Benjamin Zack Photography

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Back With the Bison

Two weeks after photographing the bison roundup at Antelope Island State Park, I went back to the island to photograph the biologists as they took DNA samples from some of the bulls for genetic testing. I'll post more images soon, but I want to post this favorite photo today. Enjoy.

Wildlife biologist Steve Bates, left, checks for an ear tag on a bull bison while Bob Middlemas, right, tries to detract the animal and control its head at Antelope Island State Park on Monday, November 10, 2014. Most years, the large bulls are not rounded up with the rest of the herds due to their aggressive nature. This year, all of the animals were brought in so that genetic testing could be down in order to see if there are cattle genes mixed in with the herd.
©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Color From Canyonlands

Earlier this week, I posted a black and white photo from Canyonlands National Park. As promised, here are some more images from our recent trip down there. As much as I love black and white landscapes, there are few things in nature with the amazing natural color of Southern Utah at sunrise and sunset.

Sunrise at Superbowl. Indian Creek Recreation Area, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Sunrise at Indian Creek Recreation Area, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Bison Roundup on Antelope Island

I had the opportunity to go photograph the bison roundup at Antelope Island State Park last week. Each year, hundreds of volunteers on horseback come from around the west to help roundup the roughly 700 bison that live on the island. Biologists will spend the next couple weeks vaccinating the animals and doing some testing. They will also auction off some of the bison in order to keep the herd at a healthy size for the island. There is a large slideshow of photos on the Standard-Examiner, but some of my favorite images are below.

Riders move a herd of several hundred bison up the east side of Antelope Island during the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Around three hundred riders came out to move the 700 bison currently on the island.

Riders move a herd of several hundred bison around the east slope of Frary Peak during the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Once a year, the bison are gather on the north end of the island to be vaccinated and studied. Around 200 bison will be sold off in order to maintain a healthy population on the island.

Riders from the Utah County Mounted Search and Rescue eat breakfast around the campfire before the Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Mounted posse members from around Northern Utah helped lead the roundup with assistance from hundreds of visiting riders.

Neal Christensen, left, and Jeremy Shaw talk to the roughly 300 riders taking part in the Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Before the ride, officials laid out a plan for how to reaches many bison as possible and went over the safety concerns.

Neal Christensen saddles horses before the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

Richard Webb and Kendalyn Hill prepare their horses for the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

Clouds Over Canyonlands

I just returned from another trip to Southern Utah. My last time down there, I gave myself the challenge of looking for black and white photos in such a famously colorful spot. I played with that same idea again a little bit. Here is one of my favorite shots from the appropriately named Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. I'll try to get some more photos online later in the week. Enjoy.

©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Living with Cystic Fibrosis - Photos and Video

I had the pleasure last week of meeting with Kara Fierro, a local nurse in Ogden who is living with cystic fibrosis. When she was young, doctors never expected her to make it to high school. At 29, she remains active and works to constantly battle the disease. A shot some photos of Kara at her aerials classes where she spends several hours a day (in addition to work and treatments.) Check out some photos below, and scroll to the end for a video.

Kara Fierro warms up at the start of her pole fitness class at Kairos Fitness in Ogden on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Fierro is battling cystic fibrosis, a deadly genetic disease that has been getting worse in recent years. "Sometimes I do feel hopeless and depressed, but exercise has really helped me a lot," says Fierro.

Kara Fierro kisses her husband Isaac Eaves after Fierro's first attempt at a difficult new move in their pole fitness class at Kairos Fitness in Ogden on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. During Fierro's recent hospital stays, she set up a pole and a hope in her hospital room to help stay active and positive.

Instructor Lacey Knighton holds Kara Fierro's oxygen tube out of the way during her aerial class at Kairos Fitness in Ogden on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Cystic fibrosis causes mucus to build up in the lungs and makes breathing difficult. Fierro takes part in aerial and pole dancing classes with a small oxygen can in a bag on the ground below.

Kara Fierro puts her oxygen tube back in after it fell out during an aerials class at Kairos Fitness in Ogden on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Fierro has always been an active person, but just got involved in aerial classes in the last 16 months.

Willard Canyon

I went for a short hike up Willard Canyon yesterday. There was a fair amount of water for this late in the year and nice fall colors considering how few trees are up there.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Hell's Hollow in the Fall

I posted a photo yesterday of the aspen in Hell's Hollow. As promised, here are more images from that day. This weekend is probably the tail end of the fall colors up there, and it was quite beautiful. Enjoy the photos.

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