One of my favorite creatures to photograph is birds.
A long focal length lens is a must, and when possible, some kind of blind.
Depending on location and how sensitive the bird is, the blind can be anything from a professional photo-blind to a vehicle.
Some birds can be cooperative and others can be extremely difficult to work with, but the images always reveal an enjoyable detailed view.

American Goldfinch.

Belted Kingfisher, male.

Trumpeter Swan.

“Always rid yourself of desire,
in order to contemplate wonders.

Always retain your desire,
in order to contemplate it’s manifestations.”

Lao-tzu

Trumpeter Swans

Winter was coming to all elevations soon, it had already arrived at the higher elevations, so it was time for one last hike in Teton Park.
October 23rd, but the fall colors were still looking good in the North Fork of Cascade canyon.

Thanks to Steve and Lee for your company, and of course, your patience.

If you click on the blog post titles there will be a comment window below the post. Please let me know what you think, and what you would like to see more of. Thanks.

With the news last week of EnCana Oil and Gas Inc. selling it’s gas field near Pavillion Wyoming, a collective eyebrow was raised in the state over concerns of the future of responsibilities related to fracking pollution. In August of last year, while conducting the first federal investigation into fracking pollution, the EPA announced that its initial investigations found 11 of 39 tested drinking water wells in Pavillion were contaminated.
Among the contaminants found then were toxics used in oil and gas production. At that time, the EPA confirmed the presence of 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE), a known constituent in hydraulic fracturing fluids, in three wells. The agency also found methane, as well as adamantanes (a form of hydrocarbon) and six other chemical compounds of concern in Pavillion wells. This, after the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) and EnCana had continually assured Pavillion residents that there was no evidence of hydrocarbons or toxic chemicals in their drinking water wells, now, EnCana is leaving town.
Tests this year have resulted in 17 of 19 wells contaminated and warnings to residents “not to drink or cook with their water, and to use fans and ventilation when showering or washing clothes in order to avoid possible explosions caused by high methane concentrations.”

This is just one story of what’s going on in the gas boom, fueled by the industry getting the Bush administration to change laws in their favor.
One of these, the “Halliburton Loophole” in the Safe Drinking Water Act, exempts hydraulic fracturing, and to require the public disclosure of hydraulic fracturing chemicals. The loophole authorizes oil and gas drillers, exclusively, to inject known hazardous materials – unchecked – directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies.

The clear way to help fix the present situation is to do away with exemptions the industry got from the Bush administration.
Enter – H.R. 1084. The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2011.
This and other actions will help put an end to the polluting of our most precious resource, clean water.
Please contact your representative and let them know you want unregulated fracking to stop!

The easiest way to do this and get more info. is by clicking on the link below.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1084

If you have not seen the film GAS LAND, watch it.

Thanks for your support.
GW

The leaves are gone high and low, and the chill of the coming snow is in the air.
My favorite time of year has been hanging on, and the photography has been memorable.

Most of the time I’m out shooting by myself.
There are a few artists and other photographers that I get out with, it works if you’re sharing the process.
My favorite companion this Fall was my friend Lexi McReynolds, a naturalist who is both an artist and a photographer.

Sharing thoughts of composition, color, texture, birds, and spiders, her view always adds to mine.
We share more than the process, we feel the same way about the natural world, and enjoy just being out and experiencing it.

“Knowledge does not mean mastering a great quantity of different information,
but understanding the nature of mind.  This knowledge can penetrate each one
of our thoughts and illuminate each one of our perceptions.”

Matthieu Ricard