Bob Watson Nature Photographer

“The buffalo were stampeding! They were literally running at me. But I got the shot.”

Bob Watson tells the story about a photo he took at Yellow Stone National Park. Bob Watson is a nature photographer from North Liberty, Indiana.

“The Bison heard was way up in the meadow of a mountain,” said Bob. “I knew eventually they would have to come down to the water. The Yellow Stone River was below me in the valley. I waited in my position and watched them. The bison started meandering down the mountain. They kept getting closer so I moved into position in the valley. I am thinking they are going to come over the hill and meander into the valley. The heard is made up of bands. There may be eight to twelve buffalo in a band. The bands come down one at a time. But they were stampeding. I had not expected that! I quickly get out of the way. Fortunately, there was a large boulder to get behind. I missed the first two bands. I was flustered and concerned for my safety. By the time the third band came, I was ready and set up. I got the shot. I love the picture because of the dust that surrounds them and the way the bison are stacked on after another.” 

Bob Watson fell in love with nature as a young man. He had the good fortune of having parents who loved to visit national parks for vacation. Bob and his wife traveled to Alaska in 1980. While staying in Denali National Park he met Tom Ulrich. Tom Ulrich became Watson’s photography mentor. Urlich is a respected and renowned nature photographer. The three spent two weeks hiking and photographing Alaska. They became great friends over the years visiting each other’s homes. 

Most of Bob’s photography comes from the west. He travels to places that interest him most, and he strives to capture the beauty of nature, light and the wild. “Bob has a great love and respect for nature, and a desire to do his part to see that wilderness and natural wonders remain.” From Watson’s web page. “Bob’s photographs have been published in a variety of periodicals. His images have appeared in every issue of Nature Photographer Magazine. Four years in a row his photographs were selected as one of the top images of the year.” Bob is a member of the North American Nature Photography Association and the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers. 

Bob Watson says, “I take photographs so people will love this nature. Hopefully they will want to protect it for generations to come.”

Bob showed me a photograph taken in the Redwood National Forrest. The light is pouring through the canopy as mist lifts from the lush green floor. “I got there at the crack of dawn,” Says Watson. “You have a lot of fog on the Northern California Coast coming in off the ocean. You have to wait for the fog to burn off. It was mid-morning before I got the shot.”

Before he leaves home he will spend time researching an area, studying books and web sites seeking out the areas he wants to photograph. Once in the field Watson will spend three or four days at a time in an area scouting, hiking and driving looking for the right spots to capture. He likes to take most of his photographs at sunrise or in the twilight. He utilizes light to capture the color and create dramatic moving landscapes. He prefers to work in the spring and the fall when variety of color is present in the landscape. “I spend a lot of time scouting. You have to be out there at sunrise and sunset. It is all about the light. I spend time between morning and evening scouting. I drive and hike and look for a spot that will create a worthy shot. I look for the spot with the right position, setting and makeup of the photo.”

Watson likes to create depth in his photos. In the photo the “Rogue Wave,” large rocks create perspective and drama as a wave crashes over the rock. In the back ground we see the next wave building energy while the sunset readies its decent. Watson’s dramatic landscapes of color and depth leave you yearning for travel and adventure. 

Watson travels ten to fourteen weeks in the field a year. He loves to explore. He finds the image is more important than the specific location. If the image is attractive, he feels people will enjoy and feel good about the photo. He likes traveling near the West Coast, but also enjoys exploring new places.

Watson describes his trip to the Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley. “I went out for a sunrise shot. I was hiking the dunes in the dark with my headlamp. I am hiking in the dark, and I want to be somewhere to capture a great photo.” 

Watson says he has become his own favorite critic. He may go on a two week trip, and come away with eight photographs he will use on his web site. He feels that is a winning trip. He has honed his craft earning his stripes in the field, continuously improving his technique and studying the work of other nature photographers. 

Watson says, “Photographing wildlife is challenging. You are less limited by light with animals. You have to be out when the animals are active. I’ve spent hours watching bears in Alaska to see if they are going to meander closer to me.” 

Watson says he has seen photographers get their noses bent out of joint if someone wanders into their shot. “People have a right to be there. They are excited to see that place.” He says he has helped people set up and capture shots they may have missed. 

Says Watson, “I have a great love and respect for nature and a desire to do my part to see that it’s wilderness and natural wonders remain for all time. Through my photographs, I hope others are exposed to nature in a way that they are inspired toward this goal, and are motivated to spend more time with nature. As we all observe nature, we understand its fragileness and how one thing so much depends on another.” 

For more information and to see Bob Watson’s complete collection go to https://www.bobwatsonphotography.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BobWatsonPhotography

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