The Old Veteran

The Old Veteran -- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, f/5.6, 1/40s, ISO: 160

I've taken a lot of photos of this tree.  It's as moody of a tree as you're ever likely to meet.  He seemed to be a bit cold and aloof on Saturday.

I went with a washed-out look here in post-editing.  Some of the vibrancy of the yellow flowers in the foreground is lost, but I like the overall grayness of the shot.

Cypress Cove

Cypress Cove -- Point Lobos State Nature Reserve, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, ISO: 100, f/7.1, 1/50s

Knowing the context in which it was taken, I know that this photo is missing an end point.  Then again, if I didn't know where it was taken and what is missing would I even care?

Is it missing something?  No?  Let me know.

Missed Another One

Western Kingbird -- San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, CA

I guess I get excited and bounce around, because with a few rare exceptions (for instance) my take off photos are always blurry.  This probably would have been a pretty cool shot otherwise.  Oh well.

California Quail

California Quail -- San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, CA

Quail are a common sight around the bushes and tall grass of San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.  This guy, though?  He was on top of a elk fence pole more likely to be occupied by a hawk or a kestrel.  I only saw a few hawks yesterday and the prey seemed to know they were in less danger than normal judging by this quail and some of the rabbits we saw sunning themselves in the open.  It's that time of year, I guess.

California Quail -- San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, CA

Mono Lake

Mono Lake, CA

Nothing too exciting here.  That's Mono Lake partially blocked by a large tufa.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 158, image #1440.

Rolling in the Grass

American Bison -- Yellowstone National Park, WY

We saw this guy lying in the grass on our way up to Mammoth Hot Springs.  We stopped for a few pictures from the other side of the road.  He was pretty cool to us.

American Bison -- Yellowstone National Park, WY

Gibbon Falls

Gibbon Falls -- Yellowstone National Park, WY

If I'd never been to Yosemite I might think Yellowstone has the most amazing waterfalls of any National Park in America.  I've been to Yosemite, though.

To be honest, although Silver Falls State Park in Oregon doesn't have any single waterfall over two hundred feet tall, I might take that park over either in terms of drama and mood.  Tough call, given Yosemite's waterfalls are probably a bit more dramatic if a little less moody.

Anyway, Yellowstone's waterfalls are wonderful.  I think the main drawback is that it's tough to close close to most of them.  This is the best view you'll find of Gibbon Falls, and it's obviously taken from some distance away.  Pretty awesome waterfall, if you ask me.