Bighorn Buds

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 22, 2012263 views9 comments

Ok, not sure "Bighorn Buds" is a good title for this, because I think these two rams were head-butting each other 10 minutes before I took the shot.

Anyway, they started following each other around for a bit and graze together, so I guess the title is fine.

My family and I found these guys right by the road at Little America in Yellowstone National Park last month. The big guy on the left immediately caught my attention! I knew I had to get something of him, so I set up and got the shots. The ram on the right joined him in grazing. Both of them quickly looked up as something must have gotten their attention. So glad I finally have a good bighorn image to show off...

After much debate we decided to nickname the ram on the left "Bulldozer" and the guy on the right "Avalanche".

I'm super excited to be heading back in just 2 short days!

Thanks for looking and I sure hope you all like it!

Nikon D300
Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 ED VR @ 400mm
ISO 400
1/1250sec @ f/6.3
shot on beanbag from truck window

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on May 22, 2012 at 8:26 PM

Good shot! The Big Horn sheep are a great experiance for me. Glad you were able to get such a great shot. Thanks for sharing!

Jack

Registered on September 26, 2009, 131 Posts, 554 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 23, 2012 at 1:43 AM

Great pose this pair of handsome fellows is giving you Jenaya. Your persistence payed off with a super sweet photo. I like your composition and the detail in both sheep is excellent. "Have Fun" in Yellowstone

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on May 23, 2012 at 2:31 AM

Lovely shot! I really like their pose and the snow on the face of the one on our right. Perhaps it could be a touch wider, especially on the bottom, but that takes nothing from a really beautiful image

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Levin on May 23, 2012 at 1:27 PM

This is a beautiful sharp capture, Jenaya, and the setting is really great. Excellent work with that beast of a lens.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on May 24, 2012 at 3:55 AM

Pretty much had to add my voice to the comments on this one, Jaye...it's just a great image IMO. Of course I might be biased ;) but then again, I'm also envious of and a little put out by you having captured this and me missing it!

I would have liked just a little more space around these two, especially at the bottom, but I happened to have been standing 30 ft from you and know how fast this happened and that you had close to zero seconds to reach forward and zoom out. As it is, you did an awesome job of capturing the moment...great exposure in very difficult lighting/environment, great focus, and excellent DOF. All in all I'd have to say you pretty much nailed it! I was so excited to have a ram of this caliber in front of me that I didn't do nearly as well as you.

Just a great image! (had to show me up on my own bighorn pics this week, eh?)

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 24, 2012 at 7:59 AM

Very nice Jenaya. I like the quality of the light and the juxtaposed head positions of the rams. My only nit concerns the tightness at the bottom and (less problematic) the left side.

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on May 24, 2012 at 9:32 PM

Nice job getting both fellas in the frame. Personally I might like to see more room surrounding them. Thanks for posting this!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 26, 2012 at 12:13 AM

I agree fully with Vincent's comments. You did an especially nice job handling the snowy exposure.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 29, 2012 at 5:09 PM

How bout "Bighorn Studs"?

Love the setting and sharp details, great light on these bighorn "studmeisters"

Maybe a bit more room bottom, great image as posted Jenaya!

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