Photographer John Crookes is hoping his new self-published book of photography will instill an appreciation of nature in those that read it.
A Waltham resident and Daily News Tribune freelance photographer, Crookes spent 10 days in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming last year studying under acclaimed wildlife photographer Moose Peterson. Through daylong seminars, Crookes and a group of about 15 photographers studied both the business aspect and hands-on experiences of chronicling wildlife.
What resulted is his first book, "October Yellowstone," available for purchase through the self-publishing Web site www.blurb.com.
"I might donate a copy to the Waltham (Public) Library so people can see it, especially children so they can learn about Yellowstone Park," he said. "It's more for people to get out and experience nature and not to sit behind a computer all day. I think that's important. This generation is going to lose touch with the live world."
Crookes' trip took place during the last week of October, just before most of the park closes to the public.
"To really get the big animals, you've got to go out west," he said. "Nothing compares to Yellowstone."
Crookes said it wasn't his first trip to the national park, but it was different than any trip he's taken there.
"We went out there hoping for snow and cold so we could locate wolves, but (temperatures) reached into the 70s and 80s most of the day," he said. "But some of the first mornings we were there, the bison would come out of the woods early in the morning. The frost makes crystals on their coats. You could see the steam coming off of them, so that was pretty cool."
Much of his trip was learning the habits of animals in the park to determine the best times and light-settings to capture their daily habits, he said.
"We met a little after four in the morning each day. We drove in caravan-style through the park to pre-determine locations to shoot," he said. "The grizzly bears and wolves were constantly feeding. The bison and the elk and rams were constantly putting on weight for the winter."
Crookes said he saw nine rams, many of which butted horns while he was photographing them.
"They were battling so much that they had to shut the park down because they were sending boulders down cliffs that would start mini-avalanches," he said. "They pretty much were doing battle the entire time."
Photographing wildlife has been a passion of Crookes' since he was a boy growing up in Newport, R.I.
"I was always around it," he said. "I grew up near the ocean, so I always was doing something with nature and wildlife. I never really sat in an office."
Crookes said he started snapping photos close to 50 years ago at the age of 5.
"My dad used to have a Nikon Rangefinder that he picked up when he served in China during World War II," he said. "I still have that Rangefinder."
Crookes lives in Waltham with his wife of 25 years, Barbara. The couple has four children.
To preview or purchase the book visit www.blurb.com/books/724954.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jgilbrid@cnc.com.
