22 Feb 12. With the rock theme going as well as it is I guess we'll just continue. About 7 miles north of San Simeon, CA on Hwy 1, is located the Piedras Blancas rookery, home to about 17,000 Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris.) Unlike the Ano Nuevo site that wanted to charge us $50 to visit, the Piedras Blancas rookery is open to the public 24/7/356 (366 this year) and at no charge. As we were driving north along Hwy 1, we noticed a sign saying elephant Seal viewing. As the parking area appeared jammed we thought there might be something worthwhile seeing so we stood on the binders and found our way into the parking lot. It was very full, but we found a spot at the very back end and proceeded to make our way to the fence directly in front of us to see what I'm sharing today. During our first tour in CA, back in the early 80s, we loved to watch the California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) which are much larger than our local critters and a bit more on the take when provided the opportunity. As we were looking out to see the view, mostly of the males from this initial vantage point, we were confronted by several of these guys demanding protection rations. Signs all over said don't feed the animals, but apparently they were not easily understood as they were in English only. Preparing to photograph the bulls, I was kept under continuous surveillance by several of the local GSM (ground squirrel mafia) to make certain that an appropriate amount of payment was forth coming; it was. For their efforts, I got a couple of nice portraits. There are, by the way, four members represented in the image. ISO 250; 1/250 sec @ f /13.
23 Feb 12. Continuing on with our rock theme today we take a look at something both on and near some rocks with a face that only a mother could love, and then her surname would likely have to be Durante. As we observed the seals at the Piedras Blancas rookery it was clear that there was one group of interested bachelor bulls, a huge grouping of nursing cows, and scattered amongst the cows a few harem bulls. These guys were constantly rearing up to advertise their presence and their possessions. The small group of bachelor bulls were either sleeping, contemplating a practice challenge with another of their group, in the process of so doing, or resting from an earlier practice. Our subject for today appears to either be one of those resting from an earlier practice session or just having finished a meal. Either way he was in no way eager to move far from where I shot him or be bothered by any of his bachelor brothers. But that was just fine with me as I really wanted to get his portrait and since he was simply "posing" for an extended period of time, I took the opportunity to snap a few frames. ISO 250; 1/80 sec @ f /14 on a tripod using the 80-400.
24 Feb 12. Keeping with our theme, this individual was about 20 feet directly below us and almost out of camera range due to his closeness to the cliff on which we were standing. He had been challenging another bull and whether it was a practice session or the real thing we can't say as the "opponent" decided not to play. He was throwing his head back and bellowing, his fishy breath condensing into a bit of steam as it exited, and was putting on quite a show. I didn't quite capture him as sharply as I would have liked, to be honest I got more concerned with keeping everything in focus (depth of field) and forgot about my shutter speed rapidly dropping in the failing evening sunlight. But the light was such that you get to see his business end quite clearly. Take that set of ivory, put about 6,000 pounds of animal behind it, and you have quite a formidable adversary, be you another seal or something smaller such as a sea otter or salmon. Part of the softness of the image is due to his exhalation, the rest to a too slow shutter speed. This was one of those times when something had to give, and unfortunately, I think I made the wrong choice. But it is sharp enough to give you a good feel for why one would want to give these guys a w i d e berth. ISO 250; 1/80 sec @ f /14 on a tripod with the 80 - 400.
