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Along the Buffalo
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Along the Buffalo
Destinations
Old Buildings
Wildlife
Along the Trails
Waterfalls, Etc.
Arkansas Wildflowers
Orders
Links
Whitetail in Buffalo River
Buffalo River Wildlife . . .
The Buffalo River is vibrantly alive. While it is perhaps best known for its elk herd, the Buffalo National River is home to over 250 species of birds, many endangered species, mountain lions, bobcats, black bear, skunks, whitetail deer, beaver, otter, and other species too numerous to mention. . .
The Buffalo River is vibrantly alive. While it is perhaps best known for its elk herd, the Buffalo National River is home to over 250 species of birds, many endangered species, mountain lions, bobcats, black bear, skunks, whitetail deer, beaver, otter, and other species too numerous to mention. . .
Bull Elk Crossing at Ponca #4157
Without question, this is my most famous image. I have sold it again and again. I shot this just months after becoming obsessed with photographing Boxley Valley elk. For some reason this particular morning I had the idea that the elk would be crossing the river. This is a rare get so I waited on them to cross. It was pretty exciting stuff to see them jump in the river and start to cross. For reasons unknown to me, this young bull posed for me in the river. They seldom stop and look back, this one did, and he lingered. As they say, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. Of course, I spend hundreds of hours in Boxley Valley stalking the elk herds, so the percentages are in my favor.
Without question, this is my most famous image. I have sold it again and again. I shot this just months after becoming obsessed with photographing Boxley Valley elk. For some reason this particular morning I had the idea that the elk would be crossing the river. This is a rare get so I waited on them to cross. It was pretty exciting stuff to see them jump in the river and start to cross. For reasons unknown to me, this young bull posed for me in the river. They seldom stop and look back, this one did, and he lingered. As they say, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. Of course, I spend hundreds of hours in Boxley Valley stalking the elk herds, so the percentages are in my favor.
Elk Migrating in South Valley Field #60207
It is pretty standard for elk photographers just starting out to be very bull oriented. With time, one tries to tell the story of the elk, their behaviors, and place them in context. This is a favorite photo because it is an elk landscape in one of the few places where it was possible to photograph them migrating in an interesting way. Here they migrated up a photogenic bluff and the bull even paused and posed for me. A calf straggles behind. When elk migrate typically the bull is dead last in line, presumably to protect from competitors.
It is pretty standard for elk photographers just starting out to be very bull oriented. With time, one tries to tell the story of the elk, their behaviors, and place them in context. This is a favorite photo because it is an elk landscape in one of the few places where it was possible to photograph them migrating in an interesting way. Here they migrated up a photogenic bluff and the bull even paused and posed for me. A calf straggles behind. When elk migrate typically the bull is dead last in line, presumably to protect from competitors.
Elk Crossing the Road to Lost Valley #60901
On this morning the elk herd had bedded down in the fields along the entry road to Lost Valley Campground. The herd decided to consolidate in a single field and this group crossed in front of me. It was a morning of very heavy frost and frost is still evident on the backs of the animals. As is normal, the migrating elk are trailed by the dominant herd bull. Catching the elk in the Lost Valley fields is not that common, getting a good picture of them is still rarer.
On this morning the elk herd had bedded down in the fields along the entry road to Lost Valley Campground. The herd decided to consolidate in a single field and this group crossed in front of me. It was a morning of very heavy frost and frost is still evident on the backs of the animals. As is normal, the migrating elk are trailed by the dominant herd bull. Catching the elk in the Lost Valley fields is not that common, getting a good picture of them is still rarer.
Buck, Doe and Fawn at Sunset #13297
The fields surrounding the Ponca Wilderness area are full of whitetail deer. I shot this dow the road just at sunset. The buck is in velvet and the position of the three animals is just about ideal. One cannot plan this kind of shot, but you can visualize different situations that you might encounter. That visualization probably improves your chances. I remember following this group around a bit until they gave me this shot. Stalking a wildlife shot is pretty standard practice. This one good shot was surrounded by dozens of near misses of the same animals.
The fields surrounding the Ponca Wilderness area are full of whitetail deer. I shot this dow the road just at sunset. The buck is in velvet and the position of the three animals is just about ideal. One cannot plan this kind of shot, but you can visualize different situations that you might encounter. That visualization probably improves your chances. I remember following this group around a bit until they gave me this shot. Stalking a wildlife shot is pretty standard practice. This one good shot was surrounded by dozens of near misses of the same animals.
Bull Elk Fight November 2008 #58281
No collection of wildlife pictures would be complete without a bull elk fight picture. This is my best fight to date. These animals fought in the frost for about 10 minutes. The frost provided nice supplemental light. Elk can be a tough subject because they are dark on the bottom and light on top. In contrasty situations the dark undersides can lose all detail. The frost provided some reflected bottom light.
No collection of wildlife pictures would be complete without a bull elk fight picture. This is my best fight to date. These animals fought in the frost for about 10 minutes. The frost provided nice supplemental light. Elk can be a tough subject because they are dark on the bottom and light on top. In contrasty situations the dark undersides can lose all detail. The frost provided some reflected bottom light.
Biggest Bull Elk of 2008 #58728
This big guy did not run a herd of cows so far as I can tell. I would guess he is one year too old to have the stamina to compete with younger bulls for domination. He is absolutely huge and usually hangs out in the back fields of Boxley Valley. He has great symmetry and a huge set of antlers.
This big guy did not run a herd of cows so far as I can tell. I would guess he is one year too old to have the stamina to compete with younger bulls for domination. He is absolutely huge and usually hangs out in the back fields of Boxley Valley. He has great symmetry and a huge set of antlers.
