my goal with this project was to make five or ten really beautiful pictures
five or ten really beautiful pictures
five or ten really beautiful pictures essentially giving a voice to these
essentially giving a voice to these
essentially giving a voice to these animals of visual voice and it was this
animals of visual voice and it was this
animals of visual voice and it was this picture right here that I think gets out
picture right here that I think gets out
picture right here that I think gets out the essence of this migration she is on
the essence of this migration she is on
the essence of this migration she is on the move
Yellowstone was created 144 years ago
Yellowstone was created 144 years ago and it was created originally to protect
and it was created originally to protect
and it was created originally to protect these incredible geological wonders the
these incredible geological wonders the
these incredible geological wonders the geysers the canyons the waterfalls the
geysers the canyons the waterfalls the
geysers the canyons the waterfalls the hot springs but since then we’ve come to
hot springs but since then we’ve come to
hot springs but since then we’ve come to value Yellowstone just as much for its
value Yellowstone just as much for its
value Yellowstone just as much for its incredible ecology these large mammals
incredible ecology these large mammals
incredible ecology these large mammals in particular that roam widely across
in particular that roam widely across
in particular that roam widely across the landscape they’re now virtually
the landscape they’re now virtually
the landscape they’re now virtually synonymous with the word Yellowstone but
synonymous with the word Yellowstone but
synonymous with the word Yellowstone but at the same time a look back at these
at the same time a look back at these
at the same time a look back at these ancient sites in the Greater Yellowstone
ancient sites in the Greater Yellowstone
ancient sites in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem suggests another important
Ecosystem suggests another important
Ecosystem suggests another important untold story and that’s what we’re here
untold story and that’s what we’re here
untold story and that’s what we’re here to talk to you about tonight this right
to talk to you about tonight this right
to talk to you about tonight this right here is a drawing of an elk made
here is a drawing of an elk made
here is a drawing of an elk made thousands of years ago by Native
thousands of years ago by Native
thousands of years ago by Native Americans at a site called legend Rock
Americans at a site called legend Rock
Americans at a site called legend Rock south of the town of Cody Wyoming
south of the town of Cody Wyoming
south of the town of Cody Wyoming there’s over 300 petroglyphs at the site
there’s over 300 petroglyphs at the site
there’s over 300 petroglyphs at the site and most of which are the hoofed animals
and most of which are the hoofed animals
and most of which are the hoofed animals the pronghorn the help the deer the
the pronghorn the help the deer the
the pronghorn the help the deer the moose the Sheep and some of the tribes
moose the Sheep and some of the tribes
moose the Sheep and some of the tribes didn’t call it Yellowstone after the
didn’t call it Yellowstone after the
didn’t call it Yellowstone after the rocks they actually called it Elk River
rocks they actually called it Elk River
rocks they actually called it Elk River after these hooved animals they knew
after these hooved animals they knew
after these hooved animals they knew something that has taken us a long time
something that has taken us a long time
something that has taken us a long time to figure out and it’s these animals
to figure out and it’s these animals
to figure out and it’s these animals that Arthur and I have been focusing on
that Arthur and I have been focusing on
that Arthur and I have been focusing on for about about a decade
for about about a decade
for about about a decade for me this journey started on the Great
for me this journey started on the Great
for me this journey started on the Great Plains in South Dakota where I grew up
Plains in South Dakota where I grew up
Plains in South Dakota where I grew up and it was those geese right there that
and it was those geese right there that
and it was those geese right there that really picked my interest in migration
really picked my interest in migration
really picked my interest in migration fast forward till my early 20s there was
fast forward till my early 20s there was
fast forward till my early 20s there was a pronghorn migration that had just been
a pronghorn migration that had just been
a pronghorn migration that had just been mapped there were over 400 pronghorn
mapped there were over 400 pronghorn
mapped there were over 400 pronghorn that were moving about a hundred miles
that were moving about a hundred miles
that were moving about a hundred miles from the Upper Green River Basin into
from the Upper Green River Basin into
from the Upper Green River Basin into Grand Teton National Park so of course I
Grand Teton National Park so of course I
Grand Teton National Park so of course I was interested and I
was interested and I
was interested and I got on my computer and google it it’s
got on my computer and google it it’s
got on my computer and google it it’s you know pronghorn migration I wanted to
you know pronghorn migration I wanted to
you know pronghorn migration I wanted to see what it looked like well it hadn’t
see what it looked like well it hadn’t
see what it looked like well it hadn’t been photographed so I thought you know
been photographed so I thought you know
been photographed so I thought you know wow this is this might be my chance to
wow this is this might be my chance to
wow this is this might be my chance to be a photographer or at least to act
be a photographer or at least to act
be a photographer or at least to act like a photographer and I applied for a
like a photographer and I applied for a
like a photographer and I applied for a grant so I could follow this migration
grant so I could follow this migration
grant so I could follow this migration make the first photographs of it and I
make the first photographs of it and I
make the first photographs of it and I was awarded 3,000 bucks and I was set so
was awarded 3,000 bucks and I was set so
was awarded 3,000 bucks and I was set so so for two years I lived in the back of
so for two years I lived in the back of
so for two years I lived in the back of my pickup and my goal was to show the
my pickup and my goal was to show the
my pickup and my goal was to show the beauty of this migration show people
beauty of this migration show people
beauty of this migration show people what it looked like what it was like to
what it looked like what it was like to
what it looked like what it was like to be a migrating animal I started to get
be a migrating animal I started to get
be a migrating animal I started to get some of the first photographs of
some of the first photographs of
some of the first photographs of pronghorn migration showing them in
pronghorn migration showing them in
pronghorn migration showing them in places where they can’t see far where
places where they can’t see far where
places where they can’t see far where they can’t run fast this picture right
they can’t run fast this picture right
they can’t run fast this picture right here is from mid-january and they were
here is from mid-january and they were
here is from mid-january and they were stopped by deep snow and it was around
stopped by deep snow and it was around
stopped by deep snow and it was around this time that I realized that wow if
this time that I realized that wow if
this time that I realized that wow if I’m there the pronghorn aren’t and I
I’m there the pronghorn aren’t and I
I’m there the pronghorn aren’t and I need to start using camera traps and it
need to start using camera traps and it
need to start using camera traps and it was a way for me to document it without
was a way for me to document it without
was a way for me to document it without disturbing them this migration corridor
disturbing them this migration corridor
disturbing them this migration corridor there’s evidence they’ve been doing this
there’s evidence they’ve been doing this
there’s evidence they’ve been doing this for 6,000 years and I had to figure out
for 6,000 years and I had to figure out
for 6,000 years and I had to figure out exactly the trails they were using you
exactly the trails they were using you
exactly the trails they were using you know down to a couple feet so that was I
know down to a couple feet so that was I
know down to a couple feet so that was I was backpacking hundreds of miles trying
was backpacking hundreds of miles trying
was backpacking hundreds of miles trying to figure out where I was going to put
to figure out where I was going to put
to figure out where I was going to put my camera trap so I spent most of my
my camera trap so I spent most of my
my camera trap so I spent most of my time you know putting cameras at river
time you know putting cameras at river
time you know putting cameras at river crossings and deep snow that type of
crossings and deep snow that type of
crossings and deep snow that type of thing this is a pronghorn buck that
thing this is a pronghorn buck that
thing this is a pronghorn buck that didn’t make it for me migration equals
didn’t make it for me migration equals
didn’t make it for me migration equals wildness and I think this photograph
wildness and I think this photograph
wildness and I think this photograph gets at that my goal with this project
gets at that my goal with this project
gets at that my goal with this project was to make five or ten really beautiful
was to make five or ten really beautiful
was to make five or ten really beautiful pictures essentially giving a voice to
pictures essentially giving a voice to
pictures essentially giving a voice to these animals a visual voice and over
these animals a visual voice and over
these animals a visual voice and over the course of those two years I felt
the course of those two years I felt
the course of those two years I felt like I got that done and it was this
like I got that done and it was this
like I got that done and it was this picture right here that really opened
picture right here that really opened
picture right here that really opened that up for me the shadow on the rock
that up for me the shadow on the rock
that up for me the shadow on the rock the passing storm that entire two years
the passing storm that entire two years
the passing storm that entire two years was worth this single moment in time she
was worth this single moment in time she
was worth this single moment in time she is on the move and so during that two
is on the move and so during that two
is on the move and so during that two years I was realizing that we’re having
years I was realizing that we’re having
years I was realizing that we’re having an impact and this needs to be
an impact and this needs to be
an impact and this needs to be documented so the housing developments
documented so the housing developments
documented so the housing developments the fences that are associated with them
the fences that are associated with them
the fences that are associated with them they burn up energy every time they have
they burn up energy every time they have
they burn up energy every time they have to cross something like a fence and some
to cross something like a fence and some
to cross something like a fence and some of them don’t make it this fence has
of them don’t make it this fence has
of them don’t make it this fence has been retrofitted
been retrofitted
been retrofitted since that picture was made this is a
since that picture was made this is a
since that picture was made this is a famous place called trappers point in
famous place called trappers point in
famous place called trappers point in 2008 and this is the most dangerous
2008 and this is the most dangerous
2008 and this is the most dangerous place along this pronghorn migration
place along this pronghorn migration
place along this pronghorn migration corridor there was over a hundred
corridor there was over a hundred
corridor there was over a hundred collisions every year it’s a dangerous
collisions every year it’s a dangerous
collisions every year it’s a dangerous place for both people and for wildlife
place for both people and for wildlife
place for both people and for wildlife but in in 2012 the Wyoming Department of
but in in 2012 the Wyoming Department of
but in in 2012 the Wyoming Department of Transportation completed the first
Transportation completed the first
Transportation completed the first pronghorn wildlife overpass this group a
pronghorn wildlife overpass this group a
pronghorn wildlife overpass this group a pronghorn right here is the first group
pronghorn right here is the first group
pronghorn right here is the first group to cross it in 2012 you can see 120
to cross it in 2012 you can see 120
to cross it in 2012 you can see 120 pronghorn and then you can see one mule
pronghorn and then you can see one mule
pronghorn and then you can see one mule deer right there that thinks it’s a
deer right there that thinks it’s a
deer right there that thinks it’s a prowler and I’d like to think that I had
prowler and I’d like to think that I had
prowler and I’d like to think that I had some small part in in getting that done
some small part in in getting that done
some small part in in getting that done and that’s really when I started to
and that’s really when I started to
and that’s really when I started to believe in the power of conservation
believe in the power of conservation
believe in the power of conservation photography and luckily out of the blue
photography and luckily out of the blue
photography and luckily out of the blue I get a call from Hall Sawyer who is a
I get a call from Hall Sawyer who is a
I get a call from Hall Sawyer who is a researcher who’s the first guy to study
researcher who’s the first guy to study
researcher who’s the first guy to study the pronghorn migration corridor in the
the pronghorn migration corridor in the
the pronghorn migration corridor in the late 90s and he called me up and said
late 90s and he called me up and said
late 90s and he called me up and said Joe I just made a discovery on these
Joe I just made a discovery on these
Joe I just made a discovery on these mule deer i collared a small group of
mule deer i collared a small group of
mule deer i collared a small group of mule deer he thought they were resident
mule deer he thought they were resident
mule deer he thought they were resident deer into a surprise they actually moved
deer into a surprise they actually moved
deer into a surprise they actually moved 150 miles to the north
150 miles to the north
150 miles to the north essentially linking southern Wyoming to
essentially linking southern Wyoming to
essentially linking southern Wyoming to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this
the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this
the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this is an incredible discovery said why
is an incredible discovery said why
is an incredible discovery said why don’t you come back and photograph it
don’t you come back and photograph it
don’t you come back and photograph it thought well sure
thought well sure
thought well sure and the thing I realized with these deer
and the thing I realized with these deer
and the thing I realized with these deer is that the pronghorn was just the tip
is that the pronghorn was just the tip
is that the pronghorn was just the tip of the iceberg there was so much more
of the iceberg there was so much more
of the iceberg there was so much more potential in this world of migration and
potential in this world of migration and
potential in this world of migration and of course it’s longer than the pronghorn
of course it’s longer than the pronghorn
of course it’s longer than the pronghorn corridor so of course they’re crossing
corridor so of course they’re crossing
corridor so of course they’re crossing highways over a hundred fences and some
highways over a hundred fences and some
highways over a hundred fences and some of them don’t make it
of them don’t make it
of them don’t make it so during that whole time I kept hearing
so during that whole time I kept hearing
so during that whole time I kept hearing about this guy doing elk migration work
about this guy doing elk migration work
about this guy doing elk migration work and and studying elk and wolf
and and studying elk and wolf
and and studying elk and wolf interaction up in Cody I heard that even
interaction up in Cody I heard that even
interaction up in Cody I heard that even the game wardens in the Cody office were
the game wardens in the Cody office were
the game wardens in the Cody office were calling him the elk hippie
calling him the elk hippie
calling him the elk hippie and out of the blue he called me and he
and out of the blue he called me and he
and out of the blue he called me and he said hey Joe do you want to do a project
said hey Joe do you want to do a project
said hey Joe do you want to do a project on Hulk migration and it brought us to
on Hulk migration and it brought us to
on Hulk migration and it brought us to right here all right so I’m sure most of
right here all right so I’m sure most of
right here all right so I’m sure most of you know this but doesn’t take much in a
you know this but doesn’t take much in a
you know this but doesn’t take much in a way I’m gonna get called a hippie I had
way I’m gonna get called a hippie I had
way I’m gonna get called a hippie I had never seen a wolf or an elk when I
never seen a wolf or an elk when I
never seen a wolf or an elk when I started this work I actually took me a
started this work I actually took me a
started this work I actually took me a long time to admit that because you know
long time to admit that because you know
long time to admit that because you know showing up in Cody Wyoming and saying
showing up in Cody Wyoming and saying
showing up in Cody Wyoming and saying I’m here to help with your wolves and up
I’m here to help with your wolves and up
I’m here to help with your wolves and up but I’ve never seen them it’s not not a
but I’ve never seen them it’s not not a
but I’ve never seen them it’s not not a good thing you tell them that after you
good thing you tell them that after you
good thing you tell them that after you get the job and so one of the things I
get the job and so one of the things I
get the job and so one of the things I learned is why these animals migrate
learned is why these animals migrate
learned is why these animals migrate this is a very important thing why do
this is a very important thing why do
this is a very important thing why do they migrate is to get fresh green grass
they migrate is to get fresh green grass
they migrate is to get fresh green grass grass is hard to digest you want the
grass is hard to digest you want the
grass is hard to digest you want the fresh green stuff and it stays green
fresh green stuff and it stays green
fresh green stuff and it stays green longer up in the high mountains and so
longer up in the high mountains and so
longer up in the high mountains and so this is the only chart you will see in
this is the only chart you will see in
this is the only chart you will see in this entire talk but it’s a very
this entire talk but it’s a very
this entire talk but it’s a very important one and what you’re seeing on
important one and what you’re seeing on
important one and what you’re seeing on the bottom on the x-axis is the number
the bottom on the x-axis is the number
the bottom on the x-axis is the number of days those animals are off of the
of days those animals are off of the
of days those animals are off of the peak green and so as you go to the left
peak green and so as you go to the left
peak green and so as you go to the left they get to be batter and there’s a lot
they get to be batter and there’s a lot
they get to be batter and there’s a lot of fat involved here we’re going from 10
of fat involved here we’re going from 10
of fat involved here we’re going from 10 percent all the way up to 20 percent
percent all the way up to 20 percent
percent all the way up to 20 percent body fat
body fat
body fat one of the first things to notice is if
one of the first things to notice is if
one of the first things to notice is if they’re resident and blue if they don’t
they’re resident and blue if they don’t
they’re resident and blue if they don’t migrate they don’t get as fat if they’re
migrate they don’t get as fat if they’re
migrate they don’t get as fat if they’re migratory they get fat and so what does
migratory they get fat and so what does
migratory they get fat and so what does that fat mean it means calves
that fat mean it means calves
that fat mean it means calves it means productivity this is what
it means productivity this is what
it means productivity this is what allows the wolf to recover in the
allows the wolf to recover in the
allows the wolf to recover in the Greater Yellowstone this is what
Greater Yellowstone this is what
Greater Yellowstone this is what sustains that creature allows us to
sustains that creature allows us to
sustains that creature allows us to sustain a cut recovery of grizzly bears
sustain a cut recovery of grizzly bears
sustain a cut recovery of grizzly bears wildlife watching in tourism these
wildlife watching in tourism these
wildlife watching in tourism these migratory ungulates by sustaining all
migratory ungulates by sustaining all
migratory ungulates by sustaining all this are a huge part of that
this are a huge part of that
this are a huge part of that economy there is a enormous economy for
economy there is a enormous economy for
economy there is a enormous economy for the communities outside the Greater
the communities outside the Greater
the communities outside the Greater Yellowstone when these animals are out
Yellowstone when these animals are out
Yellowstone when these animals are out there of hunting whether it be for meat
there of hunting whether it be for meat
there of hunting whether it be for meat or for trophies and that feeds enormous
or for trophies and that feeds enormous
or for trophies and that feeds enormous Lee in tens and tens of millions of
Lee in tens and tens of millions of
Lee in tens and tens of millions of dollars annually into these communities
dollars annually into these communities
dollars annually into these communities so these migrations are really important
so these migrations are really important
so these migrations are really important and so these these barriers that Joe
and so these these barriers that Joe
and so these these barriers that Joe introduced you to like these fences
introduced you to like these fences
introduced you to like these fences these are things that constrain the
these are things that constrain the
these are things that constrain the ability of these animals to gain that
ability of these animals to gain that
ability of these animals to gain that fat and so that made me want to know
fat and so that made me want to know
fat and so that made me want to know about it my equivalent of wanting to
about it my equivalent of wanting to
about it my equivalent of wanting to google the program and not finding
google the program and not finding
google the program and not finding pictures was wanting to see a map of it
pictures was wanting to see a map of it
pictures was wanting to see a map of it and there wasn’t one that used the new
and there wasn’t one that used the new
and there wasn’t one that used the new technology and so my part of this work
technology and so my part of this work
technology and so my part of this work was to set about doing that and and so
was to set about doing that and and so
was to set about doing that and and so we want to show you the cody herd and
we want to show you the cody herd and
we want to show you the cody herd and take you on that journey that we took to
take you on that journey that we took to
take you on that journey that we took to understand and document this migration
understand and document this migration
understand and document this migration this is a population about six thousand
this is a population about six thousand
this is a population about six thousand elk winners and enormous groups out on
elk winners and enormous groups out on
elk winners and enormous groups out on the foothills and often on these private
the foothills and often on these private
the foothills and often on these private lands and these private lands are
lands and these private lands are
lands and these private lands are managed for many different uses as well
managed for many different uses as well
managed for many different uses as well as adjacent public lands and so there
as adjacent public lands and so there
as adjacent public lands and so there are some conflicts here for these
are some conflicts here for these
are some conflicts here for these wildlife whether it be a risk of disease
wildlife whether it be a risk of disease
wildlife whether it be a risk of disease that they pose to livestock or
that they pose to livestock or
that they pose to livestock or developments like residential and energy
developments like residential and energy
developments like residential and energy developments that impact the habitats of
developments that impact the habitats of
developments that impact the habitats of these wintering animals so as we move
these wintering animals so as we move
these wintering animals so as we move from the ranches up into the mountains
from the ranches up into the mountains
from the ranches up into the mountains 12,000 feet peaks and these elk are
12,000 feet peaks and these elk are
12,000 feet peaks and these elk are going over the top of them so my job is
going over the top of them so my job is
going over the top of them so my job is to show what that looks like so here’s
to show what that looks like so here’s
to show what that looks like so here’s one of our first flights actually this
one of our first flights actually this
one of our first flights actually this from a helicopter just showing how truly
from a helicopter just showing how truly
from a helicopter just showing how truly incredible that these elk are these
incredible that these elk are these
incredible that these elk are these Mountain elk
Mountain elk
Mountain elk this is at 11,500 feet and you can see
this is at 11,500 feet and you can see
this is at 11,500 feet and you can see the lead cow in this group of 12 is
the lead cow in this group of 12 is
the lead cow in this group of 12 is trying to figure out where they took a
trying to figure out where they took a
trying to figure out where they took a wrong turn
wrong turn
wrong turn so right here in the middle there’s
so right here in the middle there’s
so right here in the middle there’s eight elk that just gives you an idea of
eight elk that just gives you an idea of
eight elk that just gives you an idea of the scale of some of the mountains that
the scale of some of the mountains that
the scale of some of the mountains that these elk are going on so my job is to
these elk are going on so my job is to
these elk are going on so my job is to get a camera within two feet of those
get a camera within two feet of those
get a camera within two feet of those elk so here we’re going to walk on that
elk so here we’re going to walk on that
elk so here we’re going to walk on that same path and try to figure out where
same path and try to figure out where
same path and try to figure out where these trails really are as you can see
these trails really are as you can see
these trails really are as you can see in this video there’s actually a cut in
in this video there’s actually a cut in
in this video there’s actually a cut in the rock that these elk have cut over
the rock that these elk have cut over
the rock that these elk have cut over the thousands of years they’ve been on
the thousands of years they’ve been on
the thousands of years they’ve been on this trail I work on these animals with
this trail I work on these animals with
this trail I work on these animals with these collars from a distance a lot of
these collars from a distance a lot of
these collars from a distance a lot of the time and one of the things I wanted
the time and one of the things I wanted
the time and one of the things I wanted to do just experience this same
to do just experience this same
to do just experience this same migration myself and so that’s what we
migration myself and so that’s what we
migration myself and so that’s what we did so showing these elk on these high
did so showing these elk on these high
did so showing these elk on these high mountain passes the only problem is
mountain passes the only problem is
mountain passes the only problem is there’s a lot of bears on these high
there’s a lot of bears on these high
there’s a lot of bears on these high mountain passes as well so a lot of my
mountain passes as well so a lot of my
mountain passes as well so a lot of my work was repairing cameras that were
work was repairing cameras that were
work was repairing cameras that were pushed down and demolished by bear cubs
pushed down and demolished by bear cubs
pushed down and demolished by bear cubs like these guys
like these guys
like these guys so here’s Arthur and I at that last spot
so here’s Arthur and I at that last spot
so here’s Arthur and I at that last spot elk calf that’s only a couple weeks old
elk calf that’s only a couple weeks old
elk calf that’s only a couple weeks old and then she shows up
that’s not a good thing but me with
that’s not a good thing but me with months of work and years of work on this
months of work and years of work on this
months of work and years of work on this project I started to get some some video
project I started to get some some video
project I started to get some some video footage that actually captured you know
footage that actually captured you know
footage that actually captured you know the numbers that these elk are moving in
the numbers that these elk are moving in
the numbers that these elk are moving in I mean this is hot these are hundreds of
I mean this is hot these are hundreds of
I mean this is hot these are hundreds of elk moving over one pass together this
elk moving over one pass together this
elk moving over one pass together this is almost 12,000 feet so as we move from
is almost 12,000 feet so as we move from
is almost 12,000 feet so as we move from the mountain passes down to the river
the mountain passes down to the river
the mountain passes down to the river crossing the South Fork of the Shoshone
crossing the South Fork of the Shoshone
crossing the South Fork of the Shoshone River it’s a place I spent a lot of time
River it’s a place I spent a lot of time
River it’s a place I spent a lot of time at so this is a river that’s raging the
at so this is a river that’s raging the
at so this is a river that’s raging the snowmelt super cold water
so the next part of this migration the
so the next part of this migration the challenge is to get up into the high
challenge is to get up into the high
challenge is to get up into the high country where these Oaks bend the summer
country where these Oaks bend the summer
country where these Oaks bend the summer and it’s very distant and hard to get to
and it’s very distant and hard to get to
and it’s very distant and hard to get to and so you cannot do this without people
and so you cannot do this without people
and so you cannot do this without people who know this landscape intimately and
who know this landscape intimately and
who know this landscape intimately and have been in it since they were kids
have been in it since they were kids
have been in it since they were kids this is the place where the snow and the
this is the place where the snow and the
this is the place where the snow and the rain and the Sun come together to make
rain and the Sun come together to make
rain and the Sun come together to make the grass that feeds this creature and
the grass that feeds this creature and
the grass that feeds this creature and feeds all this abundance and so that’s
feeds all this abundance and so that’s
feeds all this abundance and so that’s what we encounter and spend time with up
what we encounter and spend time with up
what we encounter and spend time with up in that high country is these great big
in that high country is these great big
in that high country is these great big summering groups of elk what I set out
summering groups of elk what I set out
summering groups of elk what I set out to do in the course of this work was to
to do in the course of this work was to
to do in the course of this work was to create this map a fuller picture of the
create this map a fuller picture of the
create this map a fuller picture of the elk migrations of the Greater
elk migrations of the Greater
elk migrations of the Greater Yellowstone and I want to show you the
Yellowstone and I want to show you the
Yellowstone and I want to show you the completed product from that effort all
completed product from that effort all
completed product from that effort all these herds making that movement from
these herds making that movement from
these herds making that movement from winter ranges in outlying areas of the
winter ranges in outlying areas of the
winter ranges in outlying areas of the system up into the heart of it so what I
system up into the heart of it so what I
system up into the heart of it so what I see here is the veins and arteries of
see here is the veins and arteries of
see here is the veins and arteries of this landscape what you can imagine as
this landscape what you can imagine as
this landscape what you can imagine as you think of these animals moving in and
you think of these animals moving in and
you think of these animals moving in and out and and back out year after year is
out and and back out year after year is
out and and back out year after year is the pulse of this landscape so for me as
the pulse of this landscape so for me as
the pulse of this landscape so for me as a photographer how do you show that
a photographer how do you show that
a photographer how do you show that pulse or that heartbeat of a system in a
pulse or that heartbeat of a system in a
pulse or that heartbeat of a system in a photograph
photograph
photograph I found this spot early in 2014 this
I found this spot early in 2014 this
I found this spot early in 2014 this like 10 foot by 10 foot chunk of dirt I
like 10 foot by 10 foot chunk of dirt I
like 10 foot by 10 foot chunk of dirt I knew all the elk crossed through and I
knew all the elk crossed through and I
knew all the elk crossed through and I worked it hard in 2014 and went back in
worked it hard in 2014 and went back in
worked it hard in 2014 and went back in 2015 and was gifted with an amazing
2015 and was gifted with an amazing
2015 and was gifted with an amazing picture and that one picture took 375
picture and that one picture took 375
picture and that one picture took 375 miles on horseback 240 days that that
miles on horseback 240 days that that
miles on horseback 240 days that that camera was out there and I got one split
camera was out there and I got one split
camera was out there and I got one split second this picture right here that I
second this picture right here that I
second this picture right here that I think gets out the essence of this
think gets out the essence of this
think gets out the essence of this migration that calf is learning the
migration that calf is learning the
migration that calf is learning the migration for the first time it’s only a
migration for the first time it’s only a
migration for the first time it’s only a couple weeks old
couple weeks old
couple weeks old and I feel like this picture is worth
and I feel like this picture is worth
and I feel like this picture is worth this entire project for me yeah
”
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