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Winter Elk Foraging
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Winter Elk Foraging

by Rick Cloran

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 25, 2011355 views9 comments
A couple of years back on a winter trip to Yellowstone. Later in the day we ran across this lone bull. The only vantage point was from a nearby hillside, hence the downward angle. We decided that trying to get lower had too much chance of disturbing him.

1D MK IIN ISO 100 1/395 @ F 11.3 which makes me think I had an extender on the 100-400 even though the meta data is showing focal length at 365mm.

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 26, 2011 at 2:17 AM
Angle of view isn't so troubling in favor of your consideration for the animal. This sure shows how difficult winter challenges are for wildlife.
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 26, 2011 at 11:37 AM
I like the way he's scrunching the snow, and the light on his coat. Nice rack too...
I dig that it's all snow background with animal tracks galore. I do wish that he'd turned his head more in your general direction.
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 26, 2011 at 10:56 PM
You've got nice lighting on the elk and lots of interesting trails in the background. Then to top it off you captured the flying snow as he digs for some grass. Excellent timing and congrats on the decision not to disturb him.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on March 27, 2011 at 6:34 AM
Nice action shot of the elk and definitely a good decision not to disturb him. I love the flying snow!
His head doesn't seem entirely in focus, though, or is it a motion blur?
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 27, 2011 at 6:36 PM
the colors are handled very well and I really like the detail.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Willison on March 27, 2011 at 7:18 PM
That is some rack. Pawing the snow for food, no doubt. I really like the textures here.
Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 28, 2011 at 12:01 PM
You handled the difficulties of this snow background exposure very well. I like the stop action of the flying snow cloud at his feet. The only way to have improved on this situation might have been to be able to achieve a slightly different perspective, especially more to the left, but you already commented on the restraints of not stressing him when every calorie counts. :toast: Salute to you for that awareness!
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 29, 2011 at 8:25 AM
I really like the rich colour of the Elk and the way it contrasts so sharply with the snow. The only experience I have with such animals is what I've read of them in books and magazines, which tell me they are pretty skittish to say the least, so the fact that he seems so focused on whatever he's doing while you still managed to squeeze off an excellent shot says a heck of a lot for your field craft skills, exceptionally well done IMO Rick :^)
Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 29, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Sorry about the near total desaturation in the large view. I just noticed that I failed to shift from Prophoto to sRGB when I did that one. :frown:
Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments