Tearin' It Up

I interrupted these two bucks in a pretty robust sparring match, something I rarely witness in the field. Unfortunately I never saw who was winning. 

I'm inclined to believe the stockier one with the grass hanging off it's rack was the dominant, just because he looks fiercer and the grass suggests he's willing to get down and dirty. But the grass could also mean the buck with the tall tines was pinning him down into the dirt and making him eat it. 

We'll never know. Perhaps they'll have a rematch.

Nice Eight

Been seeing a lot of coyote lately...

At first I thought this yote was a lawn decoy to ward off lawn-destroying geese. 

I was amazed to find out he was real, just lounging in broad daylight on a dentist's lawn. 

I'd never seen anything quite like it.

The Maiden Voyage

Keeping the turkeys in check

I've been seeing a fair amount of coyote lately, most likely because of dispersing young coyotes from this years litter, trying to make it on their own. That's another reason I love this time of year: autumn shakes things up and brings a lot of elusive animals into plain view.

I spotted this yote chowing down on a turkey (most likely a youth from this years brood) inside the public safety training facility while I was leaving my house. I quickly raced back to get my camera and fortunately he was still going at it when I returned. The fence in-between us gave him just enough added security to stay long enough for a round of shots. 

Given the abundance of turkey all throughout the city (and state?), there's really no harm in the yotes keeping the numbers in check. Coyote hunters use the same rationale to justify their hunting of yotes, but I'm not in that camp. I say we bring back the wolf and the cougar. That'll keep 'em in check; and make me a happy wildlife photographer.

Albino Squirrel

There's been a lot of buzz and controversy in the hunting community over the shooting of a rare, albino moose in Nova Scotia, regarded as sacred to the local first nation peoples. Click HERE for a nice segment on the story.

Although not quite as grand as an albino bull moose, I've heard about albino fox squirrels in Kalamazoo, but this was my first time ever seeing one. Although not white, the albinism creates a beautiful, tan glow about this little guy. Of course, up close the eye is all pink. 

He was unusually friendly and approachable, even more so than your average squirrel. But then again, this isn't quite your average, every day squirrel. 

A beautiful week in October

Last week was absolutely gorgeous in Southwest Michigan, with a series of entirely cloudless October days. And because of the cool nights, that equated to a handful of luscious, foggy mornings, pierced by the rising sun each day.

The web holding everything together - WMU's Research Park

WMU's Research Park

WMU's Research Park

Coming into the light...

Slit-Tine Buck - WMU's Research Park, Kalamazoo

Although it's still early in the season, some big bucks are starting to show themselves during daylight.

It's a cruel world out there for bunnies

After nursing a baby bunny they found in their garage, a family finally released the little bugger only to have it snatched up by a back-yard hawk. 

This is precisely why bunnies reproduce like crazy.

It's a cruel world out there for bunnies.

Coyote at Dusk

WMU's Research Park - Dusk

The KIA opens it's door for ART HOP

One week following the members reception for the KIA Faculty Review, the KIA opened it's doors for the monthly ART HOP in Kalamazoo. Below are a few pics of friends checking out my two portraits in the show.

Tom Johns & Lee Burdick checking out "Miranda in Bloom" 

Corinna Parish checking out "Lois & Tree Frog" 

Kathleen LaCour & Jeff Brazda

Lois Rustenholtz herself, standing in front of her portrait

The "Soft" Opening

My studio mate and I are having a "soft" opening of our new studio this Friday, October 4th, from 7-9pm, for the October Art Hop. The official, Grand Opening isn't until the November Art Hop.

Although it's not the grand opening, things are shaping up beautifully. I painted my wall, tweaked the lighting, and hung a nice collection of prints in all sizes and styles. Dare I say, it looks like a real gallery! Or in my eyes, it's starting to look like a giant, real-life Tumblr webpage. The finishing touch will be my name at the top.

The nearly blank canvas

The lone coyote 

Filling up the wall

This heron print has been hiding in storage for almost a year. 

It's looking great up on the wall.

Now all we need are people to complete the equation. 
Hope to see you Friday, Oct. 4th.