Bull Elk

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 7, 2012929 views12 comments

Photographed this herd of bulls today near home. I decided to convert the original color image into b+w as there were some difficult color issues with the original due to the fact the lighting was low near dusk - as indicated by my in-camera settings.
D700, 200-400 VR @200, f5, 1/160, 1600 iso, bean bag support, 85% of original frame.
I'm curious to hear your opinions. Thank you! (You can see a larger version at my website, under "RECENT' portfolio)

(Added a photo of a bull elk in velvet in response to a posted question)

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

Gary, I like seeing the bull elk group, but for me the b&w looses too much detail in the highlights. Also, there seems to be a tilt to the left of the image. Still, like seeing the guys together. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on April 7, 2012 at 12:56 PM

Love it!

This is an animalscape Gary! The b&W works really well IMO and since this is all about the strong composition I can understand your choice for conversing if the color version was not great.

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on April 7, 2012 at 8:57 PM

I really like the black and white conversion! Cool to see a herd of only bulls, the youngest one has some interesting antler shape going on! Really cool image, Gary!

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on April 7, 2012 at 11:09 PM

Nice to get a group like that. Nice capture. When do elk lose their antlers? Have no experience with the species and was surprised to see they still had them. I've been surprised how long black-tails keep theirs in near where I live in the Central Valley of CA. I'm used to white-tails which drop theirs in Dec-Jan.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 8, 2012 at 12:52 AM

Peter, you ask a great question. I was wondering the same thing myself a while ago and I believe the answer is anywhere from January to early May (at least here in the Canadian Rockies). I believe I read somewhere that, unlike most other ungulates, as soon as elk antlers are shed the new antlers immediately start to grow. I have seen some elk that are growing new antlers allready this year. I have attached a photo of a bull elk that I photographed a few days ago in Jasper National Park. They are obviously in various stages of shedding and regrowth presently.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 8, 2012 at 7:17 AM

This has a wonderful graphic art feel to it, Gary!
The diagonals add such strong compositional drama...conversion is good too...hope you enter this somewhere...

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

Comment posted by Philip Schwarz on April 8, 2012 at 9:07 AM

I like the shot but the trees seem to be leaning to the left. An easy fix.

Registered on November 29, 2006, 236 Posts, 1210 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Schwarz on April 8, 2012 at 9:07 AM

I like the shot but the trees seem to be leaning to the left. An easy fix.

Registered on November 29, 2006, 236 Posts, 1210 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on April 10, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Story telling and very artistic capture.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 11, 2012 at 11:56 AM

Really fine image, Gary -
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on April 11, 2012 at 8:46 PM

Faabulous! Love it that the "rear guard" has paused to check you out! Congrats on the Pick for a fine winter image.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Edwin kats on April 25, 2012 at 4:35 PM

Love it!!!

Edwin

Registered on April 24, 2006, 177 Posts, 399 Comments