Serious Conflict

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 11, 20081,270 views15 comments

The bison have been in the midst of heavy rutting behavior the last week or so. I have captured several different confrontations between mature bulls, contesting for breeding rights. Some of the action is violent and I saw one bull with a recently gouged out eye. Usually the action happens amidst other animals and combined with dust and sloping terrain, it becomes difficult to isolate the key moments of the drama, especially without strong cropping or some cloning out or both. This is one of the few exceptions and is shown here full frame width. I cropped neutral panals from the top and bottom for pano presentation. PP is minimal, just a slight levels/curves tweak and some sharpening.

D200, 200-400 @ 280, iso 160, F4 @ 1/160. Critiques appreciated.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on August 11, 2008 at 11:34 AM

Hi Lon,

Very nice action shot, you almost feel the power, good work

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on August 11, 2008 at 11:38 AM

Very nice action captured here! It sort of looks like they're sharing a head. I would maybe hope for one with a bit more separation, but this is really nice anyway

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Haffley on August 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM

Great action shot. The pano presentation works very well.

Registered on August 10, 2008, 265 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on August 11, 2008 at 2:15 PM

Lon, a great capture. Congrats on getting the combatants isolated from the circle that usually forms.
Ralph Kerr

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 12, 2008 at 7:13 AM

Excellent action capture Lon!
I think the 10x20 panoramic comp/crop works perfectly

Howard

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on August 12, 2008 at 11:15 AM

Lon,

great action, and I like the fact that one can see the left ones eye very nice. That eye contact brings the viewer in the middle of the action. Well done.

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 12, 2008 at 1:46 PM

That's an image with 'impact' Lon! Splendid.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 12, 2008 at 1:48 PM

Did you get any shots from a lower angle by the way Lon, coz that could be even more powerful?

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 12, 2008 at 7:20 PM

Lon,

I really like your pano comp on this shot, it keeps my eyes happy going from one side to the other. I like the eye contact and that you have some blur in the feet for the feeling of motion. The dust being kicked up is great too.

A very powerful image.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 13, 2008 at 2:49 PM

Thanks all for commentary.

Cindy, no formal tours here, but if you come to SD I will show you whatever I can, whatever is in season!

Vincent, I have many angles, some with more action and lower. With both animals eyes visible, the action is more subdued. When they connect with power they tend to lock a horn it seems or bury their faces downward. I have a couple of sod tossing, feet off the ground impacts but they are either more cropped or require clone adjustments. I might post one of those in a few days...Incidently, this morning (Aug 13) the rutting action was notably declining.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on August 14, 2008 at 3:44 AM

Great shot Lon - love the eye contact and the sand flying on the right. Powerful beasts they are.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on August 14, 2008 at 1:55 PM

great, Lon especially the eye contact that leads in the middle of the action as well as the powder around the scene that gives motion to the picture

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 19, 2008 at 4:18 PM

Very powerful! That's a lot of maleness going on!!

Congrats for the well deserved EP.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 20, 2008 at 6:04 PM

Beautiful image, Lon. Congratulations on the EP.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 20, 2008 at 6:42 PM

Lon,

Congrats on a well deserved EP.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments