create_destiny

On the last day of camping we got up early and headed over to Fern Canyon. I wanted to get some pics of Touchdown Buddha in the morning light because otherwise his light is too powerful to behold (translation = photographer doesn't know how to eliminate annoying glare from Buddha's body).

When we got to the trailhead there was an elk munching down on some grass about 30 yards from us. We broke out the cameras and starting shooting away. I figured he would bolt any minute, but he didn't. After ohing and ahing for a good 20 minutes and taking a zillion photos, I took off down the trail with Touchdown Buddha, tripod and camera in tow. Spent maybe an hour or so propping Buddha up all over the canyon and capturing his giddy glory. Still too damn shiny even in low light, and yes I manually bracketed the exposures. He's just kind-of like Jesus on Mount Tabor that way, his light will knock you on your ass.

When I got back to the trailhead, that elk was still there, munching away and trashing a tree with his antlers. I took some more pics, this time with the tri-pod and we hit the road.