Images of Wyoming

A Grizzly named 'Misfire' -final part of the audio interview with Larry Roop

2009-03-24T13:20:00.001-07:00

This is the final part of the interview with Larry Roop, former Grizzly Bear biologist for the state of Wyoming, on the story of a bear named 'Misfire.' If you've been following along for the past two installments you are looking forward to this installment.

Don't think that the Grizzly Bear stories end here. I've recorded nearly a dozen stories to date and there are plans to share all of them with you in the months to come. This is a remarkable part of Wyoming's grand story, a place in the lower 48 states, still wild, with large tracts of true wilderness. These stories are not tales fabricated by the masterful storytellers that, to this day, still live in our great state, but factual encounters and experiences of a man who lived and worked with these magnificent creatures for over 16 years.

It has been a real gift to call Larry one of my best friends for nearly 40 years and to have had the wonderful experience of sharing some of these things with him first hand. One of the things I hope to share with you in future posts are some of the pictures that support these stories, the bears and the people that will make all of this come alive for you.

Well, sit back and load up this final installment of the story of 'Misfire'. You may be surprised at the end of this story. Enough said. Just double click on this link to hear Larry tell you the final part of the story of a Grizzly Bear named 'Misfire.'

Please don't forget that these recordings are copyrighted materials. They may not be reproduced in full or in part in any form whatsoever, without the express written permission of Larry Roop and Jerry Geist. Failure to do so will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.

A Grizzly named 'Misfire' -second of three part audio interview with Larry Roop

2009-03-24T07:55:00.001-07:00

The second and third parts of the audio interview with Larry Roop and the story of a Grizzly Bear named 'Misfire' will follow in fairly close succession. I want you to understand the whole story without any large gaps that may affect its continuity.

This is a rare opportunity for you to follow a bear story that takes place over several years and note many changes that took place in this bear's life. I think you will find this a most interesting tale and may be surprised in the final installment.

What do all of these bear stories have to do with Images of Wyoming and photography? Well, that is a fair question. The answer for most of you is not much, but their purpose is for information and education, not just entertainment. For many who visit Wyoming, the areas surrounding the Tetons and Yellowstone National Park are the most visited and photographed sections of the state. Those areas are where Grizzlies live. To be unaware when in these wilderness areas can be very dangerous. We all need to be conscious of the creatures and natural hazards that exist anywhere we choose to work and play. I hope you take these stories to heart and in them find warnings that may contribute to your safety and enjoyment of Wyoming.

Having had many opportunities to work with Larry and the bears, I developed a healthy respect that I never had before. If you talk with Larry personally, you will find the same to be true with him. He has told me on many occasions that his life and work in the wild country has changed forever as a result of seeing and working with these animals. He trapped and handled hundreds of these animals. If such profound changes happened to someone like him, it should make a difference to all of the rest of us.

Now on to part two of the story of a Grizzly Bear named 'Misfire.' Just double click this link to download the file and play in your default media player. Enjoy!

This recording is copyrighted material. It may not be reproduced in full or in part in any form whatsoever, without the express written permission of Larry Roop and Jerry Geist. Failure to do so will result in prosecution according to the infringement laws of the United States.

A Grizzly named 'Misfire' -first of three part audio interview with Larry Roop

2009-03-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

It is March 23 and I've been sitting out a blizzard warning that I think has fizzled, but my thoughts even now are drifting to the mountains, Spring snows in Yellowstone and bears emerging from their winter sleep to roam the wilderness of Wyoming.

I hope you've enjoyed the audio interviews of bear stories from Larry Roop. He spent a couple of more days with me just a short time ago and during that time we made some of our preliminary plans to get into the Park. I was also able to record four more Grizzly Bear stories to be aired in the coming months, but this post brings to you the first of a special three part audio recording about a Grizzly Bear named Misfire. This is a remarkable story, but it was much too long to record in one session. Just double click on the following link to download the story and play it on your default operating system's audio player. So sit back and enjoy the story of a bear named Misfire.

As always, this recording is copyrighted material. It may not be reproduced in full or in part in any form whatsoever, without the express written permission of Larry Roop and Jerry Geist. Failure to do so will result in prosecution according to the infringement laws of the United States.

"Photographers and Grizzly Bears" an audio interview with Larry Roop

2009-02-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

Last week I told you about what could happen when you are out in the wilderness making images and come upon a food cache of a Grizzly Bear. Sometimes you 'happen on' a circumstance that could lead to a problem meeting with an intolerant bear. Please be 'bear aware' when working in areas of Wyoming inhabited by these animals.

Well, this weeks story is about a photographer who had a bad encounter with a Grizzly that had a tragic ending. It didn't happen by a chance encounter or stumbling into a situation unawares. Instead this story is result of the all too common occurrence that happens in places like Yellowstone. I see these things happen nearly every year. Photographers or wanna be photographers do careless things around wild animals in hopes of getting the elusive prize winning image that we all dream of. People with cameras are too often guilty of breaking the rules of the Park or just ignoring good common sense. Many, if not most, escape their own stupidity without consequence. But, push the envelope once too often or with a different animal than your past experience gave you, and you may end up like the man in this story.

As always with these interviews, all the material is copyrighted 2009 Images of Wyoming and may not be reproduced in part or in whole, in any form without the express written permission of Larry Roop and Jerry Geist. Listen to the audio for your own education and information, but do not attempt to reproduce it. You will be prosecuted.

This is not a story with a pleasant outcome, so if you have a weak stomach or are not able to handle the harsh reality of what could happen in the wilderness, you may choose to pass on this interview. To proceed, just double click on this link to the audio interview with Larry Roop about the Photographer and the Grizzly Bear.

Spring Coming and Some Things to be Prepared For

2009-02-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Spring is just around the corner. As I've considered the interviews that I've had with Larry Roop about bears, I've been recalling some past experiences and things I need to be thinking about as I get ready to get out in the field. I'm planning a trip for some more winter images in early March in the greater Yellowstone area of Wyoming and though there will still be lots of snowy winter conditions, it is this month when the early bear risers will be leaving their dens. Last year I saw my first Black Bear in the middle of March along the north loop road. In other parts of the park, there was still too much snow, but at least one fella was out and looking for food. That is the reason for this post.

When bears come out of their dens, they are hungry and that consumes their every waking thought. It is not romance that interests them, but a steak dinner. Since bears are omnivores they have widely varied diets, but the greens they eat are still covered in snow very early in the season, so it is meat that is their primary focus. The source is from winter kills of animals weakened by the hard winter conditions or the leftovers of other predators like wolves that are active throughout the winter. Either source provides bears with much needed protein and since bears, especially Grizzlies, are at the top of the food chain, when they get wind of dinner and find it, they can become quite dangerous and extremely protective of their newly claimed food caches.

Two years ago when I was out early in the season and working along the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone I came upon a sight that terrified me because I knew what it meant. I paused only long enough to make the picture you see here. The elk carcass was fresh and whether it was a winter killed animal or taken by a predator, it was now a prime rib dinner for Grizzlies. It had been fed upon recently and if it had been claimed by a bear, he or she was not too far from what would be the next meal. It is one of the things outdoor photographers need to be very aware of. Only a short distance from this carcass, I was getting ready to make a panorama image and out from the trees came a pair of two-year-old Grizzly cubs. They were easily within smelling distance of this elk. I didn't see Mama and it was probably for one of two reasons. Either she had recently booted the kids out to live on their own or she was in the trees. Either way, this was not a good situation.

Dangerous bear encounters happen from one of several primary reasons and I want to list them for you here. These are in no particular order, but stories you will hear from Larry in future recordings will probably be in relationship to one of these things. Bears with cubs are deadly. Mama will do anything to protect her offspring and is absolutely fearless. Secondly, bears that are protecting a food source don't put up with anyone or anything that is a threat to what they consider to be theirs - the situation I've run into many times. Thirdly, bears that feel cornered or trapped will attack with sometimes deadly results. They are not unlike many animals, but when you consider the size, power and sometimes unruly behaviors of these animals, the outcome can be much more serious. Lastly, a bear that is either very young and having trouble finding food or a very old bear that can no longer acquire food easily is very dangerous and will take advantage of any opportunity to take an easy prey and sometimes that has been a relatively helpless human being. Most bear attacks or encounters happen because of one of these things, so we all need to be very bear aware when in the wilderness and especially in the very early or very late transitional seasons when bears are hungry following a long hibernation or preparing for denning and gorging themselves to add layers of fat. This is called hyperfasia.

So knowing that the season is coming up very soon, I'll be changing my own awareness of my surroundings and arming myself with pepper spray and in certain locations a shotgun. And you can be sure that I will steer clear and give a wide berth to anything that looks like the property of a Grizzly Bear. With this as a background you won't want to miss the next audio recording from my interviews with Larry Roop. If you think these warnings are ridiculous as I've heard others tell me, you might change your mind when you hear the next story. There will be more in the weeks and months to come if you are not easily convinced. Your knowledge of the wilderness and its inhabitants can be a matter of life or death and to take your experience lightly can be a dangerous thing to do.

Audio Recording #1 - Larry Roop's Grizzly Bear Stories " Larry's Background and Our Meeting"

2009-02-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

I promised you some interviews with my best friend and long time colleague, Larry Roop. Larry and I met shortly after his arrival in Wyoming working intially as an editor for Wyoming Wildlife Magazine and ultimately as the state's Grizzly Bear Biologist. Enclosed is that conversation about our meeting and the subsequent work we both enjoyed as employees for the state of Wyoming. Our friendship has lasted nearly 40 years and we continue to shoot pictures together nearly every year. Here is a picture taken of us together in Yellowstone last year.

I felt like this interview was a good starting place to give you some background about Larry's expertise as a wildlife biologist and photographer. Trust me, the interviews to follow will pique your interest and at times make you laugh or reel in horror at these accounts of Grizzly Bears and our encounters with them as people who love and enjoy the magnificent beauty that is Wyoming and its wild creatures.

All materials and information contained in this audio clip are copyrighted and the sole property of Larry Roop and Jerry Geist - Images of Wyoming, copyright 2009. This material may not be used in part or full in any form for any purpose without the express permission of Larry Roop or Jerry Geist. These recordings are made for your enjoyment and education but any illegal use or copyright infringement will be prosecuted.

Click on this link to hear Larry's story of coming to Wyoming. Then stay tuned for more stories in the weeks and months to come. Your default media player will load and begin playing this file after a short download period. This is about a 15 minute interview. Enjoy!

Grizzly Bear Stories on Their Way

2009-02-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

I told you I had a big surprise for you and I should have a special post coming to you very shortly. Here's what you can expect. In my biography and other stories about my beginnings and experiences as a photographer, I told you that I was able to photograph my best friend and a Grizzly Bear Biologist, Larry Roop having spent more than 2 and half years in the field with him. We had many wonderful experiences in those years and now I'm putting those stories in an audio format for you to hear.

This is going to be an incredible experience for you and I hope you wait anxiously for each installment. I think there will be many to come. I purchased a digital recorder just for the purpose of getting these stories recorded. Each is told by Larry himself. Rarely in one's lifetime would you the opportunity to sit and listen to these stories in person. Some will be funny, some will be frightening and a few absolutely horrifying. These are very dangerous animals and should you come to Wyoming and take your pictures, you are likely to find yourself in parts of the state where these animals live. I want these postings to be a valuable resource for anyone that spends time in our wild outdoors. I've had many close encounters and the season is coming when I will be out in wild places once again. You can never be too cautious when working in Grizzly Bear country.

These are not hearsay stories but come from a true expert in the field of wildlife biology with a special knowledge of bears. Larry and I continue to be best friends and still after a 39 year relationship, take pictures together and reminisce about the years when bears were such a major part of our lives and careers. Along with the audio recordings, I will share some of the images I made on those many trips, and Larry has agreed to allow me to use some of his pictures. What a treat!

I've made 10 recordings to date so they are on the computer, but I'm just working out the details for you to play them without a hitch. We will be doing more stories when we get together for our midwinter trip to the Park coming in just a few weeks.

If you've not subscribed to email notification of new posts to my blog, now would be a great time to do so. You won't want to miss these stories when a new one is posted. Just click on the email notification link on the top left of this page. It is simple to subscribe.

Talk to High School Photo Students

2009-02-05T11:23:00.000-08:00

Last week the photo class from Burns High School traveled to Cheyenne on a blustery and stormy afternoon to meet with me at Deselms Fine Art Gallery. Their teacher, Carol Sacco had asked me to share with them something of my background telling them how I got started in photography, some of my career experiences, and talk about some of my current work.

Not being one to pass on any chance to talk to folks about my passions, I welcomed the opportunity. As many of these young people were getting their feet wet in photography, I shared with them about when I got my first camera, something of my early mentors and how things were in days long since passed. In this image you can see me showing them the 'press camera' I was taught on. Boy, looking at this picture really makes me feel old. I was starting my career in photography more than 24 years before these young people were even born.

Even flashbulbs were out of fashion before their day had come. Does the mention of those things bring back any memories for some of you? Though we only had an hour together, we did get around to looking at the large panoramas and talking about how they were made. Technology continues to change and it is no easy thing to keep up with, but I've been privileged to live in a time when many huge changes have taken place and getting to share some of those things was a lot of fun for us all.

After our time together, they went to the main gallery to see the artwork or other folks and get to talk to one of the painter's whose work adorns Deselms Main Gallery. Thanks Carol, for bringing your kids to Cheyenne. It was fun for me and I hope for you all. These images are used courtesy of Carol.

New Photo Additions to the Website

2009-01-26T09:16:00.000-08:00

Greetings. Finally we got some much needed snow. There is now between 10 and 14 inches of the fluffy stuff covering everything around our home. It is gorgeous to see and makes me long for the times in Yellowstone when the snow covers the Park.

I've been tucked away for the last day and a half mostly working on the web site. I'll probably be snowed in for another day or two, especially if the wind picks up at all. This has afforded me the opportunity to get caught up on the tedious job of updating the website with new images. This is why you are getting this new post. I've added 60 new images in the New Addit io ns section, but have tried to categorize them for a little cleaner navigation. You will see categories like Wildlife, Northwest Wyoming, Fall Colors, Winter Scenes, Yellowstone, Sunsets/Sunrise Scenics and so forth. It has been several months since I've added new content so these pictures will span time frames back to last Spring.

Enjoy the new images, but don't forget that I have many new large panoramas that I've added to my collection of over 130 panorama prints. Still haven't figured out how to display them on a website, so if you have any interest at all in these very special images, send me an email and I'll be happy to share some thumbnail images with you.

Dreamin' of New Trips

2009-01-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over and now I've got the fever once again. I'm spending some of my waking and sleeping hours thinking of being out in the field. I really want to do a winter trip again, but the hurricane force winter winds have prevented me from getting too serious just yet. I'm thinking of February or March this year and Yellowstone would certainly be at the top of my list for favorite spots.

I'vc continued to sell large panorama prints and they are certainly a favorite format of mine. My commercial clients and private collectors are purchasing and inspite of the nationwide economic downturn, the Lord has continued to bless me. Sales are good and I have some new ideas for the upcoming year about places to show and market my work.

In addition to these things that have been keeping me busy, I've got something really special planned for all of you who visit my blog and the news page on my website. I took a leap to make a purchase of something I've been needing for awhile and will incorporate this new addition to my stable of business equipment to give you something I think you will enjoy. It will allow me to share experiences from my photographic past with you in a truly unique way. I've still got a few details to work out, but it is a sure thing now - just need a little more time to get it all put together.

One of the topics will be Grizzly Bears and the time I was able to spend with my friend Larry Roop, trapping these magnificent creatures. Did you know that nearly 30 years ago I was asked to shoot pictures for a National Geographic article on bear trapping? There's a hint, but that is all you get for now.

The image enclosed is from my last trip this past fall. My wife captured this image of me loaded with a tripod and camera picking my way through a lot of underbrush to get to a location where I made a large panorama of Battle Mountain. It was one of those especially warm fall days that I love so much. Good memories!

Well keep tuned in for big changes and additions. If you have not signed up for automatic notification of new blog posts, now would be a great time to do so. It is quite painless. Just click on the email notification link on the left and you will get a brief notification anytime a new post is added to this blog. You will get no spam or other email from me. That way you don't have to keep checking back continuously.

I Haven't Forgotten

2008-12-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

It is now December 4th and I realize I haven't made any posts to the blog in a month. Wow! how time flies. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving and now we are staring Christmas straight in the face. Oftentimes the holidays are just a blur and not until after New Years do I really start thinking of making new images. It is my hope to make yet another winter expedition. The last two have been very productive and are most anticipated in the middle of long winter hiatus'.

I've been spending a lot of time marketing images and selling in the gallery. It was a good year for large panorama sales, but like the rest of the country, the fear of an unstable economy has taken its toll on sales. Still, I have some returning customers and clients that have kept me in the black. I appreciate each and everyone of you. And I'm anxious to show you my newest work from the fall season. I think some of the new panorama images are my best work to date. When I make some space at the gallery, I'm anxious to get a few printed and displayed.

I'm spending the day at the computer and it is a good thing to get caught up on some of the things I normally let slide. Why? well I'm snowed in. We got about 8" of the powdery stuff in the last two days, but true to the weather forecast we now have blizzard conditions from winds howling in the 50 mph range. I can't do anything but watch the spectacle and wait until I can get on the tractor and start plowing and moving snow from the roadway. It will be an all day ordeal when I can get started, but that is OK. I'd certainly rather live in the country and have to take care of these things than live in the city.

I'm having a cup of hot coffee, printing some images and making excuses for not attending to my blog as I should have. I hope you are all safe and warm. Enjoy the holiday season and God bless each one of you. Dreaming of some new images yet to be made. Jerry

Traveling in Wyoming for Photographers - Part 4

2008-10-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since getting to this final installment of the travel options for photographers in Wyoming. It has been a very busy fall season and I've had opportunity to use the rig that I believe to be best suited for my particular type of shooting. So with that excuse for my delay in finishing this article, lets talk about my choice for an ideal rig.

In the last installment I told you that I thought the motorhome outfit was getting very close to what I considered ideal. It gives the traveler a self contained, driveable rig and the ability to tow a boat, a 4-wheeler, or second vehicle to accommodate whatever need you may have. Well, if that was nearly ideal, what was missing in my opinion that kept it from being 'the perfect rig'? Here it is - the lack of 4-wheel drive. Motorhomes are simply not offered with a 4WD option.

Since I like to do back country work and am not often close to a campground or RV facility, the conditions tend to be more primitive. Take for example going out the Red Desert in early Spring. The roads to the Killpecker Dunes are nearly impassable when they get wet. Or how about traveling the Bighorn Mountains in early spring or late fall when the roads are still snow packed and icy. These are both great times and locations to make exceptional pictures, but the weather and road conditions can make travel almost impossible unless you are properly equipped. That is why I have compromised a little for the comfort offered by the motorhome for a pickup camper on a 4WD truck. Here's my rig.

I can get most anyplace that I want with 4WD, still have the ability to tow my small 4WD photo vehicle or any other type vehicle that may be more appropriate for particular locations. If I wanted to do some winter pictures I could tow a snowmobile. If I were a boater, I would have another option. If I wanted to four wheel in the desert to get to wonderful places like the Oregon Buttes, then all I have to do is hook up the vehicle of choice and be off.

I have a couple of options for my tow vehicle and how I get it to where I want to go. Shown in the picture above is my truck with a popup camper towing a Suzuki Grand Vitara flat on the ground. It is a very easy hookup and tows like a dream. The disadvantage is that you cannot backup with the vehicle on the ground. I've gotten into trouble trying to go down a muddy road, reaching a place where I couldn't go on then having to unhook the Suzuki and get both vehicles turned around separately and going on my way. The simple solution would be to put the tow vehicle on a small trailer. It makes maneuvering much easier, but I've learned what my limitaions are and don't run into many situations I cannot get around. When I take a four wheeler, I tow an enclosed trailer for the vehicle and supplies. It is such a versatile rig.

When I get to a location where I want to spend some time, I just set up camp, unhook the Suzuki and can get busy all in the space of about 45 minutes or less. The popup camper is easy to set up and has most of the conveniences of a motorhome, including a toilet and shower. I have custom built boxes that house spare batteries, generator and additional propane for extended stays. In all but the most severe winter weather the camper is very comfortable.

If things turn nasty when I'm ready to leave a location, I have the added security of 4WD. I haven't been stranded yet though I've had to depend on the truck's capabilities quite often. The truck is equipped with a diesel engine to handle the heavy loads and towing a sometimes heavy trailer. That is a personal preference. Some may prefer gasoline. Even in the cold, I've not had any real problems with the diesel. If I need to preheat the engine, I have a generator to operate the block heaters. So far, so good.

Is there anything I'd like to change? Yes! My next and final incarnation 0f the perfect rig is to get a large truck and put a full-sized hard sided 4 season camper on it. That will give me more versatility when it comes to true 4 season camping. It would be much warmer and more luxurious by space standards at least. I would get a camper with some tipouts to make those long trips more comfortable. The camper I would put on a truck would require a much larger truck to handle all the loads, but that is not a big deal to me.

With fuel prices being what they are, this is a good time to consider purchasing a camper and truck. There are some great deals to be had, but probably not for the part-timer. It is still a sizeable investment. Until I find the perfect large truck, this will be my workhorse travel vehicle combination for photographing and traveling in Wyoming.

In a future installment of my postings on this blog, I may share with you the special ways I've equipped my vehicles for convenience, security and accessibility. I've got a truly functional setup that affords me easy access, economy and it is all custom tailored for photography. Well, until then keep on shooting and enjoying this fantastic state. It is Halloween evening as I write this and I must be going. Got some more things to do to get ready for winter preparations of vehicles, etc. while the weather is so incredibly nice. That is supposed to change next week, so must take advantage of opportunities as they become fewer and fewer. Also need to watch out for those ghosts and goblins that will be on the prowl tonight. Until later, Jerry.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

Though I don't normally do pictures other than wildlife or nature landscapes, this autumn yielded an opportunity for me to employ my panoramic skills to make a requested image for a company I deal with for my special mounting needs. I was called by my friend and told of a field of pumpkins that was overshadowed by the Colorado mountains of the front range.

I made a trip down to see the location and spent a morning scouting the farm that raises hundreds of thousands of pumpkins. Unfortunately, when I got there the weather was at its very worst and though I could see the pumpkins, I could not see the mountains that he spoke of. Well in spite of that I talked to the owners of the farm and told them of my desire to try and make an image on their farm. They were delighted and I agreed to give them a print if I got something nice.

I had to do all the preparation blind, so to speak. While I was on the farm, I took some GPS readings and a couple of compass settings. When I got home I checked my Naval sky charts to find that the full moon would be setting at sunrise on Wednesday, October 15th. I knew from past experience just how to time the event to get the moon in the scene I was envisioning.

I got out of bed at 3 am, left for my destination 120 miles away to arrive with about 45 minutes to scout a location for the picture before the sun started rising. I was driving through hundreds of acres of pumpkins in the dark and on muddy roads to try and find a place where I could get my image. I picked a spot, then with a small flashlight in my mouth started trying to make some compass readings, and ultimately start setting up the camera and equipment for a panorama. It was very difficult to get ready. In the daylight it is complicated enough, but in the dark it was a real chore.

I got everything on the tripod and started moving out into the field to pick my spot. I was going to use a tilt-shift lens for maximum depth-of-field and knew I'd have to do multiple exposures on each section of the panorama to cover the extreme contrast range. Logistically, this was going to be one of the most difficult panoramas I would ever make, but I thought I was ready. The camera was set to make threee bracketed exposures of each section. I'd have to work very fast to cover each section as quickly as possible because when the sun started lighting the peaks and with the moon setting, fast work was essential.

It all started happening, but there were clouds in the east where the sun would rise. It would complicate things. I started shooting panoramas right on schedule. I made several different shots, some with no direct light, some extremely wide, and some with the light on the pumpkins when the sun peeked through a break in the clouds. After I shot what I wanted with the TS lens, I switched to a 300mm to isolate and enlarge part of the mountains still with the moon above the horizon. It was with this lens that I made the image you see here. The panorama was made from nine images about 15 minutes after the beginning of sunrise. There was still frost on the pumpkins as it was a very cold morning. This is the image I settled on.

I am very happy with the results. The final print will measure 40" high by 104" wide, almost 4X9 feet. Though not an image I would normally shoot, it has a lot of impact and an almost otherworldly quality. The brilliance of the lit up pumpkins is almost overwhelming. Want color in a wonderful setting with everything that spells out Halloween? Well, here you have it. I'm interested to see what the company thinks of the image and what kind of comments it gets. Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you.

Well, now I can get back to what really interests me for my fall pictures. I've already made some great moose images and will try to concentrate on some new Pronghorn and Bison pictures for the rest of the fall season. That's where my heart really lies, but sometimes a break from the normal is good for making you appreciate, even more, what you really love. This large bull was photographed in the Snowy Range. Aren't those fall colored willows the perfect setting for a portrait of this fine looking fella'? He was in his prime and looking for love. Any lovely lady moose would find him to be a real catch. I was privileged to make his portrait.

Happy Halloween everyone. Jerry

Autumn Travels

2008-10-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

Well, the season I love the most has finally arrived and in fine fashion. All summer long I've waited for autumn, but getting out in the field hasn't been without its trials and tribulations. I had picture installations to do (that wasn't a bad thing, having sold some large panoramas, but it took a lot of time), getting the camper ready after a summer of inactivity, vehicle problems, and list went on.

After finally determining that everything and everyone else had to be relegated to a lesser priority, I finally got out of town with my wife for a couple of days to spend in the Snowy Range. It was a trial trip to make sure everything was in order for the longer fall excursions. Boy was I glad we made that trip. I had forgotten some key things, had some generator issues, and lost a key part to my photographic gear for shooting panoramas. I had gotten rusty over the summer and needed this time to clear my head and rethink my needs, equipment and do some field trials. It was frustrating but necessary.

Well, we got back home and I spent three more days 'fixing' all the things that needed attention. I got off again in four more days and arrived in the Sierra Madres at the peak of the colors. It was spectacular. I shot over 300 images in the first two hours after my arrival and setting up camp. The next two days were spent in my photographic mode I call 'controlled frenzy'. I made over 20 new panoramas and dozens of wonderful images. In the accompanying image, you can see my rig and the place that I camped. The colors over the entire region were more beautiful than at any time I had photographed them in the past.

Unfortuantely, I had a major generator failure and had to return home one more time after all the batteries in cameras, laptops and the camper ran out of power. That generator was crucial to any type of primitive camping environment. I'm taking these few moments to write this blog entry, getting ready to replace the generator and taking off again in a few days for the next phase of my fall trips. Just wanted to keep you posted on what to expect in the next few months. The fall pictures will be my very best and the panoramas mind boggling. I can't wait to share them with you, but I'm even more excited to get back in the field. Have a great autumn season wherever you are. I certainly intend to have more exciting adventures. Jerry

Ready for Autumn

2008-09-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that summer is my least favorite time to be making images. The light tends to be flat and boring to me. I much prefer the change of seasons in the early spring or fall and the wonderful transitions from fall to winter. Well, the weather has cooled off dramatically and the distinctive chill of autumn is affecting my moods and stimulating me to get out of that summer slump that affects me each year.

I've spent much of the summer working at the gallery, meeting new folks and selling images, especially my large panoramas. It has been a good year overall and the large prints are really garnering a lot of attention. So from that standpoint, I've had a good summer, but, it's just not the same as getting out into the field and satisfying those creative urges that start to surface at this time of the year.

The day before yesterday, I had a few brief hours of time to myself, so I packed up the cameras that had been sitting idle for over 3 months and headed to the hills. I've had an image in my head that I wanted to make that has been haunting me for nearly 13 years. It is an image of all things, pine cones. I remembered a place where a single tree on a hillside had over the years depositied thousands of pine cones at its base. The first time I tried to photograph the scene, I was teaching photo workshops. I made an image with a 20mm wide angle lens that showed the vast numbers of cones, but because of the necessary depth of field that I wanted, even at f32, I could not get good front to back sharpness in the image.

I knew what equipment I would need but at the time did not possess it. That has all changed with the new Canon system I currently use. Could I find that place once again after all these years? I was going to try. At the time I could drive within 75 yards of the location, but that too has changed. The forest service closed the road that I needed to use. I could only get to within about 3/4 of a mile of where I needed to be, so I parked the vehicle, picked up one very large camera bag full of three tilt/shift lenses and my camera with numerous accessories, then I shouldered my very heavy Gitzo 1505 tripod with a Graf Studio ball head attached. The tripod alone weighs well over 14 pounds and the bag another 27 pounds. That was quite a load to carry that distance, especially after a summer of basically sitting in a gallery or in front of my computer. I made it to the area OK, but the return trip was exhausting.

Well, my body was struggling but my mind did not fail me. I found that lone tree in the forest after only about a 10 minute search, and it was just like I had remembered, only more pine cones had been depositied in the subsequent years. It was great. I pulled out all of those lenses and tried many compositions and different perspectives. The tilt/shift lenses worked like magic, allowing me to do what I couldn't do before. I got everything that I had hoped for. After about an hour photographing this special place, I packed up the gear and headed back to the vehicle.

I was very tired after the mini-trek, but was energized and ready for more images that I've held in my head for the entire summer. Now I find myself planning for trips to make some more very special images. My time in the gallery will diminish until winter sets in and then I'll be stocked with many more new images, Lord willing.

Summer is over and now the busy season for this photographer starts. I'm excited, energized and ready to go. Can't wait to hear those Elk bugling! This is the stuff my dreams are made of, but now I get to put legs to those dreams. See you in the wilderness of Big, Wonderful Wyoming.

Hospital Purchase of Large Panoramas

2008-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Cheyenne Regional Medical Center will open its new Transitional Care Unit to patients on September 3rd. The patients and staff will be treated to special views of Wyoming scenery. CRMC purchased 8 large panoramas and some smaller prints to decorate the long hallways and dining areas of the TCU.

Patients that will be walking the hallways of TCU will pass by the long panoramas and enjoy Wyoming's spectacular scenery while recuperating. They will enjoy vistas of magnificent red rock country standing in the shadows of snow-capped mountains in a large 8 foot wide panorama of Chimney Rock. Continue along the hallway to see a print called 'The Way to the Burning Bush,' a photograph made in southeastern Wyoming of bewitching sandstone formations.

If you continued your walk around the corridors you would turn the corner to be greeted by a fabulous fall vista of Tensleep Canyon in the southern Bighorn Mountains. Further down the hallway you will see a large panorama of Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. The panorama was made in the early spring of 2007 just after the new foliage appeared on the aspens and is highlighted by the brilliant red colors of the willows along the shores of the Snake River.

If you cross the area of the nurses station and continue down the hallway towards the dining room, you will pass by another 8 foot wide panorama of an aspen forest floor. The panorama was made in the Sierra Madres of southern Wyoming. You almost feel like you could take a step into the scene and enjoy the beauty and smells of the fresh foliage of the forest. If you take a side step into the dining room, you will find a vertical panorama of a waterall taken in the Beartooth Mountains of northwest Wyoming.

Move back into the hallways and continue your journey around the state and at the northeast corner you will see a smaller print of Beartooth Butte overlooking Beartooth Lake. This is magnificent country and the Rocky Mountains at their finest. If you look around the corner from this print you will see a panorama print taken in the Snowy Range. It is a vista of the rugged cliffs overlooking the three lakes that highlight this mountain scene. The panorama was taken at sunrise and overlooks Bellamy Lake. It was taken in June of 2006. Look closely and you will see ice still on the lake even in the middle of June.

Next you will take a left turn to see something really special. Walk a short way down the hallway and look at a magnificent 12 foot wide panorama of the Tetons. This is a two section panorama that was made in the late afternoon from Togwotee Pass east of Jackson Hole. It shows the entire expanse of this magnificent mountain range.

If you look back over your shoulder, you will see the large Teton panorama and the Snowy Range panorama at the end of the hallway. Continue down toward the nurses station and on your left is a special print of Vedauwoo and the rock formation called Potato Chip Rock. This is a special piece made on one of those rare days in the early spring when the new foliage is covered in hoar frost. It is a fairyland kind of scene of this hauntingly beautiful area close to home for many of us. It was a prize winning panorama in last years Southeast Wyoming Art Show.

Finally, if you cross the nurses station area once again, and head back to our starting place, you will see a small panorama of the Black Hills. It was made last fall in an area near Devils Tower and is typical of the the scenery in this part of Wyoming.

Well there you have the complete tour of the new Transitional Care Unit of Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. We hope the patients and staff will enjoy these panorama images of Wyoming during their stay to full recovery, then have opportunity to go out and enjoy these places for themselves. Thanks to CRMC for giving these gifts to their paitents and staff.

Parade of Homes Displays Panoramas

2008-08-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was the first day of the annual Parade of Homes show for builders in the Cheyenne area. One of the builders requested the use of three of my panoramas for their display home. One is a 7' wide panorama taken in the Clarks Fork Canyon area of northwestern Wyoming. It is shown here displayed in the formal dining room.

In the living room they have chosen to display a six and a half foot tall vertical panorama above the fireplace. The cathedral ceilings lend themselves to the display of this large vertical panorama taken in the Bighorn Mountains. It is a shot of Granite Creek in the early spring with new foliage and frost covered trees in a heavy fog. This is a very favorite shot of mine.

And finally is another vertical waterfall panorama taken in the Beartooth Mountains. I call it Hazardous Falls, but it is actually a picture of Lake Creek Falls. The picture hangs in the area separating the kitchen from the living room and dining room area. Vertical panoramas lend themselves to very high ceiling areas or smaller walls with limited space.

The panorama images have garnered a lot of comments and you can get some great ideas for decorating your home by walking through these show homes. All the panoramas were framed by Framemaster of Cheyenne. After the Parade of Homes, you can see these images for yourself by visiting the Framemaster gallery.

Renewal in the Black Hills

2008-08-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

I had planned a two week trip to make photographs in northwest Wyoming. All the arrangements were made and I kissed my wife goodbye. The vehicles were packed and all I had to do was fuel the truck. Normally when heading to this part of the state I travel through Laramie and then up north through Lander, Thermopolis, Cody and on to the Clarks Fork country, but for some reason I headed to Cheyenne for my first stop. That kind of obligated me to a different route up through Casper, but I made a very unusual decision when arriving in Douglas – I took off towards Gillette knowing I was going to visit Devils Tower after a several year hiatus from this wonderful area of Wyoming.

It was early October of 2007. It had been a very warm summer and fall arrived later than normal. I didn't have much expectation that the colors would be changing at this much lower elevation, but off I headed anyway. As I neared Gillette, I passed areas like Pumpkin Buttes, an area that I had photographed from the air. My heart started to quicken its beat as I reacquainted myself with these places that held special places in my memories. I stopped to refuel in Gillette and treat myself to a lunch at Long John Silvers. I enjoyed an A&W Root beer and planned what I wanted to do when I got to my destination. I had given no thought to even coming this way, but I was excited to see the Devils Tower again.

When I got to a place to where I first saw Devils Tower from a distance, I knew that I was where I was meant to be. It was quietly exhilarating. I didn't know what to expect but I knew I was to be here. I picked a campsite in the Devils Tower campground, then gathered my equipment for my first trip out to take a look around. It was much more relaxing than most of my planned excursions. I normally have lots that I want to accomplish and I'm usually wired to make images – not here, not yet.

I spent the afternoon driving around the area scouting out locations that might produce great images in better light. There were some areas that I had not explored before that I wanted to see. This was sounding more like a vacation than work, but off I went anyway. For the next day and a half I visited some new places like The Black Hills National Forest on dirt roads between Hulett and Alva and Aladdin, then I made my way to the Vore Buffalo jump site south of Aladdin. Since the Bison is so very important to me, the history of this site was a special attraction. I made a wonderful drive one afternoon north from Hulett up to Alzada on the Montana/Wyoming border, then on the way back took a detour through New Haven down to Oshoto. There I discovered places I had never seen before and found a location with one of the most spectacular views I could ever imagine, looking out through vast areas to the west and the Bighorn Mountains in the far distance. No other state in the union short of Alaska could produce such uncluttered, unspoiled vistas. I was so psyched. This was absolutely magnificent country and new I wanted to photograph it. Just east of Oshoto I made a very special panorama image of scenery typical of the Black Hills, now I was getting into the swing of things.

It was late in the afternoon and I headed back to Devils Tower. I always kept that place in mind for early morning and late evening images. Now I had some focus. It took two days of mind clearing to get to this point, but I knew what I wanted. Usually I work in a frenzy trying to make the best use of my time, but this time the work was at a more controlled and focused level – that was new! It was great and all the while I was making images that had some special meaning to me.

Well, as it turned out, I spent three days in the Black Hills. The last day was extraordinary. The light had been somewhat flat and 'ordinary' for the first couple of days but my final evening prepared me for the rest of my two week trip. I was in the Joyner Ridge area to the northwest of Devils Tower. I made many great images including a large panorama that will have a special place in our home. I walked all around the area looking for something new in the wonderful late afternoon light, keeping a close eye on what was happening with the Tower. I saw it happening - something that I've witnessed many times before. Magic light, great skies and perfect conditions were unfolding. I didn't have much time, but picked a lens that I felt would be a good choice, put the camera on the tripod, shouldered the entire rig and took off cross country at a hurried pace. I wasn't in great shape, but I felt new energy pumping into my legs and lungs as I hurried up the hill to a place where I could frame the Tower as I had envisioned. I found my place, set up the camera and started making images. I photographed Devils Tower for several minutes until the light was gone, then just sat down for awhile to enjoy the quiet solitude in the presence of this stately monolith. It was a perfect ending to the wonderful day. I was refreshed and revitalized. I walked the ¾ mile back to my vehicle in the twilight shadows of Devils Tower, then returned to my campsite in quiet reflection of all I had experienced.

The next day before packing my rig, I stopped at the visitor center at the base of Devils Tower, and went in to spend some time reading what others had experienced when they visited this magic place. I was struck by something written by a native American. Here is what it said.

"If a man was starving, he was poor in spirit and in body, he went to the Black Hills. The next spring he would come out, his life and body would be renewed. So, to our grandfather, the Black Hills was the center of life, and those areas all around it were considered sacred, and were kept in the light of reverence."

I didn't spend an entire season in the Black Hills, but found refreshment and a new vision for the things I would experience in my work. The native Americans believed this was sacred country that gave them new life. It is indeed a magical and wonderful part of Wyoming. It is a place where I was able to reconnect with the Creator of the Black Hills. I came away with new vision and focus, and the 10 days to follow gave me opportunity to produce some of the best work I've done in a long time. I did get to my originally planned location in northwest Wyoming, but via a different route. That detour opened my eyes to the wonders of serendipity. God was good to me on that trip and I found my much needed renewal in the Black Hills of Wyoming.

Tribune Eagle Newspaper Story Now Online

2008-08-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

On July 10th, 2008, the Cheyenne Tribune Eagle Newspaper ran a story about me and my large format panorama work that will be displayed at Deselms Original Fine Art Gallery through the month of August. The story gives some background about my work, insights into the things that motivate me to produce such large pieces, and shows some of the images that are on display in the gallery.

To read the complete article, you can click on this link. The pdf file will be downloaded to your computer. I would love to hear your comments.

Reprinted from the archives of the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle by permission of Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Traveling in Wyoming for Photographers - Part 3

2008-08-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

We've started to narrow down some of the suggestions for effective ways to travel as a photographer in Wyoming. Have you got some ideas yet? Well here are a couple of more options to consider. Don't buy anything just yet.

In part 2 of this article I left off with the idea of considering a travel trailer – a good and effective option for some. After some trial and error I found that for my type of work there were just too many limitations, so here is another good option. A motor home is a great choice, especially if you make one addition that creates a wonderful travel combination, but before I get to that, lets look at some of the major benefits.

First, you are driving one vehicle. It makes maneuvering in tight quarters a whole lot easier, but you have all the benefits of a trailer. These type of units can have all the amenities and sometimes more luxury than the finest motel rooms. Sizes can rage from small to outfits that exceed 40' in length. That is approaching the size of a small mobile home, and they can have things like washers and driers, large screen televisions, recliners, etc. - you name it. Does a working photographer need all of that? How nice to think about the luxury, but remember we are here to work, not lounge around in the lap of luxury.

Motor homes come in two basic flavors – Class A and Class C. The Class A motor homes are the units that look like a small Greyhound buses. They often do not have a door that the driver can exit from, but use a side entrance just like a passenger bus. This feature alone greatly reduces egress from the vehicle when unplanned circumstances and opportunities arise. Not only that, their shear size necessitates special consideration for parking. You can't just pull off the side of a busy road, hop out and make some images. They require large parking spaces and are not suitable for off road travel. Almost all of the Class A motor homes available now are diesel pushers. Diesels are much more costly to feed this day and age. I've seen these large motor homes get severely stuck just trying to make a turn and getting slightly off the shoulder of a paved road. These units are great for very extended travels as the large living space provides some space to move around, and that can be very important during long stays away from home. Would I consider these a truly practical way for a working photographer to travel in our state? Probably not.

The Class C motor home is much more adaptable to some of the variables we may encounter. First, they are usually built on a van body and thus have an individual driver side door. You can get in and out much more easily. These units are usually much smaller, though I've seen some pretty large units. These big Class C's have some of the same problems as the large Class A's. My comments in the remainder of this article is to the small and medium size Class C motor homes. They have all the amenities, are quite secure, can be used in colder climates with minimal concern, and are the perfect balance between the comfort of motel rooms and accessibility to the remote areas we like to work in. You can get them with generators, tubs and showers, televisions, if you think that is necessary, and cooking conveniences like microwave ovens. Just about anything you can imagine (and afford) is available. Well that all sounds just about perfect, don't you think? Are there some downsides? Yes, I think a few.

First of all, these units, even the smaller ones are low slung and fairly long, so true off road travel has to be tempered with some sound judgment. Van chassis' are not as durable as truck chassis so continued hard use in the back country will greatly reduce the life expectancy of a motor home. If you stick to more developed areas, then these limitations are mitigated. Motor homes, at least none that I've ever seen, are available in 4WD, so extreme weather conditions and off road travel is not recommended. Of course there are some who will try anything. Be prepared for a very expensive towing charge if you are one of those individuals. If this is your sole vehicle, the problem of getting around to areas apart from your campsite is a very expensive proposition and parking the beast is always a more difficult task. Spontaneous opportunities can pretty much be discounted. But there is a great workaround for photographers who like the idea of a motor home and here it is.

Add a tow vehicle behind the rig and you've got a near perfect outfit. It can be a jeep type vehicle for true off road capability or if you don't need that, a smaller economy vehicle might be ideal. It would sure reduce some of the fuel expenses we face now. Unfortunately, you have to deal with an even longer rig than the already long motor home. I've seen outfits that run well over 60' long. That can be a logistical nightmare. You almost need the experience of a commercial driver to handle outfits this large. It is like driving a semi. Is that what you want to deal with? Of course if you opt for one of the smaller Class C's the rig would be much easier to handle. You have all the benefits of a base to operate from plus all the benefits of towing a second vehicle that will get you to those remote locations. It could even be a 4 wheeler instead of another car. Another option for photographers is towing a boat. A boat? Yes, consider some of the amazing places you could only get to via watercraft. Ever seen Bighorn National Recreation Area - the Bighorn Canyon north of Yellowtail Reservoir? It is a truly remarkable area only accessible via boat. How about other places like Flaming Gorge or Yellowstone Lake. A boat could give you access to areas inaccessible any other way unless you can carry a very heavy pack and have unlimited amounts of time. Any kind of vehicle that affords you more flexibility is a great addition to a base camp consisting of a motor home. Sounds pretty neat, huh?

This outfit is starting to sound like just the ticket in my mind, but I still have some other ideas that we'll consider next time. Then I'll share my ideal rig, at least the one I'm currently using. I think there may still be one more incarnation before I finally arrive at my dream vehicle, but I'm getting close. Keep thinking about what will work best for you and we'll see if we are both on the same page. If this outfit sounds just right for you, go ahead and rent one and give it a try. There are places like RV4rent and RV America which have all kinds of rigs to try. Here's another benefit to those considering a purchase in this economy. If you think this is the best way to go, many folks are getting rid of their RV's at bargain basement prices. Just spend a little time shopping and you can get a real deal. For photograhers the purchase price is tax deductible. Let me know what you think. Until the final installment – Jerry

Frontier Days Now History

2008-07-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it is Monday morning following 10 days of Cheyenne Frontier Days celebrations. This year marked the 112th anniversary. Vendors and people involved in the celebration have been very interested to see how the struggling economy would impact sales from visitors to our area. After all, tourism is a major producer of income for people in our state.

From my personal observations being downtown for the entire duration of parades, pancake breakfasts, and rodeos, the numbers were way down. Though I met many from areas all over the country, the majority of people visiting Cheyenne were more regional. And sales of non-essential, luxury items were very small compared to years past. Even the largest western art show, the Western Spirit Art Show which attracts buyers from all over the world was a dismal disappointmemt. Organizers of the event were stunned by the poor results. I think it is a trend that will be with us for awhile until people come to know what to expect from our national economy.

I spent the majority of those 10 days in the gallery meeting people and talking to them about my prints and large panoramas. I talked to hundreds of folks and though sales were not what I had hoped for, I did make some great contacts and hope to follow up on those in the next couple of weeks. Art is no exception to those areas that will continue to struggle, but we will adapt and continue to work hard. To those I did meet and who are reading this blog, I wanted to tell you again that it was my pleasure to meet you and shake your hand. My best to you and yours. Jerry

Magazine Article Now Online

2008-07-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

The July issue of Around Cheyenne featured a two-page spread about me and my work. The release of the article was to be in conjunction with the opening reception at Deselms Fine Art Gallery on July 12th, but due to some unforeseen printing problems the release date was delayed.

The magazine has now been mailed and can be found at many locations around the city and state. If you are unable to find the magazine for a first hand look, just go to this link to get the Around Cheyenne Magazine article. I was pleased with the story and there are quotes from several clients who have used my work in their businesses. You can see some good examples of my wildlife portraits as well as two panorama images. If you like what you read, the editor has agreed to host an image with a brief story about how it was made in upcoming issues. I intend to keep the print descriptions short and hopefully, entertaining. Let me know what you think of the article and the pictures. I'm always looking for feedback and would love to hear your comments. Watch for the next issue. I think it will be a wildlife picture and you will love the story behind it - Jerry

Traveling in Wyoming for Photographers - Part 2

2008-07-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

When I left you last time, I suggested that staying in motels created a lot of logistical problems that made getting the best images in their finest light a more difficult task. I'd like to start exploring some other alternatives with you in this section. In the last installment, I'll share my current outfit with you and tell you how I think my travel rig will evolve.

One thing I tried several times that got me closer to the 'action' so to speak was tent camping. It was in the early days of my outdoor career. It took care of one problem, but several new issues arose. Setting up a camp was a time consuming chore, then the issue of cooking, cleanup and all things that had to do with that activity. It is fine for the camping enthusiast that has nothing much more to do than hike, sight see, or just relax and enjoy the experience. Compound that with all the equipment you must deal with as a professional photographer and things take a turn for the worse.

Security is no small issue. A professionals livelihood depends on his equipment. If a motel is not a safe place for your belongings, how secure is a tent? You can leave it in the car, but still have to use some of it at days end to download images, etc., then the repacking – still a problem as far as I'm concerned. Then comes the issue of power. Generally speaking, campsites that put you closer to where you need to be don't have AC outlets nearby. Unfortunately, we live and work with equipment that has batteries that need to charged. Consider your laptop, portable storage device ( I use an Epson P5000), external hard drives, camera batteries, portable DVD players, and the list goes on according to your personal needs. You can carry a small generator, but they are just something else to be concerned with, let alone the time use restrictions in National Parks and the need to carry and transport gasoline. If you are out for more than a couple of days you will need to address this issue. There are also restrictions about where you can tent camp in certain locations like Yellowstone. Hard sided campers are required in places like the Lake Area and Lewis Lake. Tent camping is not a good choice for the non-backpacking or back country photographer.

The next alternative that I considered was a small bumper pull trailer. My first was a 16 foot tandem axle trailer. Wow, what a step up from a tent. It had many advantages. Let me run down the list. This is very workable solution and one that a couple of my photographer friends still use to this day. First, I was able to get close to my working sites. I had most of the conveniences of a motel room in a portable package. I had hot and cold running water, a shower and toilet, a comfortable bed that I didn't have to roll up every morning, and all the facilities to carry my own food and cook it conveniently. Clean up was snap and I could stand up to dress in privacy, It was warmer and drier, and after a couple of hours setup, I was set to stay as long as I wanted with no real maintenance or security issues. I could leave my equipment locked up in security boxes so packing and unpacking was less of an issue. A generator was loaded on the truck semi-permanently so I had power on demand as well as the on-board batteries for lighting, the furnace, water pumps, etc. It was convenient and very, very comfortable to boot.

So were there any downsides to trailer life? Yes, a few of them. Here are some of the things that eventually moved me away from trailer camping. These are not big issues to my friends for the way they work, but they affected some of the things I waned to do. It wasn't always easy to find camping spots in more remote areas that were accessible to the truck and trailer. Since I like to work in the transitional seasons when weather is very fickle, muddy roads and deep snow became huge obstacles. I must say that when I got a 4WD truck that helped, but it wasn't a cure-all. To maximize the trailers effectiveness you need to pick a spot to work from and make that your base camp, otherwise you have to set up and take down the rig too frequently and you've robbed yourself of its benefits. If it was set up as a base camp, you then needed to use your tow vehicle to get to places you wanted to work. I may travel upwards of 100 miles from my base camp depending on where in the state I'm working. That is expensive. It was back then: now it would be prohibitive with the cost of fuel hitting the $5.00 per gallon price for diesel. Plus, most pickups are not the ideal vehicle for all situations you might run into as a photographer, room being a major issue for me. The bed space is normally not secure and wet conditions can create havoc.

I worked this way for years and learned to deal with some of the inconveniences, but it was a huge step up from the hassles of tent camping and the expense and distance issues of staying in a motel. Could I stop here with the recommendation of buying or renting a trailer? Absolutely. It works for many, but in the next issue, I'd like to offer up a couple of more alternatives for you to consider. Be patient, then make your decision. Each has its good points and downsides, but surely one will be a near perfect fit for you. If you considering any of these possibilities, the good news is you don't have to make a huge investment that you may not like. You can rent trailers for a short time to give it a try. You will only be out the cost of a receiver hitch and wiring for your vehicle. If you don't have a truck, you can lease a complete outfit. Give it whirl and enjoy the outdoors in all the luxury of a motel suite. It's a great life. Keep shooting. Until next time – Jerry.

PS - the first of the two images shown was of a camp we (Larry Roop and I) made when bear trapping. This was our base camp. The picture was taken near Sunlight Peak in 1982. The second image was provided by a photographer friend of mine named John Browning. His group regularly travels to the Red Desert in early spring. They use 4 wheelers for local travel. Their preferred lodging is trailer camping.

Art Show Opening

2008-07-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Well, some long weeks of preparation and a couple of restless nights preceded the opening afternoon reception for our art show at Deselms Fine-art Gallery, but the day finally arrived. The reception was held between noon and 4pm on Saturday. Lots was going on in and around Cheyenne, including a motorcycle rally, a mandatory work day for all the Frontier Days volunteers, a meet the candidate reception for mayoral candidates and the list goes on. Inspite of all this and the absolutely beautiful day, an opportunity for locals to get out and enjoy the fine weather, we had a nice turnout.

I met many new folks, even some from out of town, and spent almost four continuous hours talking about the large panorama prints that were on display. You can see hints of the pictures behind me in the accompanying image. Thanks to all who came in support of me and my work. Thanks to Jo and Pat who helped host the reception and to my wife who spent three nights making treats to add to the nice spread provided by Harvey.

What's next? Well Frontier Days starts in just a week and I'll be spending a lot of time at the gallery on the mornings of the parades and pancake breakfasts to meet and talk to visitors about my work . If you were unable to attend the show opening, don't worry. The display will hang until the end of August. I'm almost always available to come to the gallery on request to answer any questions. Just have the staff give me a call and I'll try to accommodate you. Again, my thanks to everyone for their wonderful support.

TV Spot Aired Thursday July 10th

2008-07-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hope you got to see the TV show about my work. It was quite flattering. I requested a tape of the show to share with you all, but got a note from the host of the show that CBS would not allow me to post any of their work on my blog. Sorry, I really wanted to share the show with those of you that could not watch, but I did get this comment from Anne Lauricello, the host of the early show. Here are her comments from an email I received this morning.

"I truly meant what I said to Annie -- you have some of the most beautiful photography I have ever seen and I don't believe that seeing it on film does it justice. Good luck with your showings, I'm sure you are getting a fantastic response."

Thanks Anne. I was at the gallery getting ready for tomorrows opening reception and a few of the people that saw the TV segment came in to take a look for themselves. The response to the very large panoramas has been quite positive. Hope you all can make the reception tomorrow.

New Panoramas at FrameMaster

2008-07-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

FrameMasters has just added a few new panorama images to their growing selection of Jerry Geist photographs. In celebration of the new shop and showroom at 137 Kornegay Ct. in Cheyenne, WY., Myra Jolly, the owner has custom framed two large panoramas from Jerry's collection. Shown here is one of the 7' wide pictures he took in October of 2007 in the Clarks Fork Canyon country of northwestern Wyoming.

The second image is a 6'6" tall vertical panorama of Granite Creek in the Bighorn Mountains. This striking image was made in the early spring during a snowstorm. The trees are frosted and new spring foliage is peeking out from the blanket of white frost in a heavy fog. It is a dynamic image. Both of these new images plus several wildlife portraits and two other panorama images are also on display in the gallery. Stop by and take a look at Framemasters new shop and these very special, original panorama images by Jerry Geist.

Traveling in Wyoming for Photographers -Part 1

2008-07-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

I'm addressing this article to the more serious photographers, rather than the casual Wyoming tourist who just likes making pictures. So with that in mind, let's get started talking about some of the issues that confront professionals and serious amateurs alike.

When I worked for the state of Wyoming, I was expected to get great images of historic places or iconic images of Wyoming's outstanding scenery for publication in a variety of travel oriented brochures and publications. I was given a state vehicle to get to and from various locations in the state and had a budget for lodging and food. I had no out of pocket expenses, and that was great. The downside! Nothing I shot was mine to keep: it belonged to the state and that is ultimately why I quit and started shooting for myself after a long 16 years, but that is another story.

My job required me to get great shots, but there was little consideration for the logistics of getting from my point of lodging to the greatest locations in a timely fashion to take advantage of the best light, the earliest light of dawn. Because of where I had to stay, it sometimes involved predawn treks that might be upwards of 70 or 80 miles from my motel. It was doable sometimes, and downright impossible at others. My days often started at 3 or 4 am and I normally worked until dark to maximize the time allowed which was always a five day trip. I left on a Monday after staff meeting and got back before quiting time on Friday. That schedule alone deprived me of many opportunities as Wyoming weather and seasons are so very unpredictable. More times than not, I was fortunate enough to catch things in optimum conditions on those prescheduled and timed trips. They were extremely limiting conditions to work in and try to get the expected great images.

That brings me to suggestion number one for taking advantage of the best opportunities. Don't use a motel! If at all possible, buy or rent a camp trailer, motorhome or truck camper. Why? You can get much closer to the places you want to be, whether staying in commercial campgrounds or more primitive forest service or national park campgrounds. Either option is usually much closer to the best locations than traveling to a nearby town, paying for expensive rooms and having to get up early and arrive back at the room very late, after a long days shooting.

A case in point. I led a photo workshop to Yellowstone for a seven day trip, taking nine of my seasoned and experienced photographic workshop students. Obviously we couldn't afford to rent enough motorhomes for the week long trip to accommodate all nine people so I booked rooms in several locations that would put us fairly close to the areas we were going to photograph. The trip took place in late fall, but even then the days started at 4:30 am, often to drive over 50 miles to arrive at our sunrise locations. We would go all day long, often walking on six to eight mile hikes carrying our equipment, then staying out until after dark to make night time photographs. That would put us back in the motels at 11pm, only to start the process over for the next six days. Many of the attendees wanted nothing to do with 'professional photography' after that experience. Imagine how early the days would start in the summertime. I've gotten out of bed at 2:30 am on many occasions to make my appointed location on time for sunrise. That gets very, very old in a hurry.

The one exception to my dislike for motels is my wintertime photography. When I visit Yellowstone in the winter, I stay in a motel in Gardner, MT. Since sunrise doesn't happen until about 8am, I have plenty of time to get to my desired locations. An added benefit is that sundown comes early so there is ample time for a good nights rest in a warm, comfortable bed. The off season rates are much more affordable, as well. Even with these added benefits, one of the major problems is the constant loading and unloading of equipment into a room and the vehicle. I don't care what time of year, the rate, or location, that is a major pain and after a very long day, it is one of the last things you want to deal with. With digital photography, there is always additional work to do after the days shooting. You all know what that is don't you? I don't know of a photographer who would leave any equipment in a motel room, especially things like laptops, extra lenses, etc., so the alternative is to repack the entire vehicle each morning, with things you may not have need of during the day. That is just more unnecessary work. Motels are great for the tourist, but in my experience they are a big nuisance to the one who must work in the field day after day. There are better alternatives.

Well, in the next installment of this topic, I'll suggest some other options and tell you about my solutions, arrived at after much trial and error. Every alternative has its positive and negative points and I'll try to share some of those with you, too. After some thought you should have several choices from which to choose. One should fit your working style better than others. Keep on shooting and please feel free to comment on your experiences about photography, travel and lodging. Until next time – Jerry.

TV News Crew Promotes Show

2008-07-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

CBS News Channel 5 film crew visited Deselms Fine Art Gallery to film some of the large format panorama images that will be in the art show called Panorama Images of Wyoming by photographer Jerry W. Geist, for the opening day reception July 12th, 2008 from noon to four pm.

The interview will be aired on the morning show on July 10th and will be hosted by Ann Lauricello of KGWN-TV and Annie Wood, marketing specialist with the Wyoming Made program of the Wyoming Business Council. Get up early and flip on TV channel 5 to see what they have to say about the images that will be displayed in the show. If you cannot come to visit us at the gallery on the opening day, please stop by and take a look at the display throughout the summer, then drop us a note at Images of Wyoming and tell us what you think about the panoramas.

Digital or Film?

2008-07-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

One of the first questions I'm always asked is I'm shooting film or digital and what equipment I use, so this post will be dedicated to answering that question. Well first of all, I went totally digital about three years ago. Up to that point I had been using Nikon 35mm film cameras and medium format film cameras. When I started researching digital I quickly came to the conclusion that I wanted a digital camera with a full frame sensor for a variety of reasons, but primarily because of low noise and superior quality.

I made the difficult decision to abandon my Nikon system and switched to Canon. I had been using Nikons for over 30 years starting with the venerable Nikon F. I've kept about 5 of my Nikkor lenses, but made a total investment in a complete Canon system. Here's the list of hardware that is my stable:

Canon EOS 1D Mark IIn's
Canon EOS 10D (for backup and IR)
14mm
16-35 zoom
24-70 zoom
70-200 zoom
100-400 zoom
500mm
24mm tilt shift
45mm tilt shift
90mm tilt shift
1.4X teleconverter

I have 5 different Gitzo tripods with a variety of heads from Wimberley, Kirk, RRS, Graf Studioball, Arca Swiss and Gitzo.

I use Really Right Stuff panorama equipment.

My Compact Flash and SD cards are all SanDisk Extreme III's and IV's.

Am I happy with Canon? Absolutely! It is superior equipment in every way and there is nothing I can imagine not being able to do with it. The results are absolutely stunning and I have run into no shortcomings. I can say this however. Had Nikon made the decision early on to adopt the full-frame sensor, I would have never considered changing systems. Only recently did Nikon decide to offer a full frame digital camera in the D3. These are remarkable cameras and may prompt many users to return to the Nikon system. It is just too little, too late for me. But as always, here's the bottom line. It doesn't matter what you use as much as the vision and technical expertise you exercise when making your images. Let the battle about hardware be engaged by those who can't make great images or have too much time on their hands. Their time could be better spent making pictures than arguing about what system to use.

My Favorite Place in Wyoming

2008-07-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

There are special places in Wyoming that I like to visit often. Wyoming's diversity is what fascinates me so very much. But if I were forced to pick only one area of the state I could live and work it would be the Clarks Fork Country northwest of Cody, WY. There is no other country in the state that is as absolutely breathtaking to me. It is wild, untamed country. This is Grizzly and wolf country. It was here that I spent some time trapping Grizzly bears with my best friend Larry Roop. Before diesel prices soared to over $5 a gallon, I was making three or four trips a year to this area, and the short two week trips always left me wanting more.

I've made several good friends that I always look forward to seeing. If you are ever near Crandall, don't miss the opportunity to stop in and meet some great people at the Painter Outpost. It is owned and operated by Richard and Carol Lunger and Carol's brother Lee. They are the friendliest people I've ever met and Richard makes a mean beef stew, one of my favorite things to eat when its on the menu.

This is an old-fashioned, hometown friendly kind of place with a lot of regulars stopping in for a nightly brew after a long days work. There's Luis a guest ranch owner that looks and acts like he stepped out of a western novel. He always has tales to tell about bears or wolves they encounter on their pack trips, or that get into trouble around the ranch. And there is Ron, a great friend to all the folks at Painters. He cooks for them at times and helps with everything around the operation. He's a big fella that loves to talk hunting and telling of his numerous outdoor experiences. He's given me lots of ideas and help concerning my work in the surrounding country.

Lee, well he is the most congenial, down home kind of guy I've ever met. He has always, and I mean always gone out of his way to help me. Everything from setting up my displays to loading my vehicles in the trailer to guiding me to special places for certain images. He is just one of the many experts who have a vast knowledge of the area. Lee has become a good friend to me.

Richard, a retired physician cooks and tends bar and is perfectly comfortable sitting down with a perfect stranger and having a wonderful conversation. His wife Carol a retired military command nurse pretty much runs the place taking care of most everything to do with the store and restaurant. Together these and others that frequent Painters like Sam and Bill make this one of the friendliest places I've every visited. They are the best kind of western, down home hospitable people you'd ever meet. If you stop by for a visit tell them I sent you.

As for pictures look at my website and visit the galleries of the Absarokas, Clarks Fork Country, the Beartooths and Sunlight/Dead Indian. You will see lots of diverse country and beautiful scenery in the different seasons of the year. If you spend enough time there you will no doubt see Grizzly bears, Mountain Goats and wolves. Elk are everywhere as are Mule Deer. Moose frequent many places along the Clarks Fork River and the ponds below Cathedral Cliffs. You won't get a more spectacular vista than the overlook at Dead Indian looking down into the canyon country. And my favorite is Pilot Peak. It reminds me of the Matterhorn and is the most dramatic peak in Wyoming. It has more character than the Grand Teton and the weather there is always changing, offering up the dramatic for those who will wait.

There you have it, my favorite place in Wyoming. Keep an eye for my rig and maybe one day we will meet. I'll tell you about my outfit on a later post.

Gallery Opening

2008-07-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

We're excited to be showing some of our large panorama prints at Deselms' Origninal Fine Art Gallery at their new downtown location at 124 W. Lincolnway, across from Depot Square. Harvey has given us a very large space for some of the large panorama images of Wyoming. We've been very busy getting images printed and hung for a gallery opening day reception scheduled for July 12th from noon to four pm. If you are able I'd love to have you stop by and see some of these special images; be sure to introduce yourself. I'll be there to talk with you and I hope to have some of the other proof sheets of nearly a hundred panoramas that I have completed to date.

We will have 10 large panorama prints on display including the limited-edition 'Teton / Snake River Panorama'. Other panorama prints will include the Tetons, Chimney Rock, Tensleep Canyon, Vedauwoo, Yellowstone in Winter, Snowy Range, a vertical panorama of a waterfall in the Beartooth Mountains and a closeup of an Aspen Forest to name a few.

In addition to the large panoramas, we'll have several standard format images like the snowy faced Bison pictured above. You can see some of the other 'smaller' images on the wall behind this buffalo picture. There will be lots to see, including a larger 12' panorama of the Tetons. For more information, check out the News and Events page on Jerry Geist's website. There you can also get some additional information on our specialty, large print panoramas of Wyoming. You will be reading much more about this in future posts, so keep tuned in.