There was a moment, years ago now, when I realized that digital photography could fulfill my visions of the wildlife of my Wind River Canyon, and give a voice to a place that has never had one.  Now the Albino Bighorn Sheep, known as "Snowflake" around here, lives forever in the bytes of the internet.  I know that there's little money to be made in such a profession, but it's important that people see this canyon and it's ecology; it's isolation and lack of documentation make it a place worth studying.  

     This is why Hogbats Photography exists in the Wind River Canyon, so the magical animals that live, and travel through here, can be seen and appreciated by others for the first time.  For the "First Documentation of the Ecology" of this region we needed a memorable domain name.  Hogbats was the name of our cabin and property; it's a wonderful place with unbelievable views, yet no mail is delivered here and has few city services whatsoever.  So if I had a dollar for every time we were asked where Hogbats came from, we'd have a stack of ones.....this high.  

     A friend and customer, of the little motel we used to own, made a sign for the cabin in the canyon.  A strong manly sign made at a famous car company, in his spare time, it had a bucking bronco and The Balogs (our last name) in hand hammered aluminum letters.  But even Elvis didn't put his name on the front gate!  So I took the letters down while trying to rehab the thing, and set about coming up with a name that was something more creative than our last name.  Now for a confession, my wife and I are fans of Harry Potter and his magical world; I've read the seven novels twice so far.  So after two and a half wicked winter months, cooped up in this cabin, we both laughed at the new name I'd come up with.  The name fit perfectly, for a place where the most magical moments Mother Nature hands out, were right outside my door.  An ice-cold creek runs year round near the cabin, which attracts birds and animals you wouldn't believe.  All I had to do was photograph them and their behavior, but quickly learned that film couldn't do what I'd seen in my mind's eye. 

    Six and a half years, and over thirty thousand digital frames later, I work on conservation and wildlife photography full time now.  I really just want people to appreciate, and conserve for future Americans, this wonderfully magical Wind River Canyon.  

Townsend's Solitaire-Wind River Canyon-WYTownsend's Solitaire with Juniper Berry in Wyoming. Western Tanager-"Fool in the Rain"-Wind River Canyon, WyomingWestern Tanager Photographed in the Rain in Wyoming.

       These two files were reworked by me just the other day in Canon's "free" new software.  Both of these beautiful birds were photographed just outside my door, so to speak.  The Solitaire after a nasty winter storm, and the Tanager was photographed in the rain; now these pictures really pop and  Mother Nature now sings the way she wants to.  Just remember to dry and clean your equipment!  A good old terry towel is great stuffed into your camera bag.  The above pictures prove what I've been writing...."keep your camera ready!"