Kevin Palmer

  • Portfolio
  • Time Lapse
  • About
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Links
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
90 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • The sun rises over Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge on a frigid winter morning. Since the water froze rapidly the day before, it created interesting patterns in the ice. Despite the subzero windchill, numerous wildlife were out on this morning. On the other side of the lake coyotes, bald eagles, geese, and other birds could be seen.<br />
Date Taken: 12/7/13
    Frigid Emiquon
  • Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is one of my favorite places to catch the sunrise. The sunrise did not disappoint on this morning as wispy fog drifted across a golden sky. A viewing platform on the west side of the 2,000 acre Thompson Lake provides great views out over the water. Many varieties of birds and waterfowl live here, including bald eagles, geese, pelicans, egrets, herons, and much more. I especially saw a lot of pelicans out.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 9/3/2014
    Silence is Golden
  • On this morning there was a spectacular sunrise at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge. I can't remember the last time I saw a sky this colorful. Both ends of the sky were lighting up, in the east and in the west. It's funny that a couple hours earlier I considered these same clouds an annoyance while I was trying to photograph the milky way. <br />
Emiquon is located in the Illinois River floodplain north of Havana. It was formerly used as farmland, and pumps were used to keep it dry. But recently the pumps were turned off and the land was restored to its natural state. Thompson Lake is now 2,000 acres and supports a large population of fish and waterfowl.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: June 6, 2014
    Emiquon Dawn
  • This was taken shortly after sunset at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois. This sunset marked the end of the longest day of the year, since summer solstice started less than 3 hours later. The bright planet Venus is on the left above the red clouds.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: June 20, 2013
    Chautauqua Sunset
  • Reeds shake in the wind as the colors of sunrise fill the sky above. This view is from the boardwalk at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: June 6, 2014
    Shaking Reeds
  • Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is one of my favorite places to catch the sunrise. The sunrise did not disappoint on this morning as wispy fog drifted across a golden sky. A viewing platform on the west side of the 2,000 acre Thompson Lake provides great views out over the water. Many varieties of birds and waterfowl live here, including bald eagles, geese, pelicans, egrets, herons, and much more. I especially saw a lot of pelicans out.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 9/3/2014
    Stillness
  • A pair of bull moose trot past grazing bison in Yellowstone National Park. At up to 7 feet high, moose are the tallest mammals in North America, while bison are the largest. Bull moose typically lose their antlers in early winter, but you can see the stumps remaining between their eyes and ears. The flap of skin hanging from their necks is called a bell and it is not known for sure what purpose it serves. The Lamar Valley where this was taken is located in the remote northeast corner of Yellowstone, along the only road that's kept open in the winter. It has been called the Serengeti of North America because of the wide variety of large wildlife that inhabit the valley. Grizzlies, black bears, moose, bison, elk, wolves, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and red foxes can all be found here.
    Trotting Moose, Grazing Bison
  • The evening light was nice as I hiked back along this trail through Bud Love Wildlife Area.
    Path to the Mountains
  • In the middle of September, Yellowstone received its first snowfall of the season. The next morning, this herd of buffalo was found grazing in the Hayden Valley. This valley, which is located in between Yellowstone Lake and the falls, is a popular place to view wildlife.
    Hayden Valley
  • A moose mother and calf graze on a snowy morning while the sun struggles to emerge ahead of an approaching storm. I saw this same pair the day before but wasn't able to get any good shots, so I came back the next morning. This time they were a lot closer, and crossed the highway right in front of me. The deep snow hides their true height. When the mother stood up on the road I found myself staring at a creature taller than myself. The calf is a male, which is apparent from the antler stumps above his eyes. Moose will eat up to 60 pounds of food a day, although it's a lot harder for them in the winter. Just before the snow started coming down heavier, I was able to position myself to capture the sunrise glow above their heads. Wildlife is said to be more active during bad weather, and that was certainly true on this morning. Before leaving Grand Teton National Park I had spotted 8 moose, countless elk and bison, and even a lone wolf.
    Moose at Sunrise
  • I can't say I miss the very humid days and nights of Illinois. But I do miss the fireflies. Their flashing lights are nowhere to be found in drier areas out west. Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) thrive in hot and humid weather. They are typically most active in the late spring and early summer. They flash their lights in the evening before quieting down when the temperature drops. I recently spent a few hours at Spring Lake, which is a place I've gone stargazing many times. This firefly entered the frame near Mars which stood out prominently as the red planet. Mars gets slightly brighter every night until it reaches opposition at the end of July, at which point it will be the brightest it's been in 15 years. Saturn is also visible, just right of center in a star cloud of the milky way. I was a little disappointed when a breeze came up and ruined the reflection, but it did provide relief from the biting mosquitoes.
    Galactic Firefly
  • While hiking off trail in the Seminoe Mountains, I came across this bird. I believe it's a gray phase ruffed grouse.
    Ruffed Grouse
  • Ice in the Light
  • I came across this female sage grouse in the Bighorn Mountains while it was raining. This species of bird is nearly endangered and this wasn't the type of environment they’re normally found in.
    Wet Sage Grouse
  • A series of lightning bolts strike in the distance beyond Spring Lake. This storm was part of a derecho that formed over Nebraska and caused extensive damage as it headed towards Illinois. Even though this part of the storm was weaker it still displayed a nice shelf cloud and put on a great lightning show.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: June 4, 2014
    Spring Lake Shelf Cloud
  • The brightest parts of the milky way are reflected in the calm waters of Spring Lake. It was a bit chilly on this night in mid-May, but the sky was perfectly clear which was great for seeing the milky way.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 13, 2013
    Portrait of a Galaxy
  • I went for a hike at Bud Love Big Game Winter Range on the last warm day of fall. The light and contrasting colors seemed to work better in black and white. I spotted this pillar near the Sayles Creek trailhead and thought it looked like a half-buried raised hand.
    Buried Hand
  • The line in the sky is the International Space Station, 262 miles above the earth. The ISS orbits the earth every 93 minutes at speeds of over 17,000 mph. When it passes overhead, the ISS becomes brighter than any star and can take as long as 6 minutes to cross the sky. There are many apps and websites (such as http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/) that tell you when to look for it. <br />
In the foreground is a mysterious abandoned structure that resembles a lighthouse. I don't know how old it is or what it was built for. I first found it a few months ago at Banner Marsh near the Illinois River.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: August 3, 2014
    Space Navigation
  • In the midst of a very rainy and cloudy summer, a night this clear was a rare treat. The milky way was reflected in Spring Lake, Illinois.
    A Rare Night
  • The Mackinaw River is a very scenic river that flows past rolling hills, bluffs, and woods. There was only a little bit of fall color left on this warm November day.
    Mackinaw Bend
  • On June 3rd, a derecho formed in Nebraska and moved across Iowa causing plenty of wind and hail damage. By the time it reached Central Illinois after midnight it had weakened. Spring Lake was hit by the northern part which wasn't as severe. But it still displayed some nice structure and put on a good lightning show.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: June 4, 2014
    Illuminated Shelf
  • A herd of wild mustangs moves across the sage brush in between Cody and Greybull, Wyoming. I counted about 100 horses in this herd.
    Moving the Herd
  • I thought my chances of seeing muskox in Kangerlussuaq were low, especially after seeing none on the ice sheet tour the week before. But I found a small herd of 7 grazing just east of Black Ridge.
    Muskox In the Willows
  • A snowshoe hare forages outside of Kangerlussuaq.
    Snowshoe Hare
  • A moose cow and calf share a look while grazing on a snowy morning in Grand Teton National Park.
    Moose In a Snowstorm
  • The moose is the tallest mammal in North America. And the Alaska Range is the tallest on the continent. They both came together for this shot. According to the sign at the overlook a herd of bison also roam here in the summer.
    Moose and Mountain
  • As I drove towards the Frenchman Valley campground, this herd of bison crossed the road in front of me.
    Saskatchewan Traffic Jam
  • There were about 8 bighorn sheep grazing on this hillside. When I walked up to take pictures I didn't even notice this ram to my left at first. He traversed a steep 45 degree slope and came within about 50 feet of me. He looked like he had been in plenty of fights with patches of fur missing on both sides and a broken left horn.
    Roughed Up
  • This bison was grazing on a September evening in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
    Mud On Your Face
  • Under a Wolf Moon
  • September is always a really good month to shoot wildflowers around here. After finding this thick clump of black-eyed-susans, I placed my tripod underneath them with a backdrop of the milky way. I didn't really like the color temperature of the light from my headlamp. So I actually just found a yellow image on my phone, made the screen bright, and light painted with that. This is a focus stack of 2 images.
    Milky Way Bouquet
  • I rarely stop to photograph deer since they are so common. But I liked the way these bucks were standing on top of a hill, with storm clouds behind them. Plus I rarely see bucks with antlers.
    Two Bucks On a Hill
  • A lone bison grazes in the evening light in Badlands National Park. Cowbirds like to hang around bison because they stir up insects as they graze.
    Bison and Cowbird
  • While hiking to Tower Fall in Yellowstone National Park last winter I came across this bison bull grazing above the trail. I slowly made my way past while watching for any signs of aggression. At one point I could see his breath as he exhaled into the cold air and I had my camera ready. Bison are the biggest land mammals found in North America, with bulls weighing up to 1 ton. They typically live for 12 to 15 years. But it's always a struggle to survive the harsh Wyoming winters, with up to 40% of calves succumbing before their their first year. They will forage for grass wherever the snow cover is thinner such as thermal areas or on steep hillsides as this bull was doing. If the snow is too deep, the hump on their back enables them to pivot their head from side to side, sweeping away snow like a plow. Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Their population dwindled to just two dozen in the early 1900's, but they now number at close to 5,000 animals.
    Bison Breath
  • Earlier this year the American Bison was declared the national mammal of the United States. The bulls can weigh up to 2000 pounds making them the largest mammal in North America. Once numbering in the tens of millions, bison nearly became extinct at the end of the 19th century. In 1913, bison were successfully reintroduced to Wind Cave National Park, shipped by rail from New York City. Today this is one of the only genetically pure bison herds, without any cattle genes. Even though I've seen plenty of bison before, Wind Cave in the Black Hills is the only place where I've actually hiked with them right next to the trail. At first they may appear calm and lazy. But you shouldn't get too close since they are very temperamental and can charge at speeds of up to 40 mph.
    Wind Cave Bison Bull
  • Pink colors linger in the east after sunset at Spring Lake, IL on a frigid winter evening.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 9, 2015
    Wind Chill Warning
  • This deer was just standing there watching me when I stopped. It was just far enough away that I could capture the Bighorn Mountains and the colorful sky in the same shot.
    Just Standing There
  • South of Billings, Montana, rising up out of the Bighorn Basin, is the Pryor Mountains. These mountains are home to a herd of mustangs. Some of these wild horses hang out in the lower elevations near Bighorn Canyon, but the majority are found near the mountaintop at 8,000 feet where the grass is greener. Getting here requires traveling a long, rough, and steep dirt road. On my prior Pryor visit, I didn't get all the shots I wanted and was only able to capture the horses in the middle of the day. But this time I made sure to be in the right place at sunset. The views were amazing into the valley below, and the light was magical. The horses numbered at least 60, but I lost count as they moved around. In the last minutes before the sun set, many of them trotted past me. Shooting into the sun created a dreamy look, but I had to be careful not to blind myself.
    Walking Into the Light
  • A chukar bird is lit up by the early morning sunlight in Death Valley National Park near Dante's View.
    Death Valley Chukar
  • I'm not sure what this farm implement is called, but I liked the way it looked with the milky way behind it.
    Wheels in the Sky
  • The 5 inches of snow that fell this week was extremely dry and lightweight. This allowed the gusty winds that accompanied the arctic front to lift up the snow and carve it into drifts and strange patterns. In some places, the ice at Spring Lake was left bare. Despite the warm colors, the wind chill was -10°F as the sun slipped beneath the horizon.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 9, 2015
    Spring Lake Sunset
  • With just a few hours left in Greenland, I had time for one more hike before my flight. So I went to Lake Ferguson at sunrise. Though devoid of color, it was a beautiful snowy morning. At the lake it was dead quiet, but I could feel someone watching me. That was when I turned around to see this lone muskox. While muskoxen have always inhabited the northern shores of the world's largest island, this population was reintroduced. The vegetation in Southwest Greenland is lush in comparison to the northern tundra, and muskoxen don't have to worry about polar bears which are rare here. That's enabled them to thrive from 27 individuals in the 1960's to more than 10,000 today. When Kangerlussuaq was still a US Air Force Base, it wasn't unusual to have to prod a muskox off the runway. Though similar in appearance to the bison, muskoxen are a bit smaller with much thicker coats that keep them warm during the long, harsh Arctic winters. They don't typically lose their horns so I'm not sure how this bull managed to break his.
    Arctic Beast
  • Muskox are much easier to spot after a fresh snowfall. A week earlier they blended in with the landscape more.
    Morning Muskox
  • An early season snowstorm stranded me in the Bighorn Basin an extra day. I tried to make the most of it by visiting the mustangs west of Greybull. Last time I was here I saw the entire herd of nearly 100 wild horses. But this time, despite driving for miles and scanning with binoculars, these were the only 2 I could find. But they gave me plenty of photo opportunities as they galloped across the hills with snowflakes in the air. The McCullough Peaks mustangs are believed to be descendants of Buffalo Bill’s horses from his Wild West Show. They are 1 of 2 herds of wild horses found on BLM land in northern Wyoming.
    Cold and Free
  • On a cold December morning at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, I caught these young bighorn sheep in a little scuffle. When rams battle with each other the sound of their horns clashing can be heard from up to a mile away. But these two only butted heads once. Dozens of bighorn sheep spend their winters here at lower elevations, where the snow isn't as deep and food is easier to access.
    Bighorn Clash
  • Once the aurora got going, I returned to this pulloff. I couldn't see it, but my camera captured a moose grazing on the left, which was likely the same moose I photographed earlier in the day. Seeing aurora colors other than green is rare in the Arctic. This was one of my only photos with a tinge of red.
    Midnight Moose
  • I see so many deer around here that I rarely stop and photograph them. But the evening light was so perfect that I had to stop. They were standing on a grassy ridge with the Bighorn Mountains in the background.
    5 Deer On a Hillside
  • June is a great time of year to see baby bighorn sheep (lambs) at Badlands National Park. They are very agile and it's fun to watch them dash around the steep terrain.
    Big World Little Sheep
  • June is a great time of year to see baby bighorn sheep (lambs) at Badlands National Park. They are very agile and it's fun to watch them dash around the steep terrain.
    Bonding Moment
  • At the top of the Pryor Mountains in Montana lives a herd of wild horses. The combination of mustangs and scenic views makes this a special place. The mountains in the background are the Bighorns.
    Multicolored
  • South of Billings, Montana, rising up out of the Bighorn Basin, is the Pryor Mountains. These mountains are home to a herd of mustangs. Some of these wild horses hang out in the lower elevations near Bighorn Canyon, but the majority are found near the mountaintop at 8,000 feet where the grass is greener. Getting here requires traveling a long, rough, and steep dirt road. On my prior Pryor visit, I didn't get all the shots I wanted and was only able to capture the horses in the middle of the day. But this time I made sure to be in the right place at sunset. The views were amazing into the valley below, and the light was magical. The horses numbered at least 60, but I lost count as they moved around. In the last minutes before the sun set, many of them trotted past me. Shooting into the sun created a dreamy look, but I had to be careful not to blind myself.
    Golden Day
  • A small herd of bighorn sheep were grazing along one of the overlooks at Badlands National Park.
    Munching on Grass
  • This bison bull used a post to scratch an itch on his belly.
    Scratching an Itch
  • Among the forests at the rim of the Grand Canyon lives a large population of elk. They have lost their natural fear of humans, and will often approach at close range. This can lead to dangerous encounters especially during rutting season in the fall or when there are calves to protect. Late one morning this elk wandered through my campsite looking for food. I saw her rise up on her hind legs to get to the hard to reach parts of the juniper trees. Her balance was impressive and when she did it a second time I was ready with my camera. The average elk cow weighs 500 pounds and consumes at least 15 pounds of food per day.
    Standing Elk
  • After hearing coyotes howling around me the previous evening, I was glad to see this one in the daylight. He was hunting for mice in this field at the edge of Grasslands National Park. Canadian coyotes are apparently much bigger than those further south. Since there was no one around I was able to back up my car and track along with the coyote and he barely noticed me.
    On The Prowl
  • While driving through the mountains, I spotted a couple moose in the distance. They were grazing among the lupine wildflowers at the edge of the forest. Almost as soon as I pulled over, this cow jumped over the fence and crossed the road right behind me, followed by her calf. I was glad I had my camera ready with the telephoto lens attached. A moose on 4 legs is already the tallest mammal in North America. But judging by the fence posts, this moose was 8-9 feet tall standing on it's hind legs. The collar this cow is wearing is part of a 2-3 year moose ecology study by the University of Wyoming.
    Leaping Moose
  • While driving through the mountains, I spotted a couple moose in the distance. They were grazing among the lupine wildflowers at the edge of the forest. Almost as soon as I pulled over, this cow jumped over the fence and crossed the road right behind me, followed by her calf. I was glad I had my camera ready with the telephoto lens attached. A moose on 4 legs is already the tallest mammal in North America. But judging by the fence posts, this moose was 8-9 feet tall standing on it's hind legs. The collar this cow is wearing is part of a 2-3 year moose ecology study by the University of Wyoming.
    Moose Crossing
  • In the rolling hills and badlands in between Cody and Greybull, Wyoming, there is not much around. But there is a herd of about 100 wild mustangs living on BLM land. The first time I looked for them, they were nowhere to be found. But the second time I looked, I spotted the horses grazing on a distant ridge. After crossing a creek and following a two-track dirt road into the hills, I was able to get closer. While observing the herd, these two stallions emerged with determined looks on their faces and manes blowing around in the strong winds. They stopped not far in front of me, reared up on their hind legs, and sparred with each other. They only did this once, enough for me to get 1 picture, before walking away again.
    Fighting Stallions
  • After making their way past the bison, this pair of bull moose crossed Soda Butte Creek.
    Moose Crossing Creek
  • A lone bison stands next to the river in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.
    Bison Alone
  • As I was approaching the saddle just south of the Coyote Mountain summit, I started hearing a loud thud sound. There were only two things I could think of that would make that sound: either a rockfall or bighorn sheep. Sure enough as I came over the hill I saw this herd of 9 in a grassy area staring at me. I never actually saw them ramming their horns together, but only heard them. They soon took off running.
    Bighorn Stampede
  • These 2 wild burros were grazing near Beatty, Nevada.
    Beatty Burros
  • This bison was grazing alone in a prairie in Wind Cave National Park.
    Junior Bison
  • Under a Wolf Moon
  • A great blue heron wades in the swamp below hanging spanish moss. This was on the Kirby Storter trail.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/14/2014
    Heron Under Spanish Moss
  • Just after sunrise I drove along Turner River Road looking for gators. They can be very hard to spot, with most of their bodies underwater. This was the closest shot I was able to get. The alligators can also disappear in an instant, leaving only a cloud of mud underwater.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/14/2014
    A Watchful Eye
  • Big Cypress National Preserve was filled with many of these anhinga birds. They are also known as snakebirds. When hunting for fish, this bird will submerge most of its body underwater. Only the long neck and head will stick out. From a distance it can resemble a snake ready to strike. Unlike ducks, this bird does not have an oil gland to waterproof its feathers. This is an advantage that allows it to dive underwater for long periods. But it's also a disadvantage because they must dry themselves in the sun or else they have difficulty flying.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/14/2014
    Snakebird
  • This was the first gator I saw in Big Cypress National Preserve. He was taking a nap in the evening sunlight.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/14/2014
    Alligator Nap
  • A group of pelicans gather at Indian Key during low tide. Indian Key is a popular place to stop while exploring the 10,000 islands unit of Everglades National Park.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/13/2014
    Pelican Gathering
  • A grizzly bear and her cub forage for food in a meadow within Yellowstone National Park. Grizzlies are among the largest mammals in North America and can weigh from 300-800 pounds fully grown. They are also an endangered species, with only 1,500 bears left in the Continental US. These all live in the Northwest with the Yellowstone area supporting a population of about 600. Grizzlies are very protective of their young and may attack if they feel threatened.
    Sow and Cub
  • A buffalo in Yellowstone sticks out its long tongue.
    Buffalo Tongue
  • I felt lucky to have seen this large bull elk on the edge of Yellowstone Lake. The first snowfall of the season had just ended. The elk was walking parallel to the road behind a buck fence which allowed me to get over a hundred shots. The elk were very active this week as they were rutting. Every night they could be heard bugling near the campground.
    Elk Call
  • While hiking off-trail around Devils Tower, I encountered several deer. They were barely afraid of me at all, and let me get pictures with the tower in the background.
    Devils Tower Deer
  • While driving back from a hike I came across a moose calf and mother. The area near Highway 14A in the Bighorn Mountains is one of the best places to see moose, I saw 7 that evening.
    Wading Moose
  • This magpie was very bold as I was packing up my tent at the Mammoth Hot Springs Campground. It was looking for any food I may have dropped under the picnic table.
    Magpie in Tree
  • Pronghorn antelope are a common sight out on the grasslands. It's been said that they outnumber people in Wyoming. But I've always found them challenging to photograph. They are easily startled with their large eyes allowing them to see 320° around. Once they take off they are hard to keep up with, even in a car. Pronghorn can run at speeds of up to 60 mph. The only land animal in the world that's faster is the cheetah, but only in short bursts. Pronghorn are better at sustaining high speeds for long distances. While both males and females grow horns, they are also the only animal that shed their horns annually. I took advantage of the nice evening light and kept searching until I came across this young family near the side of a road.
    Family of 5
  • A moose calf crosses Highway 14A while cars approach.
    Following Calf
  • On my way down Red Grade Road in the Bighorn Mountains, I encountered 2 bull moose about 100 feet off the road, above Little Goose Canyon. I was told that there was a young calf nearby as well, but I never saw it.
    Big Moose Little Goose
  • I found this pronghorn antelope standing under a rainbow while driving home. Wyoming has a higher population of antelope than it has people.
    Pronghorn Rainbow
  • I stumbled upon this little guy, lying motionless near the top of a mountain at 9,000 feet. There was a large herd of more than 100 elk in the valley below. But I wasn't expecting to find this baby elk bedded down until I nearly stepped on it. As snow melts in the spring elk migrate to higher elevations, where cows typically give birth at the end of May. The calves weigh about 35 lbs and are able to stand up within minutes of being born. They are kept hidden away for their first couple of weeks before later rejoining the herd. It was soon apparent where the mother was, as I heard her barking at me from down below. After I left she came back to retrieve her baby.
    Newborn Elk
  • Two bison spar gently in the snow. They are part of a small herd at Kendrick Park in Sheridan.
    Locked Horns
  • I never expected to find this lighthouse in Banner Marsh State Wildlife Area. It is about 60 feet tall. I took a peek inside, and I heard a fluttering sound. I was expecting to see bats, but instead saw dozens of barn swallow nests, with each of the birds staring at me. I'm sure they were wondering who this strange visitor was at 3am. The inside was split into several sections, and there were ladders going up and down. In this shot, I was standing off to the left and illuminated the structure at an angle with my headlamp.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: June 6, 2014
    Banner Lighthouse
  • A partial rainbow hangs above the buttes and mesas of eastern Arizona. On this early November afternoon, scattered rain showers drifted across the landscape. The shadows and patches of sunlight revealed the full range of colors that the Painted Desert is known for. This desert was once a forest with a much wetter climate, and a wide variety of wildlife. But now it's filled with petrified logs and fossils. Also found in Petrified Forest National Park are many archaeological sites including pueblos, petroglyphs, and other artifacts, some of which are thousands of years old.
    Painted Desert Rainbow
  • A vibrant sunset is reflected in the muddy waters of the Little Missouri River. This river flows over 500 miles on it's way to the Big Missouri. Echoing across the wilderness was the sound of bugling elk, and stampeding bison. The Wind Canyon overlook is one of the most scenic views in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The 26th president started a cattle ranch here in 1885. Even though the harsh North Dakota winter drove him out a few years later, it was his time here that inspired him to establish many national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.
    Glowing River
  • In this part of Montana there’s a whole lot of nothing. The sprawling ranches have more acreage than many towns. I’ve previously driven hours along this road east of Decker without seeing another human. You're more likely to encounter wildlife such as pronghorn antelope, which I've raced across these plains and found that they really can run 60 mph. On a warm August evening I followed this storm for awhile. The radar showed it was producing hail the size of baseballs. But since the core passed through a roadless area, any severe weather went unseen and unreported. Abandoned houses are not hard to find as they are more common than lived-in houses. By now I know where most of them are so I kept driving until I could shoot the storm above this one. When the evening sun came out it highlighted the puffy cumulonimbus clouds receding into the distance. The white containers next to the tree are bee hive boxes. I've noticed them popping up more and more across Montana as it's one of the top honey-producing states.
    Home On the Range
  • In a high valley deep within the Absaroka Mountains, the night sky simply doesn't get any darker than this. The willows and the Wood River were lit entirely by starlight. A month ago the milky way would have been in a better position in between the two peaks. But visiting much earlier in the summer isn't possible because the water level is too high. This river must be driven through, there is no bridge. Even though the sounds of moving water can be soothing, I always feel a little uneasy being next to a river at night in grizzly country. All other noises are masked out by the water, so I'm unable to hear or be heard by any wildlife that may be nearby. I left my camera here to shoot a time lapse, but the lens predictably fogged up after a couple hours. In the 1880's gold was discovered on Spar Mountain (on the left). The mining town of Kirwin quickly sprung up, but it didn't last long before it was abandoned. Several historic buildings still remain in this fascinating ghost town.
    Night in the Absarokas
  • Purple coneflowers bloom in the prairie as a nearly full moon rises in the east.The Nachusa Grasslands give you an idea of what Illinois looked like hundreds of years ago, before settlers arrived and converted it to farmland. 3,000 acres of this rolling grassland have been restored to their original state in this preserve. Less than 1% of the original tallgrass prairie remains, which makes this a rare sight in Illinois. Sandstone outcrops, many varieties of colorful wildflowers, and numerous wildlife make this a beautiful place. A herd of bison will soon be brought in from South Dakota as well. There are few paths in this preserve, so you have to go off-trail to explore the landscape.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: July 10, 2014
    Nachusa Coneflowers
  • After watching the Geminid meteor shower, I was treated to a great sunrise over the Mississippi River. It was especially colorful during twilight. The flooded area is part of Ted Shanks Wildlife Area with the river to the left.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/13/13
    Great River Twilight
  • The first light of sunrise paints the top of the badlands with a brilliant orange glow. Located in western South Dakota on the edge of the Great Plains, this harsh landscape is home to bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and other wildlife. By definition badlands are semiarid regions with sparse vegetation that experience high rates of erosion. Even though there are other places in the western US and throughout the world known as badlands, the term originated here in Badlands National Park. This is a special place, but unfortunately the person who decided to use it as a landfill didn't think so. When I peered into this steep ravine I spotted a couch that someone had rolled to the bottom.
    Badlands First Light
  • Mission Falls drops hundreds of feet to the valley below as the sun sets. Golden Larch and Aspen trees fill the valley as the seasons change. The 250 square mile Mission Mountain Wilderness contains many snowcapped peaks, alpine lakes, 1,000 foot waterfalls, and numerous wildlife. There are few hiking trails and most are steep and hard to follow. Because of this, it doesn't attract many visitors. Half of the range lies within the Flathead Indian Reservation and the mountains weren't explored by white men until 1922.
    Mission Falls Sunset