with my post, Beach People.

Here’s one of a group of Junior Lifeguards that I also saw on Monday at the beach. I was attracted to their yellow rash guards…and that they were sitting in rows facing the surf.

It was hard taking photos of people at first…and most of my photos were too far away to capture what was fascinating about the people in the photo. I don’t want to be intrusive or make people feel uncomfortable…but I am starting to come closer. And there are so many interesting people in the world!

I’ve been in Montana this week, doing work at the Intersection of science and literacy. At the SpectrUM Discovery Area in Missoula we had the opportunity to explore, write, and get reacquainted with colleagues from across the nation–and try out some cool science too! And who can resist taking a picture of a big guy in a super small chair?

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the Clark Fork River flows right in the middle of Missoula. And people with inner tubes, that the locals call floaters, seem to be everywhere. They make their way upriver, get into the water on their tubes and float down the river. Once down, they get out of the water, pick up the tubes and head through town back toward their cars.

There’s also lots of bike riders and dog walkers, even during the heat of the day. Outdoors are clearly important here! (And I can see why!)

Last night we hiked our way up the giant M on the side of the mountain overlooking the university. It’s not a long climb, but it is quite steep and there is steady stream of hikers making their way up the switchbacks to this local sight. Once there the M is huge…too big to fit in the photo frame, and a bit slick to climb on.

But you can sit along the edge, catch your breath, check out the map of the university, and take in the gorgeous sunset from this spectacular vantage place.

So this week’s challenge is to take pictures of people. They can be people you know, or you can try your hand at capturing photos of people who pique your interest as you go about your daily life.

You can post your photo alone or along with some words: commentary, a story, a poem…maybe even a song! I love to study the photographs that others’ take and think about how I can use a technique, an angle, or their inspiration to try something new in my own photography. (I love a great mentor text…or mentor photo, in this case!)

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #people for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

There are so many interesting people in the world when we pause to watch and notice. Who will you take the time to photograph this week?

Water on the Brain

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Water: beautiful, powerful, moving, treacherous, life-giving, flowing through our veins, through earth’s veins, taken for granted, precious, tenuous, unpredictable, limited, overflowing…

I feel like I have water on the brain. I woke this morning to images of water flowing–a water main break in Los Angeles had me gasping at the waste of a precious resource. Our drought in Southern California–in CA as a whole (and other western states)–is so severe that I feel the constant of thirst, in my throat, in my heart, for our plants and animals, for our people. Reservoirs and lakes have shrunken to show thick exposed shorelines, creeks are but a distant memory of a trickle. And the flooding in Colorado has me wishing we could share in this bounty rather than experience the extremes of water.

Floods, like their cousins wildfires, remind us that there is much we do not and cannot control.

I spent time today on the banks of the Clark Fork River in Missoula, MT learning and thinking about the indigenous stories of this place. The beauty of the river masks its troubled history and ancient lineage. Indigenous and scientific knowledge swim in these waters that tourists may see as a playground, a place for floating on inner tubes and cooling off in the 90 degree temperatures.

Inspired by the water, I wrote with others as part of a mini writing marathon at our Intersections meeting today. The writing was rich and layered with stories of experiences with water…or no water. And changing the lens…through the indigenous stories and science…prompted our memories and connections, letting the stories pour like the water itself.

Like water, there is power in writing. Power to connect, to heal, to think and reflect. We sometimes forget that writing in unexpected places, creates new urgency and agency for our writing. So go outside, find a place by a river, on the curb, under a tree, or even sit on the car bumper and see what writing comes when you change your lens.

In Search of the Unexpected: August’s Photo-a-Day Challenge

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August means deep summer; those warm, sun-drenched days when energy wanes and you look forward to a light summer read and cool drink, preferably in front of a water source. It’s easy to stop noticing and see each day as a replica of the one before, sameness after sameness lulling your senses into summer-time hibernation.

There’s nothing like a camera lens to wake up the senses…especially if you are on the lookout for the unexpected. Sometimes it is the sound that first captures your attention…this military helicopter came unusually low to the ground as I walked on the beach, swooping in close to the cliffs along the shoreline. Military helicopters are usual—but so close we could wave at the pilot and he waved back is unexpected!

At the zoo, it was the unexpected color—or lack of color—that attracted my attention. Baby flamingos are fluffy and gray, in great contrast to their vibrant elders. These guys almost look like they were photoshopped to black and white.

Hiking can bring it’s share of the unexpected as well. Climbing to the top of Mt. Woodson we found some natural beauty, along with a forest of communication towers!

And on another hike, this phone booth sat along the trail…I guess you never know when you might need to make a call! (I didn’t check to see if it was in working condition.)

Where I live, we seldom find the unexpected in the weather. Night and morning low clouds with afternoon sunshine is almost a mantra for forecasters. So the unexpected rain the other morning created quite a stir at the restaurant while we breakfasted. Lightening flashed and thunder boomed…and the raindrops poured from the sky. Walking across the street to the car had me walking in ankle deep runoff!

At UCSD, I had walked by this metal tree many times…there are a few as part of an art collection there. But until a few weeks ago, I had not noticed the contrast between the organic shape of the metal tree and the angular lines of the distinctive architecture of the library behind it. The unexpected similarities and differences made me pause when I saw it from this new angle.

It was a gathering crowd that drew my attention as I walked down the beach yesterday. A surf class? A party? No…a dead shark with a not-so-dead octopus slithering out of its mouth. The crowd moved in, fascinated by the close up view of this creature. I found myself equally interested in the people in the crowd, the ways their bodies leaned in. And notice the mom holding onto her boys…

And my macro lens can always be depended on to help me see unexpected beauty. I’ve been watching the dandelions in my yard (there are only two or three) and photographing the different stages of their growth. Between the yellow flower and the iconic fluff ball stage, there is a stage where the dandelion looks dead. But through my macro lens, I was able to capture the hint of what was yet to come.

So August’s challenge is to look for the unexpected as you enjoy the last of the long light and warm days (at least in the northern hemisphere). And to help you look, here are some prompts—one per day—to focus your attention and spur your thinking.

1. People

2. Place

3. Nature

4. Plants

5. Animals

6. Horizon

7. Food

8. Transportation

9. Light

10. Home

11. Smell

12. Sound

13. Garden

14. Inside

15. Thing

16. Drink

17. Sky

18. Outside

19. Neighborhood

20. Weather

21. Early

22. Texture

23. Words

24. Interaction

25. Walk

26. Arrangement

27. Trash (#Litterati)

28. Architecture

29. Close up (Macro)

30. Landscape

31. Pleasure

Once you find the unexpected and capture a photo of it, post a photo each day with the hashtag #sdawpphotovoices to Twitter, Instagram, Flicker, Google+ and/or Facebook (the more the better!), so that we can all enjoy the posts. If you are game for some more playfulness, compose a blog post about a photo, a week’s worth of photos, write a photo essay, make a video or slideshow or try a learning walk! You are invited to create a pingback by linking to this url or post your blog address in the comment section. It’s fun for me to see what others are doing with the same prompts I am using!

With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time for some playfulness and experimentation…look for the unexpected in your world–let it surprise you, delight you, maybe even horrify you! You can post every day, once a week, or even sporadically throughout the month…whatever works in your life. You can play this game by posting your pictures in the order of the prompts or post the one you find on the day you find it. You get to make your own rules! Be sure to share and tag your photos with #sdawpphotovoices so we can find them!

Beach Study: People

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You may have noticed, I love the beach. There is nothing like a long walk on the beach to clear my mind, relax my body, and stimulate my thinking. And I take lots of photographs…many of nature’s beautiful handiwork.

On Sunday, instead of a focus on wildlife or other natural features, I found myself focused on the people at the beach and the diversity of activities they were engaged in. In spite of the unexpected rain early in the day, the beach was full of people. It was warm and humid…and by mid afternoon the sun shone brightly.

I noticed these two girls sitting near the cliffs…checking their phones. I couldn’t resist a shot!

As we headed further down the beach, I noticed these spear fisherman putting on their gear to head out into the surf.

And not far from them divers had their equipment spread out on the rocks as they chatted about their upcoming dive.

There was lots of activity out in the water too, surfers and paddle boarders, body boarders, and swimmers. And some people sitting out on the rocks watching the activity or just gazing out into the sea.

And not everyone was into water sports. This pair cruised by on their bicycles, taking advantage of the packed sand of the low tide.

And this couple was simply enjoying a walk on the beach, walking hand in hand, and then stopping for this selfie with the ocean as backdrop.

Still others settled themselves near the water’s edge for a shore-side picnic.

People come and go at the beach. This couple finished surfing, hefted their boards and headed back down the beach toward the parking lot.

And of course, there were lots of kids on the beach playing in the waves, digging in the sand, and creating elaborate sandcastles.

And some of the kids haven’t been born yet…there are always pregnant women on the beach.

As we finished several miles of walking on the beach, we headed back toward the parking lot…stopping off at the showers to rinse the sand from our feet. The showers are another popular place as moms wash babies and people stand under the fresh water showers before heading for their cars and homes.

As I paid attention to people on the beach, I became more aware of the variety of activities they engaged in…and there were so many more people not represented by this small selection of photos. Taking pictures of people was a very different experience than taking pictures of nature. I found myself creating stories about them, paying attention to their movements, their interactions, their equipment… I watched teenaged boys tossing a football, a fisherman chatting with a friend, two little boys with flotation devices braving the waves, a little girl with a container picking up shells as her parents trailed behind…

Sunday’s beachwalk was a different kind of learning walk for me, with people as my focus. The beach is definitely a playground with many things for people to do.

Summer Lovin’: Hiking

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Sweat, dust, steep trails, panoramic vistas, photo ops, heart pounding, more sweat, more dust…

Hiking has become my new favorite activity this summer, summer lovin’ for the Daily Post weekly photo challenge. And in spite of feeling like I am going to die at some points, I’m enjoying the exertion, exploring the county with my hubby, and the amazing opportunities for photography.

Today was a tough one. We headed off bright and early to avoid the heat…but not early enough. An 8am start meant we ended our nearly 8 mile hike at noon, and it was hot! The early morning light was beautiful as we headed out and we noticed a group of children fishing from the pier.

The trail definitely got more trying as we climbed and climbed. We could see views of hikes we had done in previous weeks–and could also see that this one was longer and more strenuous. At one point, I thought I might have to stop and turn back. But a rest at this tree almost two miles from the summit convinced me that I could muster the strength to go on.

Maybe it was the shade, maybe it was the views…whatever it was, I continued to climb. Dust clung to my sweat covered arms and legs, my hat provided some much needed shade, and regular stops for sips of water kept me going. The trail was rocky, switchbacks zigzagging toward the summit. We went through this boulder path as we neared the top.

I was surprised as we crested the summit to find a line of people waiting for a photo opportunity on “the chip,” an interesting rock formation near the top of Mt Woodson. When the person got their “turn,” they would head out toward the end of the chip and pose while a hiking companion took their picture. We didn’t wait in line, but I did get a few shots of the comedy of watching others.

But the chip isn’t quite the top of the mountain. We continued up a fairly steep asphalt path to the pinnacle where all the communication towers jutted high above the peak.

There were also beautiful pine trees and amazing views of the valleys below. And it was the perfect place to stop and rest a bit before heading back. Here is picture of my husband with the breathtaking views behind him.

I thought it would easier heading down…and I was right for a good portion of the trip. The rest at the top was energizing, and there were cool breezes up at the heights. But it got a lot hotter and a lot harder as the lake came into view.

At nearly 7 miles into the hike, our reserves of energy had run low and the noon-time heat was brutal. The one more uphill near the end of the hike was excruciating!

And in spite of the challenges, I’m loving hiking this summer. I love the time my husband and I spend out in the countryside exploring and testing our physical limits (he’s a much more experienced hiker than I am!). I love testing the limits of my body…even when I am hating it! There is a wonderful camaraderie on the trail…and unexpected diversity of age, ethnicity, language, physical ability…with people cheering each other on. And there are amazing numbers of people out hiking on weekends, at times these trails resemble our local freeways (without the road rage!). I love the hours on the trail looking for interesting photos, noticing the wildlife (we watched a bird of prey float on the wind currents at the summit today…it seemed almost within arm’s reach) and the resilience of the drought resistant plant life. We observed areas previously ravaged by fire returning to their natural beauty and places where nature is reclaiming what men tried to tame. My next hike will be in Montana…I can’t wait!

What are you lovin’ this summer?