Bugling Elk

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 29, 2011159 views5 comments

Here's one from last October during the Elk rut in Banff National Park. My family and I were on a drive looking for some Elk to photograph, we were just going back to our campground when we drove by this bull. My dad and I got out to take some pictures. He was laying down most of the time while eating. After 5 to 10 minutes of photographing him we heard a bugle way off in the distance, as soon as we heard the bugle my dad and I quicky got into position. Being the rut we knew he would probably reply, and we were right! He did this a couple times but this was my best shot. I am not crazy about the tree in the background lining up between his antlers, though.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions!

Nikon D70s
Tamron 70-210mm SP f/2.8 @ 210mm
ISO 640
1/80sec @ f/3

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Verdon on June 29, 2011 at 1:41 PM

awesome shot Jenaya, nicely composed, but wish you push little bit more to contrast and the crop is kind of tide, but it is still strong shot, you made me post one of my elks, thank you for sharing this, best regards and light too, Verdon!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on June 29, 2011 at 1:46 PM

Cool shot Jenaya. I think you can minimize the effect of the background trees by selectively darkening them a bit. I would also suggest a bit more contrast in the midtones to make the elk "pop" out more. Your timing for his reclining bugle is just right and the eye reflectivity really adds to the over-all impact.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on June 30, 2011 at 12:41 AM

The calling pose and the super low angle make this a strong image Jenaya. Your self-critique about the tree in the BG is spot-on; it is unfortunate, but you did the best you could by opening the aperture. I do echo comments made by others regarding a sight increase in mid-tone contrast to improve this. Further I find the crop a bit awkward and would have preferred to see either the entire bull in the frame or a tighter framing around the head.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 30, 2011 at 6:07 AM

Really like what I see Jenaya, would love to see & hear this as you have.
The others have made some very good suggestions for improvement, enough said.
Great job as posted - Well done!

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on July 1, 2011 at 8:55 AM

Must be an awesome experience being out there in the wild with these animals. This is another wonderful shot Jenaya, it feels like you've captured the moment perfectly; I can almost hear the call reverberating through my body :^)

Not sure if this would help or not, but if this were mine I think I'd try rotate the picture a few degree CCW. Oh, and until I read what you wrote I didn't even notice the tree between the antlers ;^)

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