Taking photographs of American Bison (Buffalo) for over forty years, with maybe seven or eight different cameras with both film and digital, you would've thought by now I'd seen everything.  But as any artist matures and becomes more adept and "worldly" you start to see things in ways you never would have considered.  I was told years ago, at a well-known gallery, not to bring up black and white photographs because they didn't sell.  Now there is an international interest again in black and white, and antique photographs and techniques are again of great interest; so now it's okay to let people see in sepia tones again I guess.  I have been messing around with black and white portraiture for a very long time, and I enjoy doing b&w of people; it's cool that I can apply the wonderful look to a "Wildlife Portrait."

     I've always applied my interest and knowledge of art history in my portraiture, be it a cherished grandchild or a wild Hummingbird you use what tools you have available to you; so I mess around with black and white tones if the subject and photograph lends itself to such a "look."  It's only just very recently that I've had the guts to post a few on my website HogbatsPhotography.com.  This week's blog is about a photograph that is "out there" where it comes to wildlife photography.

     Last week I had the luck of being in the middle of the Buffalo herd in the Hot Springs State Park again, only this time for the first time I was literally in the middle of the herd with nobody around.  I'd pull the truck through the small herd of Bison, then let them pass by my camera ready spot; I did this again and again with no real trouble, except for the glance and snort from the HUGE male Buffalo.  At one point the Baby Bison in the photograph started to nurse on it's mother; the herd was quite a distance ahead of me, so I got out and stayed close and shot photographs of a nursing mother American Bison!  I was never in any danger what-so-ever, but my heartbeat was working just fine....thanks.  

     At one point during these fleeting shoots this little male Buffalo bent down near some unopened flowers; I could see the photograph in my mind, yet it hadn't even happened.  I reacted as fast as my little finger could, and fired a burst of frames, getting only three of what I saw in my mind's eye.  Later on the computer I found that one frame had magic in it, so I worked it till my wrist was "mouse sore."  I tried every color trick I could think of, and ended up with a colorful portrait that is sweet as good chocolate, yet something was still lurking inside this "Wyoming Baby Buffalo Portrait."  

     I went in to Adobe Lightroom 5.6 and experimented with all sorts of looks and presets, but this sepia-toned, high-contrast black and white, suited this little guy and made this "Wildlife Portrait" everyone's favorite from the first view.  Everyone that has seen this photo just melts to mush, me included.  So here he is for your enjoyment, the cutest Baby Bison you will ever see, in sepia-tone black and white....now how guilty do I feel enjoying that buffalo steak?  

Wyoming Baby Buffalo PortraitA Photographic Portrait of a Baby American Bison.

Till next week's blog....remember what I've tried to teach you, "Keep your camera ready" in case that spaceship full of aliens lands in the park.

MjB