Growing up, my dad and I shared an interest in nature and a love for animals. My mother liked animals from a distance and her trips into the woods were infrequent. Yesterday, my wife and I talked her into a day trip into Elk County to see the scenery, her first elk, visit the Benezette winery www.benezettewines.com, and have dinner at the Benezette Hotel www.benezettehotel.com. We first stopped at the Elk County Visitor Center www.elkcountryvisitorcenter.com to see the exhibits.

Elena And My Mom At Elk County Visitor Center (Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon 24-70 2.8L, f/9 @ 35mm, 1/1000, ISO 200)

Our next stop was the Windslow Hill elk viewing areas.  We saw two at a great distance.  It was too early in the afternoon to see elk so we returned in the early evening when the elk are more likely to be in the fields to eat.

PA Elk (Apr 2013)

Elk On Windslow Hill (Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon 24-70 2.8L, f/9 @ 70mm, 1/320, ISO 200)

This was also my wife Elena's first time to see the elk.

Elena Viewing Elk On Windslow Hill (Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon 24-70 2.8L, f/9 @ 70mm, 1/500, ISO 200)

I enjoyed sharing something I love to do with them for the first time.  On this day, it turned out to be my first time to photograph a Black Bear.  While driving East along Route 555 towards Benezette we spotted a Black Bear on the hillside.  Many cars slowed down as I stood along the road with my tripod, camera and 300mm lens.  They probably thought I was photographing elk.  At first the bear was shy.

Black Bear

Black Bear (Canon EOS 7D, Canon 300mm 2.8L, f/4 @ 300mm, 1/250, ISO 100)

Later, when it retreated up the hill to a resting spot, it provided me with a much better view for photography.

Black Bear

Black Bear (Canon EOS 7D, Canon 300mm 2.8L, f/4 @ 300mm, 1/500, ISO 100)

Black Bear

Black Bear (Canon EOS 7D, Canon 300mm 2.8L, f/4 @ 300mm, 1/500, ISO 100)

To view more Black Bear images, visit the Black Bear gallery of my website.

Everyone had a great day.

Dan