Winter Rest

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 29, 2011270 views9 comments

We found this bull elk foraging near a well traveled snow shoe trail in Yellowstone this February. We watched as it pawed through deep snow to find food, after a while he layed down on this wind swept hilltop for a rest.

Canon Mark IV, 100-400mm @ 250mm, 1/2500, f8, ISO 400

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated

Ken Archer

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on March 29, 2011 at 6:13 AM

Nice one Ken. You balanced the dark and light browns well. The setting and background are great

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 29, 2011 at 8:56 AM

I love the composition and the sense of close proximity. The depth of field showing the mountain way off in the background gives me an impression of the wide open spaces this Elk has freedom to move around in ... and you description of the situation helps me to appreciate that for all this space survival isn't given easy.

I like this one very much Ken :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on March 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Superb setting and I liek the relaxed pose here!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 29, 2011 at 9:35 PM

Nice comp and detail. You get a true sense of that wonderland in winter. Looks to have a slight cyan shift in the foreground and his side from the sky reflecting off the snow.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 30, 2011 at 5:10 AM

impressive rack! I like the low angle, good exposure and depth in the back. How about cropping a sliver off the top, Ken?

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 30, 2011 at 9:06 AM

Hi Ken,

Very nice setting for this impressive bull to lie down in! Nicely captured and presented. I'll take an exact opposite position as Morkel on this one - I'm wondering if a slight crop off the bottom might strengthen this a little? I'd try leaving only a slight space below the right-most rock to slightly lower the bull in the frame (but it might add nothing...just a thought). I'm also thinking that perhaps a very slight increase in global exposure/brightness (only about 1/3 of a stop) might make this one pop a little more?

Cheers...thanks for sharing this one...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 30, 2011 at 11:53 AM

Hmm, interesting opinions on the crop. I agree either crop would enhance by moving the key focal area off vertical center. To me, a crop from the top makes the bull loom more above the viewer, accenting his impressive mass. A crop of foreground as Brad suggest would accent the immensity of space in this setting! BTW, the exposure looks right on, with good snow detail and with the main subject.

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on March 30, 2011 at 11:58 PM

Impressive elk and surroundings. Like it as posted with him centered horizontally. The bottle-shaped, tree covered mountains in the BG provides a nice dividing line for me.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 1, 2011 at 5:20 PM

Nice pose and setting with good directional light, excellent shot, I like this as is, well seen and well done.

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