Coyote in Hayden Valley

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 23, 2016184 views2 comments

During my winter tours in Yellowstone, we charter a private snow coach that lets us access the interior of the park, which is otherwise closed to wheeled traffic. It can be a peaceful experience (except when occasional snowmobiles go by), offering quiet, private moments amidst beautiful scenery and with the random hearty animal that braves the harsh elements. On this day, our group was in Hayden Valley when a pair of coyotes came trotting along the banks of the Yellowstone River. It was nice to see signs of life in the middle of vast stretches of untouched snow.

In this case I might have wished for the coyote to be higher in the frame or closer to the mountains, but I do think the void in between represents the relatively "emptiness" of a Yellowstone winter pretty well.

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 100-400mm
ISO 200
1/2500th
f/7.1

Max

Comments

2 comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on September 25, 2016 at 4:14 PM

I like this. It's different. A bit unconventional to have the subject walking out of the frame but I think the trail behind him makes it work. And I agree that the large snowy area helps give context to the scene.

devil

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 26, 2016 at 10:14 AM

Those winter tours of Yellowstone must be extra special. This is a well captured moment, but I agree with your self assessment that a bit different positioning would have been optimal.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments