February 2025 - 49

SECOND PLACE
Lily pads
Big Horn County
Wes Uncapher | Riverton, Wyoming
Nikon D800; 1/60 sec., f/2.8, ISO 1000
I
had the idea of shooting the underside
of lily pads for some time. I thought
it would make a nice photo in backlit
conditions. A friend tipped me off about
a pond that had them in the Bighorns.
An opportunity was afforded to me, and
I sought out the pond. On the way there
my fuel pump overheated, but I was at
the point of no return and deep within
no man's land. I pressed on - limping all
the way. By the time I finally arrived at the
pond, it was dark. I went to the pond and
tried to get a preview with a flashlight. I
wondered if there might be some aquatic
or amphibious creatures within the pond
to be revealed by flashlight. I found
hundreds of leeches. At any given spot
I shined the light, I could see a dozen or
more leeches swimming.
This threw a damper in my plans. Now I
wasn't sure I wanted anything to do with
this pond. I'm not a fan of leeches. Since
it was a struggle getting to this spot, I
decided to tough it out the next morning.
Upon entering the pond in my waders,
I waited for a mass awakening of the
aquatic vampires I witnessed the night
before. They stayed out of sight and I
continued on with the mission. I never saw
any creatures in the water during the day,
and with the presence of so many leeches,
I understood why.
Upon completion, I was surprised by the
gas bubbles trapped under the lily pads. I
never thought about the potential for gas
bubbles under the leaves. The best part is
my tired old truck was kind enough to limp
me off of the mountain.
HONORABLE MENTION
Morning drops
Grand Teton National Park
Shadow Abbott | Laramie, Wyoming
Canon EOS 90D
HONORABLE MENTION
Thermophiles
Yellowstone National Park
Jacqueline Burke
Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania
Olympus OM-1
Wyoming Wildlife | 49

February 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2025

February 2025 - 1
February 2025 - 2
February 2025 - 3
February 2025 - 4
February 2025 - 5
February 2025 - 6
February 2025 - 7
February 2025 - 8
February 2025 - 9
February 2025 - 10
February 2025 - 11
February 2025 - 12
February 2025 - 13
February 2025 - 14
February 2025 - 15
February 2025 - 16
February 2025 - 17
February 2025 - 18
February 2025 - 19
February 2025 - 20
February 2025 - 21
February 2025 - 22
February 2025 - 23
February 2025 - 24
February 2025 - 25
February 2025 - 26
February 2025 - 27
February 2025 - 28
February 2025 - 29
February 2025 - 30
February 2025 - 31
February 2025 - 32
February 2025 - 33
February 2025 - 34
February 2025 - 35
February 2025 - 36
February 2025 - 37
February 2025 - 38
February 2025 - 39
February 2025 - 40
February 2025 - 41
February 2025 - 42
February 2025 - 43
February 2025 - 44
February 2025 - 45
February 2025 - 46
February 2025 - 47
February 2025 - 48
February 2025 - 49
February 2025 - 50
February 2025 - 51
February 2025 - 52
February 2025 - 53
February 2025 - 54
February 2025 - 55
February 2025 - 56
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