Jay Ryser Photography: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Favorite Images

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:37:44 GMT

Some of my favorite images - many images are from animals that I spend a lot of time getting to know and are very comfortable in my presence.

Pikas

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:39:07 GMT

Pika spend their short summers gathering alpine grasses and plant into tiny hay bales that they dry out for use in the winter. They don't hibernate, and are awake and active in their burrows and tunnels. If you get too close to one of their tiny hay bales, they will emit a loud"EEENK" noise to get you to back off. They're considered "canary in the coal mine" species, as they're very sensitive to environmental changes.

Pika are also difficult to photograph.They're small (about the size of a small to medium potato), blend in well with their surroundings, run between and under rocks in the talus,and seems to be constantly on the move.

Marmots

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:37:01 GMT

Marmots and pika are both alpine species that reside above tree line in the mountains. They share habitat and usually co-exist reasonably well. They are both at-risk species due to climate change. Pika in particular are extremely vulnerable to high temperatures (above 80 degrees F), and that severely limits their ability to migrate to new areas.

Marmots eat and put on weight in the short alpine summer so that they can hibernate through the long cold winter. They're also one of the few species that are considered altruistic - that is, they remain in danger to call out warnings to their peers - a loud SQUEAK.".

Mountain Goat Kids

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:33:42 GMT

Mountain Goats

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:26:52 GMT

DANCES WITH MOUNTAIN GOATS, Mt Evans 06/08/2011 Mammals, United States
INTRODUCTION
I have to confess to a long-standing affection for mountain goats. Back in the day, when I was more actively backpacking & climbing, I’d often take a lunch break (and sometimes a little nap) after particularly grueling uphill sections above tree-line in the Colorado Rockies. It was not uncommon to find myself joined by small groups of mountain goats during those respites. They had little fear of humans; the adults would quietly graze around me and the kids would play, sometimes almost stepping on me, actually standing on my pack, and at times running into me. Those are fond memories.

I suppose it’s natural that with a new (or rather re-newed) avocation of photography, usually wildlife, that I’m drawn back to mountain goats. I usually dread the start of summer – the heat, the bugs, the throngs of people flooding my favorite outdoor areas – but summer is also the time I get to visit my alpine critters and re-establish connections made every summer.

BIOLOGY & HABITAT
You can find mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in the western mountain ranges of North America. They’re primarily an alpine and sub-alpine species, most often found above tree-line in the Summer, and below tree-line (sometimes at sea-level for coastal goats in the Cascades) when there is no food available at higher elevations during other seasons.

The mountain goat is amazingly well adapted to its environment. Their hooves are separated by an interdigital cleft that allows the hooves to vary its shape adapting to rocky terrain, and have a soft but grippy pad that extends beyond the hard, cornified hoof. As Junior Johnson says, that gives them plenty of “gription,” allowing them to climbs rocky & snowy slopes in excess of 60 degrees. They have well-developed dewclaws on the back of each foot that also prevents slipping. Mountain goats can frequently be seen running up or down steep slopes, using tiny outcroppings to maneuver.

It’s sometimes tough to spot mountain goats – their white coat blends in well with snowy terrain. And not only does it blend well, it’s amazingly protective. It’s estimated that it can keep them warm in temps as low as -50F (-46C) in winds as strong as 100mph (161kph). By the time late Spring/early Summer rolls around, their thick coats are looking a bit dull and ratty; on the positive side, the color of their coat at this time is around 18% gray, making accurate exposures a snap. Their coats shed through Summer, and close to the end of Summer, most of the major shedding is over and they have fresh, white coats.

BEHAVIOR
Males (Billies) associate with females only during the mating season, usually December to January, and otherwise fall into bachelor groups. The Females (Nannies) also group together for safety and rearing the young (Kids). Kids are usually born late May to mid-June. Yearlings usually remain with the mother at least until their second year – at that point, Billies will usually joining a bachelor group and Nannies may remain in the same family group.

Nannies can be very competitive for food resources. This results in frequent display and posturing, usually with ears lowered and head pushed forward showing off their horns – this kind of display is usually sufficient to prevent actual aggression. Billies can be aggressive during breeding season, with injuries and even death resulting from aggressive behavior.

Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats share the same habitat and diet, and interact passively with each other most of the time. Mountain Goat kids and Bighorn lambs sometimes play together. Whenever there is any dispute between the two species, Bighorns are quick to get out of the way of the more aggressive Mountain Goats. I’ve seen two young Kids (less than a year old) chase an adult Bighorn away from a mineral lick.

Mountain Goats are herbivores, with a diet of grasses and alpine plans, and even lichen (goats like licking lichen . . .). They can have 6-7 feeding & resting cycles in the course of a day, with peaks in the early morning and late afternoon during Summers. I can find Mountain Goats near the summit of Mt Evans between 8 and 10am most Summer mornings. Because alpine plants are not rich in minerals, Mountain Goats (and Bighorns, to a lesser extent) must supplement their diets by licking salts & minerals from the rocks.

EQUIPMENT & SETTINGS
The Mountain Goats on Mt Evans are used to people, and generally don’t see us as a threat. It’s possible to be very close to goats as they graze. Despite their relaxed behavior, do not try to pet one – they are wild animals. Nannies with Kids will react very aggressively to protect their young – you do not want to be between a bleating Kid and its mother. The Kids are very curious and don’t seem to mind approaching people to check them out, but they can also be easily spooked by sudden movements or loud speech. Momma doesn’t like it when they get spooked.

My default wildlife lens is a 300mm f/2.8. Most of the time, that’s plenty of focal length, and at times, too much focal length. I carry a second body with a 24-70mm f/2.8 for those close shots. I see other photographers with different gear – most commonly a 70-200mm f/2.8, usually handheld, and 600mm f/4 on a big tripod. The 600mm is too much lens most of the time. The 70-200mm is a good compromise and probably the most versatile lens.

I always use a tripod. It slows be down a little, but also provides much sharper photos and gives me an opportunity to be a little more mindful in my compositions. With fingers numb from the cold & wind, it keeps me from fumbling and possibly dropping my gear, too.

I generally shoot wide open, with the widest aperture I have available to me. Between the bright sun, snowy reflections, and wide apertures, I can get fast shutter speeds, which helps freeze action. Fast enough so that fur caught on the tip of a horn, blowing in a strong wind, is frozen in time, no blurring. With lots of snow at elevation, I usually crank down exposure to -1EV (give or take 1/3 stop) to prevent blown highlights. The snow also acts like a giant reflector, so no worries about shadows most of the time. On bright days without clouds, I use a polarizer. Check the Histogram for blinkies indicating you’ve blown out highlights.

Keep in mind, even in the Summer, it’s cold at 14,000ft. Long pants, warm jackets, gloves and hats are mandatory. It doesn’t matter how great the photographic opportunities are if you’re cold and miserable and bail after five minutes. Chemical hand warmers can be a lifesaver. Drink lots of water. The better hydrated you are, the better you’ll be able to fight off altitude sickness. I down at least a liter on the way up, and have another liter while I’m on top, then another liter on the drive back home.

Don’t plan on editing your photos the same day you’re at altitude. Unless you’re used to the altitude, you’ll probably be too loopy to do a good job of editing your photos. Take a nap instead, and edit your photos the next day.

In Progress

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:21:02 GMT

Avian

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:31:49 GMT

Bighorn Sheep

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 20:00:23 GMT

Marmots - Babies

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:51:33 GMT

Burrowing Owls

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:19:01 GMT

This was from a shoot on private property where we had gained permission from the owner to shoot.

Arctic Foxes

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:17:21 GMT

This is an Arctic Fox – a gorgeous animal that inhabits the Arctic tundra biome – with some of the most frigid conditions on the planet. They have wonderful adaptations to the cold: thick white fur (in the winter – brown in the summer), a countercurrent heat exchange that keeps its paws warm on the snow & ice, and a small muzzle & ears to minimize heat loss. When resting it will wrap its thick tail over its head to prevent heat loss too.

Their favorite prey is lemmings, and they can eat a dozen or more a day. They also steal scraps from polar bear kills.
They seems to be a bit smaller that red foxes – and shorter, but with thicker coats.

All arctic foxes in this gallery are captive.

Misc

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:17:00 GMT

Summit County Fox Kits - 2010

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:15:32 GMT

Lyons Foxes 2011

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:45:03 GMT

This was a den located in Lyons, CO. The den was under an old cabin.

Christmas Fox

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:21:38 GMT

It's the day after Christmas as I write this, but the event happened yesterday, Christmas Day. I wanted to write all this down, as soon as possible, as it's fresh in my memory. And if you don't mind, allow me to ramble just a bit - this is nature photography-related. I always have mixed feelings about Christmas; at one level, there's the holiday spirit that seems to wane a bit more each passing year. I don't dislike Christmas or anything it represents, but everything around it seems to suck the joy out of the holiday (buying things, shipping things, standing in one line, then another - I got to spend two delightful hours of my life, that I'll never get back, in the post office a couple of days before Christmas, and I still have a bunch of items I've not been able to ship yet). Fortunately, I've been MALL-FREE SINCE 2003™ (yeah, that's right - I trade-marked it). Usually by the time Christmas rolls around, I'm exhausted and not particularly in a holiday mood. Not in actual Grinch-mode, just blah (my preferred term is weltschmerz, but so few folks are familiar with that term, I just use blah instead).

In my aforementioned blah mood, I stole out of the house very early on a frigid, snowy Christmas morning, the family still snug in their beds, to seek out foxes. Foxes are a tonic for me, and spending time with them has a very soothing effect. My little fox hole is a wonderful place, with many foxes that are pretty habituated to the presence of people, but that doesn't mean they're always around or always cooperative. If you've kept up with some of my previous posts, you'll know that there have been some huge changes in that park, including the loss of two of my favorite foxes. I won't go too much into detail about that, except to acknowledge their loss as part of my weltschmerz. It's only recently that the park and its residents have seemed to mostly recover from those changes.

It was still before sunrise when I arrived at the parking lot and set up my gear. I saw two other people who I greeted briefly (both, surprisingly, in a more blah mood than me, it seemed), and quickly started down the icy trail, tripod and gear over my shoulder just as the first rays of the sun broke the horizon. It was cold enough that the snow squeaked loudly under my shoes - I wasn't going to be sneaking up on anything that morning. The sky was mostly clear, and the woods were bathed in a warm, golden light. Twenty meters from the parking lot and I was alone in a Winter Wonderland. I had to cross two wooden foot bridges on my way to my usual spot - a crossroad on the back trails. I'm usually fairly cautious crossing these - I had a spill near another of these a couple of years ago that nearly tossed me headfirst into the creek that runs through the park - and the bridges are frequently icy.

As I turned a corner on the trail, I noticed a fox curled up just outside the drainage system he uses as a den. It was the previous beta, now alpha male of the little area. He spotted me and quickly slunk into the den, disappearing from view. "Of course," I thought. I went ahead and set up the tripod nearby, hoping he'd emerge from the den at some point so I could get a few images. I do like to take red fox images in the snow - their fur is puffy and contrasts beautifully with the snow this time of year.

He poked his head out a few minutes later. I wasn't expecting too much from him. When he was still a beta male, he was very camera shy. He's a good looking fox - classically handsome in a fox-way - but always camera shy and prone to hiding in the brush as the beta. It's not unusual for me to talk to my subjects in as soothing voice as I'm able to muster; most of the time it doesn't cause them to flee, and sometimes it even works to make them a little more relaxed. "It's just me - I'm harmless. Just go about your business and I'll stand over here and stay out of your way." To my great surprise and delight, he hopped out of the den and sat by the den entrance. Then he curled up and took a little nap. He wasn't completely asleep, as every time I made a small noise, or something else happened, one or both ears would rotate around in the direction of whatever noise caught his attention. He quickly adjusted to the sound of the shutter firing, and after the first few shots, he didn't even bother turning his ears towards me at all.

For about half an hour, he napped, stretched, and quietly sat by the den, with me firing off images 10 meters away. The sun hadn't quite crested the ridge, so he was still in very soft light the entire time we were together. Sufficiently rested, he stood up, stretched again, and slowly trotted off. I had filled an 8gb card by that time. "Thank you, and have a Merry Christmas!!" He turned around for a quick glance, and disappeared up the ridge and out of sight. At that moment, I was more relaxed and at peace than I can recall being in a very long time.

This was a blessing, a very special moment. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift, and I don't mean the photo opportunity (although that was wonderful, too). I do mean being given the opportunity to spend a brief period of time in the presence of one of God's wild creatures, who seemed very relaxed in my presence, to be able to share a moment in time, and maybe even be able to share a slight connection among another living, thinking, feeling being.

Peace on Earth, Good Will to All Living Things

1:1 Macro

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 22 May 2011 19:53:28 GMT

Graduation

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 21 May 2011 03:11:52 GMT

Summit County Fox Kits 2011

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 08 May 2011 17:36:39 GMT

Same den as in 2010, but I've only seen 1 kit on one occasion - the parents may have moved the den.

Nature

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:50:37 GMT

Favorites

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 18:48:28 GMT

These photos represent some of my favorite images. Some are available for sale, others are not available as they are under contract through a stock agency. To purchase available prints, go to the folder for that specific photo category to check purchase options.

Coyote

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:10:13 GMT

I've been looking for a new photography challenge, and decided to focus on (pun kind of intended) on the coyotes at a local park close to my house.

Coyotes are tough subjects, as they're smart, fast, and tend to be camera shy. These coyotes are living up to their end of the challenge so far. I have to get sneakier and more stealthy to be able to get a decent shot.

Wildlife - Misc.

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:43:43 GMT

Captive

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:57:39 GMT

The Dahl Sheep, Arctic Wolves, and Siberian Tigers in this gallery are from the Denver Zoo. The Buffalo are from Genesee, CO herd (captive).

Bears

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:55:55 GMT

All the picture currently in this gallery are from the Denver Zoo

New Addition

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:16:59 GMT

We had a new addition to the family, my brother and his wife - Annalisa. 8lbs, 2oz

I used the 50mm f/1.4 and I'm glad I chose the fastest lens I had. Light levels were low and backgrounds not too great. Even shooting wide open at times I still had low shutter speeds and ISO's up to 800.

Elk

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 22:41:06 GMT

Stock

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:19:46 GMT

These images are under contract with a stock agency and are no longer for sale directly by me. If you are interested in these photos for commercial or editorial use, please contact me.

If you wish to purchase this image, go to http://www.firstlight.com

Summit County Fox Kits 2010

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:44:59 GMT

This den was in Summit Co, CO, with a total of 7 kits. One of the kits was a "Silver Fox" - a melanistic variation of its coat - she was pure black except for the tip of her tail (just like her father).

Prairie Dogs

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 20:14:51 GMT

Coyote Pups

jayryser@gmail.com (Jay Ryser Photography) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 20:08:43 GMT