The Approach

Max, very cool scene! I actually watched something on TV last week showing a Coyote stalking Otter's like this in Yellowstone. That Coyote stole the fish meal the Otter worked hard for. I wonder if this Coyote was trying the same thing and the Otter just got sick of it? Anyway you look at it, the image is wonderful and the other images on your link complete the story. I hope you share the others here as well with a larger view. Nice work!

Super photo Max. I love the lack of detail in the surroundings (just enough) so that all attention is focused on the looks/postures of the animals who are clearly watching each other.

What a great thing to see! I appreciated your link to the photo sequence. Thanks for sharing it.

Excellent shot Max - great detail and color on the coyote, the crop works well also.

Nice work, Max. If feels slightly surreal, as the otter looks much like a seal...but the polar bear looks like a coyote!!

Wonderful shot with a wonderful story!

This is such a cool shot Max! The way only the coyote and otter have any detail coupled with the balance in the image makes this a winner in my book. You handled the sea of white exceptionally well here.

Cool image, there is a lot of tension in here Max. Thanks for linking us to the chasing otter image as well, that really puts this into context.

Thanks for the kind words, guys. I doubt I'll ever witness something like this again. The photo I linked to (which I posted here a few months back) made it to the finals of the Veiola (BBC) wildlife photo competition and it looks like a few shots from the sequence will be published in the upcoming issue off BBC Wildlife Magazine. So I certainly feel fortunate to have experienced this!

In response to Kurt's post:

I too had seen images of a coyote stalking an otter before, and I know they will not only steal food from otters, but will prey upon them given the chance. So I was actually setting up for a potential chase... but with a coyote chasing an otter. Thus the high shutter speed in the photo above. One of the otters had caught a fish just prior to this encounter, and a bald eagle had swooped in to try to steal it (the attempt failed). Then the coyotes arrived and started sniffing around. I'm sure they were hoping to find some fish scraps at least.

Max

Nice sequence. Feels like one for the good guys! I love the setting, almost like a stage, with a very minmal BG and only the players to draw interest. Good back story as well. I enjoyed the full sequence on your website.

Incredible sequence Max

The otter chasing coyote frame is unreal and thoroughly deserving of all the accolades. Congrats on making it to the finals of BBC wpoy.

Sweet photo Max, the entire sequence is awesome. You did excellent work with this encounter, it's one of those unique situations all wildlife photographers dream about experiencing.

Ken Archer

Very nice interaction! The larger version you can really see the eyes.

A special sighting indeed Max. Very nice composition adding to the mood off the situation. Well done!

Congrats on this fantastic series Max, you can see the otter sizing him up here. Nice job with the dof on this.

Now that is just an awesome image! There is no better way that you could have done the comp. I have never even heard of an otter doing that, and I wouldn't have thought that the coyote would run away from the otter either. I looked at your other images of the otter chasing the coyote, they are amazing! I hope that you will post one of those ones soon!