A "focus" in the wild

Cover #2

2009-10-28T20:04:00.002-06:00

Very excited to reveal the second Cover photo to be published.. Look for your copy in stores now...

Did someone Say it's Hunting Season?

2009-10-19T07:23:00.002-06:00

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fall

Cover shot

2009-10-10T08:34:00.003-06:00

Last month was a very exciting month for me as a photographer.. I got two calls from magazines wanting to use my photos for Cover Shots..!!COVER SHOTS!! YEAY!! Yesterday I FINALLY recieved the first one in the mail..So It is official and I am excited to share it with all of you.. Yes the photo is of my husband, Mike "Hawk" Huston, taken last winter..He has been writing for this magazine for quite some time now, so if you get a chance, pick one up and let us know what you think...

High country~ Forgotten in time

2009-10-03T07:28:00.004-06:00

Patterns

2009-08-28T06:39:00.003-06:00

Summer here in the west slowly drifts away with the cool evening breezes. With the return of the cooler weather, also comes the return of the local wildlife, moving into their Fall patterns. I love this time of year, but know that it is time to once again prepare for the long cold winter months...

Trickster

2009-08-15T06:16:00.005-06:00

I don't know that any of us will make it through this life, without meeting someone that I would call a "trickster". One of those poeple who, tries to convince you that they are something other than who they truely are..You know the kind of person I am talking about..
In this new electronic world of internet, our big world is no longer all that big. With all the new social networking tools out there, message boards, blogs, chat rooms, Twitter and Facebook to name a few, I think it is so easy for us all to find what we "think" are like minded people, that we forget how truely important it is too be able to look someone in the eye when you meet them. To listen to their voice, and to feel, and trust those gut instincts that we all have. I tend to take people at face value, but I also listen very closely to that gut feeling and it has never failed me yet..Have to admit that I have ignored it a time or two and was reminded later just why I shouldn't do that..
So I guess my post today is about being careful, don't get so lost in the electronic world that you forget those real, living and breathing people that are all around you..Teach your children to shake hands and look people in the eye when they meet. They can learn alot about someone in that one breif moment. What they will tell you, is usually only what they think you want to hear anyways.
As you go about your daily life, keep an eye out for those who would play trickster.. they are out there, smiling, lurking,sneaking and waiting... but time will reviel the truth as well...
remember... once a coyote, always a coyote...Trust your instincts.

Hare today~ Gone Tomorrow ...

2009-07-28T15:31:00.003-06:00

I can't believe that it is already the end of July..
Less than a month until school starts again..
My oh my~ the times does fly..
Take a moment to enjoy each and every day~
Life is too short..
Get outdoors and find something fun to do
before winter returns once again..

Gotta Love Summer

2009-07-16T11:09:00.002-06:00

Freedom and Justice for all

2009-07-05T10:02:00.001-06:00

I am a bit late today, but wanted to thank all of our brave soldiers who have sacrificed so much, for so many that they don't even know..Thank you ! To you and your families..from the bottom of my heart..
Let Freedom Ring!

Updates and changes

2009-06-09T07:02:00.004-06:00

Well, I thougth that it was about time that I let Hawk have the day off and fill you all in on what has been happening in our lives. Summer is finally here, but in NW Wyoming you wouldn't know it. We have had a very wet year and it is beautiful and green. Woke up to snow a few days ago(what's up with that?) This morning we are once again fogged in..I like to say I am just waking up with my head in the clouds. I have been working on a new Photo gallary, and for those of you who would like to check it out, just click the yellow meadow lark on the right, or visit www.staceyhuston.com Still have a long ways to go, and many more pictures to upload so please check back often. If you don't notice your favorite shot in the gallary, drop me an email and I will see what I can do.Again I want to thank Klaus for the beautiful header, if you need web design work, Klaus is the guy to talk to. We have also been recently introduced to a new social media tool, called Twitter. I know that you have all heard of it, but for those of you who aren't using it, I will caution you. It is just as, if not more addicting than blogging. (to follow me~ see other new link to the right)
I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy...

Racing Stripes.

2009-05-28T06:54:00.004-06:00

Chipmunks are adorable, quick, agile, and fun little rodents. They have the ability to climb, jump and even swim to get what they want. Like all rodents they store whatever they can find in preparation for lean times. One has only to see them with their cheek pouches filled to bursting, in route to their burrow in order to have a good chuckle.. I have, on more than one occasion been severely chastised by one of these furry balls of energy, while stalking the forest. They will not let up until you, or whatever danger or threat, has passed. I am always amazed by these little warriors and their bravery, their perseverance and their speed. Their little legs can outrun even the fastest predator and their agility is legendary. I have witnessed them racing around on a two thousand foot cliff face with no worries, and been amazed as they scurry across small twigs over a precarious drop off. Yes chipmunks are cool, fast, and brave.. So next time you enter into the wilds and encounter one of these little warriors, listen to their scolding whistles and watch in amazement as they move through their landscape. And you may just find yourself transfixed by one of the true wonders of the forest, complete with racing stripes and a whole lot of attitude. ~Mike "Hawk" Huston

This post was made in honor of my Twitter friend @campwildgirls..Chipmunks are cool!

Learning...

2009-05-12T21:18:00.003-06:00

Tall grasses sway in the Wyoming breeze. The afternoon sun is casting shadows across the landscape while insects dance on the wind across the lush creek bottom. A field mouse noses his way through the dense grasses, his small feet carrying him along with lightning quick speed toward his burrow. He stops to pick up the grass seeds littering the ground. His cheeks are already full of the small seeds, yet he still crams more into his mouth. He has no idea that death stalks the long grass. On silent feet, a mother fox slips up on the unaware rodent. She moves slowly and deliberately, every muscle taught as she closes the distance. With practiced precision, she leaps into the air and comes down in a graceful arc upon the greedy seed hoarding rodent. His squeaky cries are stifled in an instant as she mouths her catch and points her nose to the west. She is hungry, but this small catch will be taken to her pups. Several small mouths await her catch, and rely on her skills as a hunter for survival. Twenty mice, thirteen rabbits, three ducks and one stray cat have fallen to her hunting skills in the last two weeks. She and her mate hunt relentlessly, day and night, to feed the pups and themselves. Every kill brings an assurance of survival for her and her family.

The pups can smell their mothers scent on the wind near the den. Every head comes up and awaits the food their mother will surely bring. All but one, he sits alone near the den scratching his red fur with black stocking feet. He has discovered something today, he has become a hunter. The grasshoppers near the den are easy prey. All he has to do is stalk and pounce. His young belly is full of the tasty insects. Tomorrow he will try for something bigger, maybe one of those distant antelope or one of the cows in a nearby pasture. Yes, he is a hunter, a predator, the future of his species is secure, he, will survive.

Speed

2009-04-27T11:05:00.001-06:00

Life in the fast lane seems to be the norm for most of our civilized world. Why must we strive for more speed? What could we possibly gain by moving at a faster pace? I admit that the rumble of a big block under the hood and the vibration of the shift lever in my right hand brings forth some sort of euphoria. The sight of any of the American muscle cars from my youth make me desire the days of old, when a lead foot and youthful ignorance could allow for speeds that I would never even consider now.

In the wild, there are usually only two reasons for speed, flight or chase. When one’s life hangs in the balance, I would think that speed and stamina would become second nature. I have seen elk scale sheer rock, in a bid to outrun and outdistance predators bent on their demise. From a high ledge in the back country of Montana, I watched a mountain lion try in vane to catch a two day old mountain goat kid, only to be ousted by the mother and nearly fall to his death. One has only to watch the majestic pronghorn antelope race across the landscape at speeds seemingly impossible, to realize that we humans are sloth compared to our animal brethren.

So, maybe our desire to go faster stems from some ancient chase, a race that more than likely we lost at the hands of some far superior opponent in a bid for survival.

I will be thinking of that the next time my wife says I should slow down. What if the race were for survival? Would she or the officer in my rear view mirror understand then? Probably not, but you can be certain that I would run! Like my animal brethren, I would fly like the wind!

Solitude

2009-04-21T06:08:00.002-06:00

Quiet solitude is something that we humans crave. To witness nothing more than silence, and nature’s raw beauty every day of our lives, would be a true Eden for some of us. But the reality of the natural world is that freezing winter temperatures, constant worry over starvation, and predation would render us modern humans extinct in a great hurry. Our ability to survive the great outdoors, for extended periods of time with only what the wilderness provides, has depleted over the last centuries. Our connection as a species to the wilderness, has fallen to the wayside and been replaced by technology and so called progress.

My wife and I stand on a windswept ridge; she takes pictures of this majestic warrior foraging among the alder and red willows. His snow covered body and long tined antlers are a stark contrast to the snow and northerly winter winds. Yet somehow he blends in with the surroundings. He just seems to belong to the land, not an intruder upon the landscape like we are. I close my eyes and say a prayer for the old warrior below us. He will face many long cold days and nights, many challenges way up here in the frozen inhospitable wilds. We will be snug in our cabin through the long winter and wet spring, while he braves this place he calls home.
Come September when the first bugles echo across the land announcing the rut, this old warrior will proudly stalk the dark timber. I will be there too, a longbow in my left hand and an arrow of wood, nocked to the string, hoping for a chance at a bull like the one before me. I finish my prayer and hope that he and I never meet in the age old dance of the hunt….. but a close relative of his would be just fine by me.

~Hawk

(For those who are wondering, this photograph was taken last January. No we do not still have that much snow, spring has finally arrived, though they are calling for more snow by the weekend, just not that much snow..)

Weather

2009-04-17T07:17:00.003-06:00

Trees in fog and snow

Cow elk through the snow
It was really coming down

More trees in fog

Mule deer herd along the skyline

Hawk is gone today, so I have decided to make a post without his beautiful words (wink)

Went for a drive last week up on the mountain to take some pictures in the fog. Success! It was beautiful and dream like.

To answer those that have asked, we did not get the book deal. The publisher said that the sales on photography books are to slow with the economy right now...But that is ok, when the time is right it will work out.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday..

Stop in to Skywatch Friday and see what is happening all around the world!

Attraction

2009-04-13T11:37:00.001-06:00

Attraction. We as humans deal with our natural instincts and urges far differently than our fellow animals. You would never catch a teenage male, of the human species, staring blankly into space in a trancelike posture, strutting around a beautiful female adolescent like the male sand hill crane does.
A silky coated female deer, in perfect health with long sleek lines and those big eyes, will attract the attention of every adult buck within miles, simply by her sweet scent alone.
No human female would ever consider attracting a mate with intoxicating scents and graceful feminine movements.
Human males in their prime would never posture or show off, while in the company of other dominant males and available female counterparts.
No! We humans are far removed from our animal brothers and sisters. Our attractions lie dormant, suppressed by social boundaries and the unspoken rules of being better than the animals that we share this great circle of life with.
I would never be caught admiring the graceful curves, lines and flowing hair of a fellow female human, nor would I allow sweet scent or bright intelligent eyes glancing my, way to draw me into their captivating gaze.
As I sit here writing this post, the temptations of the female nemesis is ever present around me. I see her moving through the house, her intoxicating perfume has captivated my senses, her curves and lines… surely I can try and resist….. But… those brown eyes are looking my way. …
Yes! Attraction is alive and well! I am nothing more than a wild animal, a disgrace to all those who have tried for so long to suppress the animal instincts in all of us. I however will allow myself this one moment of bliss, to simply sit here and stare at my one and only real attraction, and contemplate the instincts that have brought me to this state of mind.
A wild animal? Today, my brothers and sisters, I guess I am…
~Hawk

Survivor

2009-04-05T09:27:00.001-06:00

Deep snow lies across the mountainside like a cold white blanket of death.

Many of her herd have already fallen to the cold and predators throughout the long winter.

She is no stranger to the hardships of living in this high country; she was born in this very aspen grove nearly fifteen years ago.

Each year several of her kind succumb to the biting cold and the wolves that prowl these high slopes. With the wind in her face she is certain that no predators lie in that direction. She is drawn toward the southern facing slopes at this time of year, this early spring snowfall hides the green grasses and wildflower blooms beneath her feet. Soon this wild land will be transformed into a virtual paradise for her and her kind. As the days warm and the greenery emerges from the trees, bushes and earth, a new era will be born upon this land. Stirring deep inside her is a new beginning for the herd, a soon to be born calf. She will have to be forever vigilant once her offspring is born, every predator out here will be prowling through the forest searching for an easy meal. She has not lost a calf to a predator in all her years, not even to hunters or disease. While other cow elk herd up early in the fall she remains in the deep timber. When the deep snows fall she heads to these high aspen groves and remains solitary. It has worked thus far, as she chews on the dry winter grasses, she reflects on the long cold winter she has survived. Yes spring will come soon and with it a new life, a new beginning and she hopes for warmer times and greener grasses. ..Hawk a/ho

Earth tones

2009-04-02T19:18:00.000-06:00

Shades of grey, brown and greens are what we often think of when someone brings up the outdoors in conversation. However, the natural world is the pallet from which every brilliant color we know of is derived. From the cobalt blue of this little mountain bluebird, to the orange red hues of the lichen on the rocks to the left. Nature conjures up a vast array of splendid beauty for our eyes to behold.

Overhead, the sky alone can begin the day as a red ochre and end in an orange fire, interspersed with various shades of blue, whites and purples.

We seldom take note of the yellow leaves of the aspen in the fall, until they have fallen to the multicolored forest floor and no longer grace the green slopes with their golden splendor. From the bright and brilliant snow covered peaks, to the lush grasses of a summer river bottom after a recent rain, our colorful planet delights us with every shade our eyes care to experience. Next time you step outside, take note of the colorful pallet laid out before you and take a moment to thank the creator for the artistry we are all blessed to share.

Speed

2009-03-29T11:26:00.001-06:00

The wild turkey is a true American icon.

Our forefathers even considered this forest dwelling fowl as a symbol of our freedom. We all know that the bald eagle won out, leaving the wild turkey in all it’s magnificent splendor simply as a smart and majestic game bird. Through the conservation efforts of hunters, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts, millions of dollars and man hours have been spent conserving and protecting their habitat and nesting sites. The wild turkey now inhabits nearly every state in the union in large enough numbers to allow for selective harvests. Four subspecies, the Merriam’s, Rio Grande, Osceola and Eastern turkeys inhabit marshlands, timber, river bottoms and mountainous terrain. The wild turkey has excellent eyesight, can run as fast as a deer, and their plumage allows for extraordinary camouflage from would be predators. So next time you see one of these winged warriors, take a moment to thank the sportsmen, hunters and conservationists who have made their comeback one of the great success stories in recent American history.

Red Tail

2009-03-26T08:57:00.003-06:00

Photo taken 3/1/2009 6:07 pM

Sinte Luta~ Basking in the evening sun on the front deck.

F5.6 ISO 400~1/125~

A lone warrior crouches behind the cover of a scrub cedar tree. His elk skin clothing blends with the earth as he crouches even lower to the ground. oOnly twenty feet away, six mounted soldiers scan the soil for sign of his passing.

Shining Hawk is his name. He is a Lakota warrior with many war honors to his name, he is not a young man any more, but his strength and stamina are still legendary among his people. The cavalry mounts sense his presence but the wind is not in their favor so they have no way of locating him.

Suddenly one of the horses picks up his scent on a rogue breeze from the west. The horses head comes up, and he turns to face the hidden warrior. At that exact moment a red tailed hawk blows out of the tree that he is hiding behind and races right toward the mounted soldiers. At the last moment the hawk shoots skyward directly in front of the now spooked horses and riders. The soldiers regain control of their steeds and retreat back into the direction from which they came.

As soon as the thunder of hooves is distant, Shining Hawk raises his arms to the sky offering up a prayer to the creator. He thanks the one above for his good fortune and thanks his brother the red tail for saving his life. As he turns toward home he hears the cry of a hawk from somewhere in the vast sky, he smiles and waves to his winged brother. We are all related... he prays... thank you …

~Mike Hawk Huston

Dog Pile

2009-03-23T20:36:00.002-06:00

Our connection to the creatures who inhabit the lonely wild places is rooted deep in our psyche. We as humans seem to come together even when there is no proven connection or reason for the joining. However a further examination of our need, or rather desire, to be with others of our kind is most likely some primal instinct. These finely honed instincts would have allowed for our ancestors to merge with other wanderers to form tribes and later societies, for the protection of each individual. The animal kingdom is no different, these coyotes have joined each other in the harsh winter months. Strength in numbers will allow these hearty predators the opportunity to hunt as a team, and the added teeth and claws of the group will make larger predators like wolves think twice before giving chase. I wonder as I study these resting warriors, if my ancestors may have rested in the snows of long ago, confident in the brotherhood watching their backside for danger.
As the snow falls around me I hear the song dogs speaking to their brothers, and through the haze of falling flakes I glimpse the ghosts of ancient brothers moving silently together, like fog slipping through a snow covered forest they merge with their surroundings. I know they were probably never there at all, but the coyotes stop for a moment and sniff at the place where they disappeared, igniting the wonder in me tenfold as the snow silently falls.

~HAWK

We would like to once again say Thank you to all who have and continue to stop by. The responce has been over whelming.

For the many whom have asked about and complimented my blog theme, I would love to say that I did this, but alas, I am not nearly so talented. A fellow blogger, Klaus from Virtua Gallery is the genius behind this beautiful custom blog design.

You can he reach him

here .

For those who asked about my equipment. I use a Canon Rebel XT digital camera with a Sigm 50-500mm lens.

Thanks "Blog of Note"

2009-03-21T18:26:00.002-06:00

Big Horn Sheep

Photo taken March 2009

THANK YOU ! To everyone who has taken the time to comment and visit our blog. Being honored as a “Blog of Note” was way too cool! I must admit Stacey and I had to look it up, to see what “Blog of note” meant. We enjoy sharing our world with others, through Stacey’s photos and my writings we, hope to share a glimpse of our everyday with those who would take the time to look. We will keep them coming if you will keep on visiting.

Once again, A heartfelt Thank You.. Hawk and Stacey

Archer

2009-03-19T18:07:00.002-06:00

I captured this photo of my husband out with his long bow one day last month. I love how "Heart Mountain" shows against the sky in the background......So..... I have chosen to share this photo for todays

"Skywatch" friday..

click here

to see our wonderful sky from all corners of the world..

Wind slides across the surrounding sage, scenting the air with it’s sweet smell. The soothing sound of light breezes across the landscape awaken the spirit of our ancestors in me. Every careful step I take in the high desert soil of blow sand and ancient rock eroded by eons of weather and wind, ignites my soul like bright sunlight reflecting on clear mountain waters deep in the high country. I can almost hear the distant drums of long ago peoples on the far horizon and see their moccasin tracks alongside mine while I hunt. Their brightly decorated lodges and vast horse herds lay like a mirage in my minds eye. Yes I am a dreamer, often transporting to long ago lands, to a time before civilized expansion and continuous so called progress. A time when families not only survived the hardships of the natural world, but thrived with only what they could receive from the land. When a strong bow and adventurous spirit could allow a young man or woman the opportunity to explore unknown lands, seek spiritual awareness or truly find themselves.
A rustle in the brush directly to my right announces the hasty retreat of a cottontail rabbit, I draw my bow and release the feathered projectile. Feathers slice clean mountain air and the arrow impacts a sandstone boulder breaking into a dozen wooden splinters. I see the rabbit fleeing to the west, he disappears into the grease wood and sage bottoms as silently as an owls wing beats on a moonless night. I now see that my inclusion into the realm of the ancients is not a true reality, I would have been hard pressed to fed myself, much less my family with this ancient weapon. But as I continue my stalk across this vast landscape I am certain of my existence in this great circle of life, as the drums beat somewhere on the wind, and the smoke from dozens of lodges dances on the Wyoming breezes… I smile to myself and continue to dream.
Hawk A/ho

Trespassing

2009-03-13T21:12:00.000-06:00

I sit high upon a windswept ridge, before me lays a broad expanse of mountainous country. In all directions snowcapped peaks merge with deep forest and high alpine meadows, alder choked draws add lines of red and orange to the deep green of the conifers which dominate the steep slopes. Times like these allow me the opportunity to feel small and inferior, the majesty of this wild broken country puts into perspective the mediocre part I play in this great circle we call life. I am in awe of the creatures we share this planet with; their ability to survive, coexist and even prosper in the harsh environments of the Rocky Mountains and beyond is amazing. A mule deer doe and her yearling fawn emerge from the sage brush near the base of a high park, their smoky grey late fall coats blend perfectly with the surrounding sage. They look like sentinels as they posture toward this stranger intent on trespassing on their home turf. With a snort, the doe bounds off on strong legs, with a long bouncing gate she and her fawn retreat into the dark timber leaving nothing more than the stirring of grasses and deep tracks upon the moist soil to announce that they were even there at all. By tomorrow the cleansing winds will have wiped the tracks away from the earth, and my presence will have been forgotten by all creatures that live in these high lands. But the memory of this day, this moment, will remain entwined with my soul and engrained in my minds eye for as long as I walk this majestic and sacred land.

Through the Storm!

2009-02-26T19:29:00.003-07:00

Skywatch Friday.... through the storm... Hope your feeling better Tom!