I want to mention something that has been really troubling me my last few trips into the Greater Yellowstone, I hope I am preaching to the choir here, but I have witnessed a lot of really irresponsible careless behavior up in Yellowstone lately. This behavior I am sure is duplicated anywhere in the wild across the world.

What I am seeing is many "photographers" with a considerable investment in equipment such as the big L lenses do disrespectful and rude things. both to the other human guests of the park and the wildlife residents that live there each day.

It does not matter what kind of equipment you own, nor does it matter how many magazines you have been published in, if you can not give the animals a certain level of respect that they deserve you are nothing more than a tourist in my eye.

Let me give you a few examples:
Example number one
Last year Hayden valley the disorganized and wounded pack of Hayden wolves crossed the river as they retreated out of the park from pressure of the Mollies. It was late in the year and the only ones there were serious nature fans in two groups, photographers and what I like to call the spotters, those who enjoy observing through a spotting scope... as the wolves neared Some of the photographers were swearing for others parking slowly passing there lens blocking a shot, when the wolves moved I heard tires squealing doors slamming one photographer nearly hit the wolves with his truck trying to get into position. he split the pack in half one half crossed where it had intended to the other fearful of the truck went back up the hill and crossed much farther down the valley.

Example number two
yesterday Dun Raven pass had opened and a small group was part of the initial convoy of excited fans to be among the first of the season to see the surrounds.

there was a sage grouse that was alarmed at the new traffic she would run up to cars and peck at there tires, I got out of the car and observed her for some time she was brave enough to even peck at my toes and followed me wher ever i would go in a fifty yard radius around where I first saw her. she was obviously protecting a nearby nest close to the road.

One photographer came up to the road and slowed after seeing me with my lens and the Grouse charged his car, I waved for him to slow down and he rolled down his window and said "DO YOU SEE A BEAR" you could see his 500 f4 in the car, I told him no but there is a bird right in front of your car....Meanwhile the grouse is strutting and puffing her chest in a brave defensive manouver inches away from the tire of this car. I walk to the front of his car and point, the photographer gives me a dirty look and says well that bird better move or I am going to run it over as he inches the car forward, i sweep with my feet at the bird and try to get it to move and get it out of the way and the guy hits the gas and flys off as soon as i clear the front of his car.

There are many many more examples i witness everyday Superiority complexes rude comments to tourists, photographers with big equipment forcing others with smaller investments to move, Running full pace very close to feeding animals, photographers blocking animals from crossing roadways to prolong the time they can shoot with them, silent treatment towards others because a photographer is too engrossed in a shot to respond to a simple question from a curious tourist... the list goes on and on.

Honestly at times I am completely embarrassed to be considered among them. Many of the frequent visitors to the park are distrustful of us, you have to win there respect before they will carry an open conversation with you, and each of them can cite many examples of bad behaving photographers ruining an experience for many. They dont complain about the tourists who have never seen anything other than a cow there entire life, but they do complain heavily about the photographers that should know better.

Ill expound on some general rules in my next journal entry but I just want to say that an encounter with a wild animal is a very rare and special experience. The photos are great to take home and help inspire and educate others...but its NOT about the shot its all about the experience.

If you were to walk though the halls of a master piece of a cultures religion such as a great cathedral or a buhdist temple you would never swear, run, push shove, these buildings all deserve a hushed level of sacred respect.

Wildlife should be the same way, I cant understand how others get so caught up in there obsession to take an image home that they completely lose sight of the awesomeness of what they are witnessing and treat the moment with the rowdiness of a boxing match rather than the hushed reverence of a grand cathedral. while there is not a roof of painted frescos over ones head it is still a very special place in time.

So please this summer when you are out shooting do not let the excitement of the moment destroy the inspiring awe and wonder the animals deserve.