2020 "Snaps" Around Glacier National Park

[teapot57]

Looks to me like you may have captured an image of the elusive Bigfoot?!



If this one doesn’t sell at the casino, can we talk?

[PeteE]

Looks to me like you may have captured an image of the elusive Bigfoot?!

OMG!!!!!!!!!! I think you may be right!
Does this mean I can charge triple?

If this one doesn’t sell at the casino, can we talk?

Of course, we can talk even if it doesn't sell.

That said, all those prints are mounted on foam board and are just for display.
Anyone living out of town would/will have to buy an unmounted print---if they want a really large print.
Depending on the size, I'll ship large prints rolled up in a tube. Than you have to get it mounted, matted, framed, etc. yourself.
Shipping flat in a "box" is VERY expensive for large prints---in my opinion, but that's just my view. Check with your local UPS on shipping photos.
And you really DO NOT want to mount these big prints on cheap foam board like I have done here.
"Gator Board" would be a better choice for a simple mount.
Gator Board(Google it) is not terribly expensive and is light, but very rigid, and won't warp.

Prints that can be cropped to standard sizes 5x7(8x10 mat), 8x10(11x14mat), 11x14(14x18mat), I'll do myself.
I mat prints in Crescent 4ply white mats using Linco linen tape--taped such that the tape doesn't touch the image area.
Still can be spendy to ship, but again, that's just my opinion.

The aspect ratio of the Bearhat print is 3:1. The print in the pic is 12"x36" with a 2" border on the foam board.
So it can be made smaller e.g. 8"x24", 10"x30", etc.
That particular print could go as large as 14"x42" or probably 16"x48" and look great.
"Viewing distance" is a big factor on how good big prints look.
The big panos aspect rations are generally between 2:1 and 3:1.
The aspect ration just depends on how the image turned out after stitching and cropping.
Remember, I ain't no professional

Again. probably more than anyone wants to know.
pete

[PeteE]

Attack of the Spruce Grouse!

I was getting my gear together for a walk out to Avalanche Gorge for some pictures.
As I walked around my truck I almost stepped on this spruce grouse as it came from underneath by the rear tire.
It didn't seem afraid of me and went back underneath my truck.
A moment later I was standing by the open passenger door when I felt a "peck" on my boot. And there was that grouse right at my feet!
Watch the video. It ends with the attack!
This grouse also "attacked" a lady as she walked away from the grouse after having video'd it!
He actually flew up to waist high on her and came at her feet first!

Craziest thing I've seen in a long time.
I've known spruce grouse are not afraid of people for years. I've seen lots of them on hiking trails everywhere here in NW Montana. Sometimes you practically have to kick them out of the way when on a trail.
However I've never had one hang around like this one did, or come after me like he did.
This is a male grouse. They have those red patches.

3 minute video


He was just a few feet away for this pic.
ISO 200 f3.5 at 1/125second


Under Jaybird waiting for a chance to peck my boot!


ISO 250 f5.6 at 1/60 second


For the "dead tree" fans. No "in body image stabilization" in my a6400.
However this shot looks ok taken hand held at ISO 200, f6.7 at 1/8 second.
My hands were freezing too!

[calicotraveler]

Birds seem to be attracted to you....

[PeteE]

Birds seem to be attracted to you....

Ha! It does seem so doesn't it? I just wonder why that grouse was sooooo agitated.

Yesterday was the nicest day we've had in over a week.
Unfortunately I had to work and wasn't able to get out until late in the day.

I managed to get this shot at the framing tree beach at 3:48pm.
The low sun obscured by thick(ish) clouds made for a diffuse light--no color.
6 image pano
ISO 100 f8 at 1/60 second 35.0 mm (52.0 mm in 35mm)


I then drove down to Lake McDonald Lodge hoping for a nice sunset.
However, the cloud bank in the west prevented that from happening.
Sort of dark and moody at 4:39pm
6 image pano
ISO 50 f8 at 1/10 second 24.0 mm (36.0 mm in 35mm)

[paul]

I know there was a grouse that attached Jen and her group a few years ago near goat haunt. I wouldn't let them get by on the trail. It was a pretty comical situation from what I heard.

[PeteE]

I know there was a grouse that attached Jen and her group a few years ago near goat haunt. I wouldn't let them get by on the trail. It was a pretty comical situation from what I heard.

Yeah, these grouse are crazy birds. I could understand their aggressive behavior if it were nesting season, but this time of year?
However, their lack of fear of humans works against them outside the park because they are very good to eat.
Years ago I killed a couple spruce grouse in the Whitefish Range up near Warner Peak lookout with my .22 pistol.

pete

[PeteE]

Here's a couple images from December 3rd.
Cold day(around 12F in the AM) and there was an inversion over the lake that dissipated enough around 4PM to get a picture.

This is an eleven image pano taken from the Apgar boat ramp area with my new Sony a6400 mirrorless camera
The original image is 83.5 megs (22,283x6112 pixels)

Camera Sony ILCE-6400.
Lens Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 (using Sony LA-EA5 lens adapter)
Focal Length 100.0 mm (150.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/9.5
Exposure Time 0.008s (1/125)
ISO 100
Date Taken 2020-12-03 16:09:46



I took this image from the beach down by the Apgar picnic area a little later as the sun was setting.
The warm(ish) color tones on the Mt Brown and Mt Cannon comes from the light of the setting sun.
Unfortunately this was the last of the best light due to dense clouds in the west.
Mt Cannon on the left and Mt Brown on the right.
Cropped slightly to 5x7 format
Camera Sony ILCE-6400 (using Sony LA-EA5 lens adapter)
Lens DT 55-200mm F4-5.6
Focal Length 90.0 mm (135.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/8
Exposure Time 0.03333s (1/30)
ISO 100
Date Taken 2020-12-03 16:30:05

[PeteE]

Here's an image I took on Nov28 from the overlook at Lone Pine State Park. The overlook is about 500ft above the valley floor.
I'm lucky in that Lone Pine Park is less than 10minutes from my apartment.
It looked like it would be a decent sunset so I hopped in Jaybird and got there in time for this 5 image pano.
Looks East across the Flathead Valley towards the Swan Range. Doris Peak is the snowy mountain near the left center.
Badrock Canyon is on the extreme left. US2 passes through the canyon on the way to Glacier National Park.

Camera Sony ILCE-6400
Lens DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM
Focal Length 50.0 mm (75.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/11
Exposure Time 0.16667s (1/6)
ISO 100
Date Taken 2020-11-28 16:43:37

[calicotraveler]

Very nice Pete! I particularly like the pan at Lake Macdonald. Nice reflection off the lake.
Lone Pine is a great option for photos when you don't have time to get to the Park.
I like the way you pointed out what you are seeing from there.

[PeteE]

Very nice Pete! I particularly like the pan at Lake Macdonald. Nice reflection off the lake.
Lone Pine is a great option for photos when you don't have time to get to the Park.
I like the way you pointed out what you are seeing from there.

Thanks Michele!
I was hoping the wind would die for a better reflection---and kill some of the wind chill on my hands LOL!!
I'm off in a few minutes to see what today brings. Web cam shows the inversion is still with us--grim day 20F on the web cam.
There's not any wind to speak of so that's good.

If you don't have Google Earth Pro, it's a great app--and free.
Check out where this park is.
I like Lone Pine State Park. Very close to my apartment. It consists of a mostly forested "big hill" on the edge of Kalispell.
It's got miles of trails all over it. Lots of deer with the occasional bear or lion. I go over there for exercise walks, and later on for snowshoeing.
No camping there though.

later and thanks
pete

[Jay w]

Nice shots Pete. I haven't figured out a good solution for cold hands. A few years ago I bought some of the old school hand warmers that run on lighter fluid. Never used 'em. (I should pull them out and give them a whirl. I've used the chemical hand warmers but they don't do a lot. A nearby car is usually the best solution.

Jay

[PeteE]

Nice shot from Lone Pine. I've been to around 20 of our state parks, but have yet to get to that one that is less than an hour away from me. I guess I always assumed it would be packed. Need to check it out.

Hey Doug!
Thanks
Well, now is the time of the year to check it out. I does get quite crowded in the summer.
And Derrick, the ranger on duty said that on Friday last it was pretty crowded due to the nice weather.
So come when the weather is kinda crappy but not rain Nice views of the valley on a good day.
Good place to snowshoe if you have them...although not enough snow yet.
The trails are good exercise since there are few "flat" stretches. It's all up and down.

Nice shots Pete. I haven't figured out a good solution for cold hands. A few years ago I bought some of the old school hand warmers that run on lighter fluid. Never used 'em. (I should pull them out and give them a whirl. I've used the chemical hand warmers but they don't do a lot. A nearby car is usually the best solution.

Jay

Thanks Jay!
Yeah, the cold tough on my hands.
And it was chilly out there today and exacerbated by high humidity.
Really cold air accumulates in the Avalanche Lake cirque overnight and then sinks/flows down the creek making it colder than surrounding area.
I doubt it was much above 20F in that gorge.

Just impossible to operate my camera with any sort of warm glove.
Today, I just gutted it out wearing some thin glove liners until I just said to hell with it and packed up and left.
I did get a few decent shots. I could have done better by using a polarizer and I had one.
I just forgot to have the right adapter for the Sigma 16mm lens.
That really pissed me off BIG time!
This Sigma 16mm lens is really a good lens. All these images are very sharp---if nothing else
Easy to see why it gets really good reviews.

I have 3 of those lighter fluid hand warmers and they work pretty well.
I need to find them for next time.
The chemical warmers for using inside boots work well for me.
I used the "car solution" today. My coffee was still warm when I got back too!

I could have done more at this location if I had the polarizer.
There were nice colored rocks below out of view in the calm water in this shot but I didn't like the reflection(s).
The moss sucks since it's winter and it's "dull" now.

Camera Sony ILCE-6400
Lens 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary 017
Focal Length 16.0 mm (24.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/9.5
Exposure Time 1s (1)
ISO 100
Date Taken 2020-12-06 10:52:23

Cropped to 4x6


I liked the ice formations on this one. A lil sketchy getting me and the tripod in position!
The tripod was fully extended and spread wide with all three legs in the creek to get down low and close...lens was 3-4 feet from lil waterfall.
And I was standing on icy rocks legs spread wide as well. Would have been impossible without microspikes.
But I think the shot turned out well.

Camera Sony ILCE-6400
Lens 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary 017
Focal Length 16.0 mm (24.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/11
Exposure Time 0.16667s (1/6)
ISO 200
Date Taken 2020-12-06 11:14:38




Similar situation here--really sketchy getting me and camera in position for this and the following image.
However, I think it was worth the effort.

Camera Sony ILCE-6400
Lens 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary 017
Focal Length 16.0 mm (24.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/9.5
Exposure Time 0.05s (1/20)
ISO 400
Date Taken 2020-12-06 11:34:05



I think I like this closer view better.

Camera Sony ILCE-6400
Lens 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary 017
Focal Length 16.0 mm (24.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/11
Exposure Time 0.125s (1/8)
ISO 200
Date Taken 2020-12-06 11:38:10

[TnTammy]

Those shots are SOOoooo COOL, Pete!!

Don't even wanna think about you sliding into that icy cold drink so please stay cautious.
Loving to see these isolated pockets of winter beauty!
Awesome that you're getting out Pedro,
Tam

[calicotraveler]

I agree with TnTammy, nice wintertime shots!
And also watch yourself as those rocks are slippery in the summer and likely more so in the winter.