This one from "way back" in 2004. What I wouldn't give to have a time machine to go back with my current equipment and re-shoot this! Oh well...good memories...
Wolves are not uncommon in my neck of the woods and they wander onto our property several times per year. This one shot about 100 km north of my home. As one who regularly uses my dogs as practice for shots such as this, I've noticed that it's almost impossible to capture a shot of a canid running directly at you where the subject doesn't appear to be smiling (quite anthropomorphically speaking, of course)!
This image has the distinction of being my most "stolen" image - at any time it's on about half a dozen role-playing websites that feature wolves and about an equal number of wolf-enthusiast websites. I've given up sending "cease and desist" emails and simply make sure the stolen ones bear my copyright and URL. All in the name of marketing...
Subject: Gray Wolf (
Canis lupus) running on forest trail
Location: East Kootenays, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D2H
Lens: Nikkor 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 200mm (300mm EFL) - supported on monopod. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/125s at f2.8. ISO 200. -0.3 stop compensation from matrix metered exposure.
Crop: This is about 70% of full frame
All the contextual information surrounding this shot (field notes, all camera settings and processing details, conservation, etc.) can be found at:
http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/mammals/wolvesandkin/detail_6.html.
Comments and feedback greatly appreciated...probably better to view larger version prior to doing so...
Cheers...
Brad
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Disclosure of Subject Status: When photographed, this wolf was free-ranging in a natural environment and not restrained in any way. However, it was/is NOT a fully wild wolf - it inhabited a nearby wolf education and rehabilitation centre and was released from captivity shortly before this image was taken. As a result this wolf was more approachable than most (but not all) fully wild wolves I've worked with. 
Comments
9 comments- Luke
Makes one think hard.
Jagdeep Rajput
As many of your photographs, this makes us think of what we might do in a similar situation to end up with a shot like this. Your generosity with hints like practicing with your dogs is appreciated, and a fine example of the sharing spirit of NPN.
Paolo
josh