YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY “FAIRY SLIPPER”

May 30, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

“FAIRY SLIPPER” THE CALYPSO ORCHID | YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY
Yellowstone Caldera

At a whopping 15cm tall these pretty little mountain orchids can be tough to find. I’ve stumbled on them randomly only a few times during my travels. Each instance I can’t help but to feel very fortunate for the opportunity. These tiny orchids have stunning details and a mind-boggling array of vibrant colors, if you take the time to look. There are lots of fun facts surround these delicate Orchids. A few of the highlights are nature’s natural medicinal use. The Thompson Indians of British Columbia used the Orchid as a treatment for mild epilepsy. The bulb would be chewed, or the flowers sucked upon to help reduce seizures. The tiny bulbs are also used as a food source.

A few weeks left to stumble on these cool little flowers around here, who knows, maybe I’ll be lucky enough to find another.

Location: Yellowstone Caldera, Idaho

GAUCHO & HIS HORSE

May 29, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

A GAUCHO & HIS HORSE
Patagonia, Argentina

Local gaucho of the Andes Mountains, Jonathan, headed home on his faithful horse after a good day of roping calves on foot in Las Pampas.
Location:Patagonia, Las Pampas, Argentina

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Las Pampas Lodge: http://www.laspampaslodge.com/

ELEPHANT HEADS IN MONTANA

May 21, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

ELEPHANT HEAD PLANT | MONTANA BACKCOUNTRY
Rocky Mountain Flowers

I’ve seen these colorful pink and magenta plants my entire life, but I kinda like this image in black-n-white. For no other reason than I needed to kill 5 minutes between downloading hard drives, I decided to study up a bit about this peculiar plant. I proceeded to “Google it”. Besides the usual techy data stuff, where they are found, what type of temps, how much water, and a lot of scientific wording I can’t actually pronounce or remember, I found out some really fascinating information.

Natures Medicine:
It is widely known that the Cheyenne made it into a tea to break up a cough. It’s also a mild tranquilizer, muscle relaxant, aphrodisiac, and sedative. It’s used for muscle, back and joint pain, along with sprains, nighttime cramps and insomnia. You can also apply it to fevers, use it as a general sedative, against anxiety, and some herbalists give it to hyperactive children.

Magic:
Remarkably, upon further research I discovered the Elephant Head is also used magically for preparing for astral travel or clairvoyant states. So if any of you are planning on attempting astral travel anytime soon or maybe you need to practice up on using your third-eye, it sounds promising, might want to give it a try.

To this today I can’t walk past them without stopping for a moment to appreciate these animal designed flowers. When I’m viewing them through my macro lens I also tend to wonder, with a smile, what the hell nature was thinking… how bizarre, how grand.

BELIZE CONCH PIRATES

May 20, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

CONCH PIRATES | OUTER ATOLLS BELIZE
Illegal harvesting of Conch

A few hours off the mainland of Belize on the outer atolls a group of conch fisherman weather out a storm onboard a rickety mother ship sailboat. The day after this image was taken I stumbled onto one of the conch divers on a tucked away flat. I was able to photograph him illegally harvesting conch. In a few short hours he had scoured every last mollusk leaving a pile of shells and destruction.

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Turneffe Atoll Trust: http://www.turneffeatoll.org/

BUMBLE BEE THISTLE

May 19, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

BUMBLE BEE AND A THISTLE | ARGENTINA
Patagonia Bumble Bee

While waiting for light to fall on the landscape, my attention was drawn to the little bumble bee. For an hour we hung out, I created images, the bee collected pollen.

“The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist.
For man it is to know that and to wonder at it.”
– Jacques Yves Cousteau

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Las Pampas Lodge: http://www.laspampaslodge.com/

YUCAN OSPREY

May 18, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

OSPREY FISHING | SIAN KA’AN BIOSPHERE
Natures Angler

Local, seasonal, Yucatan angler flying to breakfast with the catch of the morning in its talons, snapper was on today’s menu. I feel lucky to have been able to witness this event as well as photograph two of them fishing in the ocean surf in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It was an impressive, humbling, sight to say the least.

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Casa Blanca & Playa Blanca Fishing Lodges: http://casablancafishing.com/

LAS PAMPAS, ARGENTINA | ANDES MOUNTAINS SUNRISE

May 16, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

LAS PAMPAS, ARGENTINA | ANDES MOUNTAINS SUNRISE
Patagonia Mountain Sunrise

A daily view I never got tired of seeing. The clouds and colors changed every morning and every night, giving this single mountain range many faces.

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Las pampas Lodge: http://www.laspampaslodge.com/

GAUCHO LIFE

May 12, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

LAS PAMPAS GAUCHO LIFE | ARGENTINA
Patagonia Cowboys

I’ve been fortunate to spend time with the secluded rural gaucho families. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph the day-to-day living, share a mate, partake in a family asado, brand and castrate cattle, and share a beer out of an old manure soiled hat with many. I’ve also been lucky to see a greater glimpse into their isolated quiet lives. Each year I look forward too seeing them all, I can’t wait to return.

Here, Jonathan is breaking down a calf after it suffered from a fatal jaw injury. A blow to the gaucho, this accident resulted in a loss much needed income. We were able to purchase some meat; they kept the rest for food, so not all was totally lost.

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Las Pampas Lodge: http://www.laspampaslodge.com/

UNDERWATER TROUT ARGENTINA

May 9, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

UNDERWATER BROWN TROUT | ARGENTINA
Patagonia Brown Trout Under H20

Image of an underwater wild Brown Trout in rural Argentina. It’s unreal how clear these mountain streams are.

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures: http://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/
+ Chocolate Lab Expeditions: http://www.cleflyfishing.com/

AURORA BOREALIS | WRANGELL, ALASKA

May 4, 2014 by Bryan Gregson

AURORA BOREALIS | WRANGELL, ALASKA
Northerns Lights, AK

As random luck would have it, I was able to snag a scramble image of the northern lights here in Alaska. I feel very fortunate to be able to see them and very lucky to be able to fire off a few images before it disappeared.

+ Hatch Outdoors: http://www.hatchoutdoors.com/
+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Austin Trayser, Trayser Media Group: http://www.traysermediagroup.com/
+ Rick Matney, Chrome Chasers: http://chromechasers.com/