Photographs of wildlife in wilderness have special meaning for me. If I’m aware that an image was taken in a truly wild setting it changes the context in a positive way. Most folks are unaware that more than three-fourths of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in sw Montana has official wilderness designation as the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness and is managed and protected under the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Under the Wilderness Act wilderness is defined as:
- “an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” and “an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions.”
Red Rock Lakes NWR is a special place for me – it’s one of those few truly wild areas we have left that I have reasonable access to.
In some areas of the US (parts of Florida come to mind) Sandhill Cranes tend to be rather tame and approachable in urban areas and I must admit that when I see photos of them taken there my gut response to the images is tainted by that context, justifiably or not.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this male Sandhill Crane two weeks ago at Red Rocks. Because of a wet spring the Centennial Valley was as lush as I’ve ever seen it and I love the natural setting of this bird – green, native (I presume) grasses and wildflowers galore. And the lichen-covered rock in front of the crane is the icing on the cake for me. These bright orange-red lichens, so common in Montana, remind me of another area of the state where I grew up on a farm near Glacier National Park. Many of the rocks and even some of the old buildings on the farm had these red lichens growing on them. And I also used to occasionally see Sandhill Cranes on the farm, especially in the spring.
The emotional impact of an image is often a very personal one. For reasons I’ve mentioned this one has that impact for me.
Ron
It’s truly a magnificent shot Ron! The combination of elements in this shot are simply stunning!Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Nice and green there-we are having high temperatures but some amazing wet areas in the midst of the dryness-like in this photo, lush. Think the red lichens balances the rust on the cranes head. As for the wild areas, the animals behave totally differently. Although it is challenging to get close or to get a shot, there is more satisfaction in just obsrving the behaviour.
The soft blue-grey of the bird echoed in the light blue of wild iris, orangey red lichens echoing the orangey red top knot of the bird, the tiny yellow flowers echoing the color of the big bird’s golden eyes…How I love the counterpoint and harmonys of nature—untouched, unmanipulated and unspoiled….serene.
Orange lichen? How amazing. Ours are almost all a soft grey green. Which I love, but also welcome other colours.
And wilderness is rare. And very, very beautiful.
I love seeing how birds and animals adjust to our intrusion (and sometimes thrive) but I really, really love seeing them as they should be.
I love those orange lichens, EC. Their color is so bold it might be kind of jarring for some but I don’t have that problem with them. Years ago I took some photos of some of them growing on the side of an old granary on the family farm. I’ve looked for those photos but can’t find them.
I really love that red lichen rock. It brings such an immediacy to his portrait. 😀 And I thought of you today when I was driving back from a local farmers market. A Great Blue Heron was about 3 feet from the road. We’ve had so much rain here in Texas that the fishing is excellent in our ditches. 😀
Send some of that rain our way, Arwen. We’re really in need of it. Glad you like the lichen-covered rock in the image. I wasn’t sure it would work well for others.
Well with the flooding we’ve endured, I’d be delighted to share! Did you hear that there was a gator found in a Houston parking garage after the flood waters receded down there? 😀
Fantastic shot! I was down in Centennial Valley on Monday, and it is still lush green and beautiful. But, I’m afraid this heat wave may change that. I enjoy every single one of your posts!!
Jane, I’ve been wondering how the valley was holding up in this heat. Glad to hear that it’s still green, at least for now. Thank you.
Hi Ron,
I am definitely in tune with your feelings/reactions regarding wild things. Speaking of “tunes”, your post reminded me of this song from the 60’s. The song’s object was different from yours (it was aimed at a person), but I immediately thought of it while reading your words. And, that reinforces one of your points about individual reactions to photos. Hope this is not too corny…
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy, wild thing
Wild thing, I think I love you
Cheers,
Dick
I remember the song well, Dick (The Troggs, I believe) and always liked it. Never thought to apply the lyrics to wild things in nature but you’re right, it works!
That song still makes me think of a particular girlfriend in high school though…
Gorgeous image and agree the flowers add a special feeling to it.
Thanks very much, Johanna.
We have a Sandhill Crane Festival north of here in Othello WA every year. Come some time!
Sounds like fun, Karen. Thanks for the invitation and I’ll keep it in mind.
Beautiful shot Ron! Funny how a scene manifests itself in our memory perked by what we see later in life! Did Glacier National Park in 1972 when I was on a summer sabbatical and took our young family out west camping! Got some nice images then and a ton of memories. Love the west, but love the ocean as well!
Thanks for sharing!
“Love the west, but love the ocean as well!”
As do I, Dick. Ya know, we have an ocean out here too! 🙂 I have many fond memories of when I lived in California as a kid (yeah, we moved around a lot) and playing and exploring in places like Oceanside, Mission Beach and La Jolla cove. And you’re right about old memories being perked by things we see in later life. Thank you.
Thank you Ron, for this heartfelt commentary and beautiful photo. I also have a special affinity for wildlife in wild places. And sandhill cranes are simply majestic. There are non-migrating sandhill cranes on a preserve in Mississippi, called the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Reserve. No one know why this group of cranes has stayed put every year for as long as anyone can remember, but the NWR was created to make certain they continue to do so. The preserve is surrounded by mostly rural areas, but I-10 runs right to the south of it. As a matter of fact the NWR was paid for by highway mitigation dollars. There are only about 200 individuals, and we got to see five of them. The birds are a bit darker than the sandhill cranes we see here, with a beautiful blue cast to their overall image, when viewed in flight or from afar. If you ever get a chance to go birding and photographing in the Gulf area, I highly recommend taking in the NWR.
Cathryn, I was unaware of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR until you mentioned it. I’m now curious enough about it, and those cranes, to do a little research on it.
The beauty of this image brought tears to my eyes—-if you grew up near such things, no wonder you became so dedicated to making a record of them and
promoting their salvation………
Kris, You understand. I can tell…
Beautiful image. I hadn’t thought about wild area vs. more inhabited area for photos of wildlife, but I think I understand at least something of why the wild areas mean more to you. There is something awesome about beholding truly wild life. In this photo I also like that I can identify the blue & white flowers as Iris. 🙂 The most awesome lichens I’ve ever seen were down in Ushuaia, Argentina. They are the same intense kinds of color but there are also yellows, oranges and greens as well as the rusty ones. When you see them covering the rocks out in the water, it’s very similar to looking at expanses of wildflowers anywhere else.
“I hadn’t thought about wild area vs. more inhabited area for photos of wildlife”
Susan, I doubt that the difference in my reaction to the two “types” of photos is appropriate for many but I just can’t help myself – it’s just the way I react to them. I don’t dislike images that I know were taken in urban settings, I just prefer those taken in wild places. They have a different “feel” for me…