Emergence

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 26, 2013259 views14 comments

This is one from this past summer... Over the past year I have been investing most of my time in photographing the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. On this particular morning I awoke a hour before sunrise and immediately jumped into my canoe. Before I started my search for moose I pulled my camera out, braced my tripod across the canoe and got ready for anything that the morning presented.

I rounded a bend in the lake and heard a unmistakeable crashing from the woods 200 yards ahead. I slowly and quietly continued my paddle forward when the young bull moose emerged from the fog. It was still relatively dark out and the sky was overcast. My cameras autofocusing wasn't cooperating in the lack of light so I resorted to autofocus. Given the scenario I should've focused using live view, but I didn't want to miss the shot while I fumbled around with that. The moose is slightly out of focus, but is still useable in my opinion and adds to the mood of the image since nothing is really sharp with the fog.

I'd like to hear your opinions!

Thanks,

Ben

5D Mark II - 400mm f/2.8 - 1.4X teleconverter
ISO 1600 - f/4.0 - 1/200th

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 26, 2013 at 4:30 PM

I like the image Ben. Not sure if it actually does a good job of portraing the environment because to me it is not quite light enough, but I still like it and am glad you were able to get a decent image under the curcumstances. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on January 26, 2013 at 4:34 PM

Ben,
This is a wonderful image that would work equally well in the Photo Art category IMO. The mood and the heavenly light with the mystery that the blue gives this image is very unique and very pleasing. I could easily see this hanging on the wall in someone's home. The image needs just a slight bit of clock wise rotation using the water line at the moose's knee level as your point of reference. Great post. It's always better by boat.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on January 26, 2013 at 4:35 PM

sweet and unusual, love the blue toned and moodiness in it, artistic and that is exactly the way how I like it , well execution!!!

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

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on January 26, 2013 at 4:51 PM

I like it, Ben!

Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on January 26, 2013 at 5:05 PM

It's just a bit too blue for me, or maybe that's this laptop, but I really like the ghostly apearance, especially of the trees in the background. I really like it.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 26, 2013 at 5:17 PM

Ben, I like the feel of this and I think the blue is great. Believe it or not, I still notice the big tree trunk right behind the moose's head, and I feel it's a bit of a distraction since the moose doesn't stand out well from the background. That's about the only major issue I have with this.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 27, 2013 at 2:20 AM

Great mood n beautiful capture! I may try to reduce the blues and yes, like Max rightly pointed out the tree behind moose is a big distraction. But you may other frames sans tree.

Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 27, 2013 at 9:12 AM

Good job capturing the moment, Ben. I'd blow it up and hang it. As far as the tree behind the moose being distracting, well it may be for some, but for me that ghostly tree provides a proper setting for the alert figure standing in the water.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on January 27, 2013 at 10:55 AM

Thank you everyone for all the comments and critiques! The blue is strong and I chose to leave it as-is because I feel it conveys the mood especially well, but I understand that it isn't everyones cup of tea. I agree, the tree is rather unfortunate, but I'm sure you know how excitement can distract you when you have wildlife encounters! I was only able to get two shots off before this guy continued towards the other side of the lake, and this was the best of the two.

Thanks everyone!

Ben

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Clinch on January 27, 2013 at 5:35 PM

I really like how this worked out. Maybe a bit heavy on the blues, but then the Boundary Waters does have magic going on. Personally, I like the ghostly tree and don't think it takes anything away from the image, it adds to the other worldly nature of the setting. Is alert pose is also nice. Way to be prepared for a shot.

Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 27, 2013 at 8:09 PM

Hi Ben. Well, on an emotional level this immediately grabbed me. The color although strong doesn't seem "far-fetched". Good use of the vignette in my opinion, adds to the desired effect. The background tree has allready been touched on, I guess if several of us noticed it there is likely an issue. I suspect this photo would have excellent mass appeal, and I mean that in a positive way.

Hey, thanks for the interesting story behind the image, had me on the edge of my computer chair.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 28, 2013 at 1:56 PM

At this small size it is tough to assess detail and fully enjoy the impact of this artful presentation. I would experiment with adding a bit, but not much, additional darkness to just the moose. I like the vignette and strong blues for this presentation.

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 30, 2013 at 3:43 AM

Hi Ben - this is an attention-getting image for sure. The blue just leaps off the page of thumbnails, and does not disappoint here!

I think all the suggestions for improvements have been mentioned (I especially felt your pain on the positioning of the tree behind him), but I just want to add the dark foreground and corners (vignette) really add to the mood and impact here.

Nice one...to say the least!

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

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on January 30, 2013 at 7:33 PM

Thanks for all the feed back everyone! I really appreciate it!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments