Coyotes on Ice

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 25, 2011233 views15 comments

My dad and I were on a drive looking for animals to photograph when we saw these coyotes walking on the ice. When we looked through the binoculars we saw that one of them was carrying a frozen crow they had just dug out of the ice!

I know they are pretty small in the picture but I like how all the ice of the frozen reservoir emphasizes the big spaces we have in southern Alberta, and how the blue from the melting ice makes such interesting designs.

Nikon D70s
Tamron SP 70-210mm f/2.8 LD @ 210mm
ISO 400
1/500sec @ f/2.8

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on February 25, 2011 at 6:15 PM

The patterns in the ice are very cool. They make for a really interesting "animals in their environment" type of shot. The larger version is a big help!

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 25, 2011 at 7:42 PM

I agree about the patterns in the ice. Adding the tiny coyotes does make the space seem both large and cold.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Imprevento on February 25, 2011 at 8:06 PM

Great concept and I think it works well Jenaya, the patterns on the ice are great...Certainly gives a feeling for what these animals have to deal with. Nice work!

Registered on September 11, 2010, 29 Posts, 78 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Marshik on February 25, 2011 at 10:17 PM

This would be fantastic printed really really big.
Beautiful

Registered on February 1, 2011, 10 Posts, 103 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 25, 2011 at 10:33 PM

I like the pano crop. it really strengthens the ice patterns.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 26, 2011 at 2:58 AM

I think this would be a strong image even without the coyotes, but the coyotes put this one over the top.

Excellent comp, great story telling photo Jenaya

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Davies on February 26, 2011 at 7:16 AM

my kind of image .The movement direction of the pack and the ice flow patterns are harmonious. The bird? detracts slightly .

Registered on February 3, 2009, 21 Posts, 327 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on February 27, 2011 at 6:15 AM

Very nice image. I love it. I recommend you see the large versión. The pack of coyotes just in the right place of the photo makes me feel the vastness of the place. Good job.
Oscar.

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on February 27, 2011 at 9:15 AM

Jenaya, this is part of the ANIMALSCAPE virtual gallery. Surely the larger version helps. Those tiny coyotes gives a strong feeling of vastness as well as how hard have to be living over there. The pattern in the ice is a sure plus.

cheers, Luca

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 27, 2011 at 9:31 AM

Hi Jenaya,

This is really nice - the patterns in the ice really add visual interest and I quite like both the crop and your positioning of the coyotes in the frame. I also like how iimplied "vastness" of the scene. I can see the argument that the bird detracts slightly, but to me it's a very minor thing only.

Cheers...thanks for sharing this very pleasing animalscape.

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 28, 2011 at 2:13 PM

I always like an image that tells a story right away and this one does that at first glance. Good placement of the coyotes within the frame and thanks for explaining what the one coyote is carrying, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on February 28, 2011 at 8:26 PM

Thank you all very much for the kind comments! This picture is one of my mom and dad's favourites and it has slowly grown on me. I really do like the designs in the ice, the colours, and how the coyotes help give a sense of scale. I probably should have taken more pictures but stopped to check my settings and by the time I got ready again the coyotes had moved on so far it created a less interesting scene.

If any of you have any additional comments to help me improve the image in post-processing, that would be great as I'm hoping to enter this one in a couple of contests this spring.

Thanks again!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on March 1, 2011 at 1:26 AM

Great "animalscape"! I'm not really good at post-processing but I would consider sharpening the coyotes a little bit..

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 1, 2011 at 6:59 PM

I like this a lot Jenaya! It definitely emphasizes the big landscape, while showing the interesting patterns and the trio of coyotes working together. Cool photo that I would be very happy with!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on March 2, 2011 at 1:07 AM

I like the patterns in the snow and the placement of the coyotes in the frame, and also the way they are walking along the diagonal towards the opposite corner. Just shows how tough life can get in the winter. The fact that one of the coyotes has found a crow also emphasises the fact that life can often be tough.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments