Make no mistake, not everyone is equal in this revered place.
There is a hierarchy in Yellowstone that is permanently established in the park code. All the animals, from the smallest to the largest, live by it and all the humans, from the tourists to the park rangers, carefully respect it.
That’s why the atmosphere is electric. The air is filled with steam as though in preparation for the grand entrance of a Hollywood celebrity.
Initially it’s hard to see anything more than the outline of a hulking figure. Something is moving along forcefully, almost in a swagger, with nothing standing in its path.
Suddenly a male grizzly emerges – on a mission. With muscles effortlessly rippling over massive shoulders and mighty claws slicing the air with every step, he is a fine specimen. The onlookers nod their approval and whisper in awe.
He may be the main attraction but he chooses to ignore their presence, almost with disdain. It does nothing to quell their enthusiasm. Why? There is only one king in Yellowstone. And that gives the grizzly star power.
Krahnpix 
Congrat’s Lyle on the great photos and experience. That had to be a very cool trip. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks. It was a great experience. I do like my grizzly time!
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Incredible photography! I have just found your blog and glad I did! I too have found joy in sharing my photos and the stories they tell!
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Thanks so much. Glad you liked the photos. I had a lot of fun getting them (when I wasn’t frustrated looking). Thanks for stopping by..
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I’m so jealous….. Love these photos!!!
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Glad you enjoyed them. It was a special time I won’t soon forget.
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Dear Lyle, Absolutely stunning pictures of the great grizzly. As some one else has also said I am astounded by the claws of the right paw. Regards, Ganesh
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I agree those claws are nothing short of amazing. It was so much fun to watch them swinging around while it walked.
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Awesome, such a powerful animal. Demands respect from a distance. How long did it take to get the smile off your face? 😉
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There is incredible power locked up in those creatures. Later that day we ended up watching a fox hunt and I’m not sure the smile has ever completely left from that day.
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These are just grand. I especially like the first one in the steam. Just returned from driving my father and a friend of his through Yellowstone. I did spot a grizzly on a far off hillside, but they never did manage to find it before it wandered out of sight. (“He’s straight in front of you – at 12 o’clock, right below that big fir!” “That big what?” “That pine tree.” “Oh, why didn’t you say pine tree, then? I still don’t see it. Are you sure it’s a bear??”) They loved the park anyway.
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Great series!
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Thanks
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Long live the King! Wonderful shots, Lyle. You did a great job in capturing both the beauty and the power of this amazing animal. That trip to Yellowstone really paid off in satisfying (at least temporarily) your desire to photograph big game.
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Thanks. The power packed within that animal is remarkable. It’s funny how the desire to photograph big game can only get temporarily satisfied. We followed the Yellowstone trip with a shorter trip to Banff and saw a lot more bears – more temporary satisfaction.
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Great photographs you captured, Thanks and Love, nia
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Thank you for the nice comments. I certainly enjoyed watching that beautiful bear.
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I’m gonna be there in just under 3 weeks! Great shots and awe-inspiring!
I.
Can’t.
Wait!
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Thanks. That was a special experience. I hope you have a fantastic time and fill up all your memory cards.
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Wowwie wow wow! What pictures! What a memory keeper! I couldn’t stop staring that those enormous claws…..
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Yes those claws draw me in like a magnet. Glad you the photos.
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Star power indeed! I’ve seen grizzlies – but never in my lens. Your heart must have been pumping!!
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Oh yes it was. A most satisfying 45 minutes I got to spend with this wonderful creature.
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Indeed, he is a most impressive king of Yellowstone. We had an up close encounter with a female grizzly just as we got into our car after deciding not to hike a trail that didn’t open until the next day (because of bear activity). I had a sixth sense that we shouldn’t jump the gun and go ahead and hike the trail, and as we returned to the car she came sauntering out, in all her rapacious glory. She had one intent only, and that was to eat. More than anything else, I remember her CLAWS. Great photos, Lyle!
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Thanks. Those claws are hard to forget since they seem so disproportionately large. From watching them a few times, food seems to take up most of their focus. That sounded like a interesting encounter. By the way, I like that word rapacious.
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It was early summer and I suspect she hadn’t been long out of hibernation. She paid no attention to us at all, less than 15 ft from the car, as she chowed down on grass, flowers, and roots. Yeah, rapacious is a good word when describing a grizzly!
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Cars make for great blinds!
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And I felt very safe from those claws!
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Not much in the forest more impressive than the grizzly bear. You got some great photos. How far away was the furry king from you?
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You certainly have that right. I think it was about 75-100 yards away but it was moving across in front of us. I learned to appreciate the park rangers in Yellowstone who allowed people to see what they came for and answered everyone’s questions while keeping it all safe.
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Utterly stunning shots. There’s something about the claws on that right front paw that are completely riveting. My eye keeps zooming back to it as if drawn by a magnet. Perhaps a metaphor for the power of this mighty beast.
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Sorry, I meant to say I was referring to the second image in particular.
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Thanks. I totally agree about the claws. Every step he took, he seemed to swat the air in a fluid motion and it got my full attention. I mostly see claws in that photo too and it’s sort of funny because they don’t represent a large amount of space on the photo. But they are powerful.
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Wonderful photos and commentary on this magnificent animal! He is at the top of the food chain there I’m guessing?
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Glad you liked it. Yes quite comfortably sitting at the top of the food chain though he would leave the massive bison bulls alone since they have some game too.
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Just awesome. What an incredible animal. Well done Lyle!
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Thank you. It was incredible to watch him move around – lots of reserve power there.
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It’s a wonderful post
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Glad you liked it.
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