Buffalo and Full Moon

Wow, awesome! Love this shot.

Very well composed. I love how the shadow across the frame complements the rising moon indicating the oncoming night. The buffalo may have been difficult, but you captured the perfect pose here. A little detail in the moon would have been nice, but I know how difficult that can be to capture. Nicely done.

Monika Wieland
http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com

I like this a lot. I do think that the moon doesn't add much. if anything, because it is too washed out. However, the colors and the bison are great elements and give this all it really needs to work.

Good dynamic range in this photo. Colors are unusal enough to immediately capture one's eye. The detail in the buffolao's coat mor than makes up for the moon. As you already know, great effort and wonderful shot. Larry

Terrific shot Larry, to me the moon is just there and what really makes the photo is the golden glow on the mountains and the subtle detail in the Buffalo and grass. Awesome capture. Congrats!!!!

Jim

Moon or no moon, this is a great capture! Love the warm coloured mountains and the pose of the Bisons, a realy joy to look at!

Love the comp and the color of the light in the mountains. Very nice!

Well done Larry! No nits here!!

Steve,

very nice light conditions, and I like also your commenst about the pasting idea...

It would have been great if the buffalos were facing toward the viewer, but I also know that ins uch peaceful mood, they behave very relaxed...

Great shot. I do think the moon adds to the shot, even without detail. Well done.

Great image I love the cool green grasses next to the warm alpenglow. I think the moon works very well as is.

Wonderful concept to start with that was executed very well. I agree that a little detail in the moon would be nice but this is excellent as is. Congratulations on the EP!

I agree with you that this is a tough situation. On the one hand you have to balance the exposure for the shadow, the bright lit background and the moon all in one picture. Second you have to balance the white balance between cool blues in shadow, evening Sun (I think) for the hills and the white moon. This shows up on the background with a red hue and makes the picture look dramatic. Given the fact that most of the subject is stationary, you could have lowered the shutter speed and the ISO.

- Murali Santhanam

Thanks to all for your very nice comments, I feel very honoured. In follow up the D3 sensor is so clean that ISO 2200 is well within reason though I usually cap it at 1600. The animals were continually moving and never doing what I asked of them so I needed 1/125 to freeze them. I did not want to shoot slower for fear of missing the shot and, as it turned out, this was the only capture where they were posed this nicely. Moon is there because it was there but I think the image would work better without it. Thanks again, I really enjoy the constructive feedback and, of course, the very nice comments....

Steve, I don't know how i could have missed this one, it is simply outstanding! IMO the moon definitely does add to the shot! Big congrats.