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Panic on Titanic
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Panic on Titanic

by Verdon

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 7, 2013722 views38 comments
4 weeks ago I visited with my wife Mount Evans, soon we got over the tree line started crazy rain, went to the top and had a little snack and waited with hopes for clear up the sky. And it happened , the top of mountain suddenly cleared and the sun lighten wet rocks. It was the most spectacular photography, nice fresh light and down under us dark blue/grey clouds with heavy rain, have tones of the amazing shots from that day. It was 2 hours of great photography until the storm arrived too the top . This shot is from that moment, the goats started to panic and were jumping on top of boulders. The lighting was hitting the mountains maybe every 20 sec or so, (maybe only 2-3 photographers remained, everybody left) saw potential and started to fallow the jumpy goats and shot every possible moment with hope to have the strike in the background, it took me over the hundred frames until it happened . That time I wasn't thinking about the danger but my wife told me that my long hair was strait up and with sparks, I think it was worth it, would I do it again,,,,? Right now, I don't know, will see what opportunity comes next time :razz:
Canon 1Dx, 100 mm, 1/640 sec, F/6.3 , ISO 1250, handheld, C&C welcome

Comments

38 comments
Comment posted by Don Westbrook on August 7, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Outstanding image. Beautiful light and details. Amazing timing.
I'm guessing you were a combat photographer in a past life!..
Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 7, 2013 at 12:48 PM
That's crazy. It would have been a great setting regardless with those dark blue skies, but the lightning puts it over the top. Great job.

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 7, 2013 at 1:32 PM
How cool is this? You've cashed in on the changing weather very nicely, an excellent result!
The goats do seem in a 'panic'. Nice tight grouping, with the two in back pushing the others forward..
Unique image, hat's off to ya Verdon :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 7, 2013 at 1:46 PM
Outstanding!Your patience and persistence paid off.
Any way to comp this as a vertical? As is, there is a lot of dead area at the top. The dark sky is nice, but there is a lot of it!
Sweet goats - maybe a little more work on their eyes to bring them out, especially the little one at the right.
Just great -

Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on August 7, 2013 at 2:17 PM
On top of Mount Evans...lightning...out of vehicle...Crazy!!! :jump:
Awsome over the top image!!!! The risk payed off!
I'm glad you're alive to tell the story and share the image!! :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 7, 2013 at 2:59 PM
That has the potential to be an award winning photo many times over. It was absolute stupidity probably - but I could see getting caught up in the moment. I think you should take this and never try to top it!
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 7, 2013 at 3:11 PM
A great shot, but not worth dying for. :frown:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Butch Lama on August 7, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Wow... Very striking image :toast: Great timing with all four goats hurdle together with panic expression and have that lightening strike in the BG. Winner all the way!!!
Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on August 7, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Wildlife photography at its very best. A spectacular moment and photo.
You better enter this into the big competitions, like the BBC WPOTY! :eek: :toast:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on August 7, 2013 at 4:13 PM
:toast: Excellent capture of this scene, Verdon. The image needs no information, the photo speaks volumes seeing the lightning strike and the goats yammering like crazy here. Wonderful image overall.
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 7, 2013 at 5:40 PM
W :eek: W!!!!

This photo is dramatically awesome Verdon!!! I have been chased off Mount Evans a few times because of storms like these. I'm thinking you were very lucky, both getting this incredible photo and not getting struck by lightening.

One in a million :toast:
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on August 7, 2013 at 9:13 PM
Verdon, congratulations on this awesome shot. I have had my once in a lifetime lightning experience so would not have been as brave as you were to stay there. Glad you got this terrify image. :wavey:
Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on August 7, 2013 at 11:13 PM
Verdon,

Without a doubt the best image I have seen a very very long time. A perfect capture of the "moment", the expressions of the goats say it all, and the background is just perfect. This is the sort of image that should win many competitions :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 7, 2013 at 11:18 PM
In addition to echoing all of the above positive comments, I am struck by the apparent clarity of the goats. I feel as if I could reach out and touch them. An amazing photo. Great job. :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on August 7, 2013 at 11:20 PM
This is a special shot that doesn't come along too often. Just fantastic, Verdon. :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on August 7, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Panic indeed !! What a fantastic shot !!
Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 8, 2013 at 12:18 AM
Wonderfully captured Verdon, the image quality on this amazing scene is excellent. I feel a bit sorry for the frightened little goats, but all part of growing up I guess.
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Martin Dunn on August 8, 2013 at 6:18 AM
Super image Verdon.
The huddle of goats is terrific against the dark skies and the lightning flash in the background really brings the photo to life. :toast:
Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments
Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on August 8, 2013 at 11:34 AM
That is a fantastic picture! You can even see the hairs on the goats stand up!
Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 8, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Incredible! And thatin one single exposure of 1/640sec!!!
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Joe James on August 8, 2013 at 9:41 PM
This is just an amazing and wonderful photograph Verdon!
Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 8, 2013 at 11:26 PM
This is BBC Photographer of the Year stuff, honestly!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on August 8, 2013 at 11:46 PM
Super shot with pose, light and details. TFS.
Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on August 9, 2013 at 3:43 AM
It has all been said. :smile:
Jagdeepn Rajput :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on August 9, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Fantastic! :toast:

Clinton
Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Clinch on August 9, 2013 at 6:23 PM
No doubt this is a fantastic image, color, light, animal behavior, and a wild weather story. At 100mm you were pretty close, and without meaning to sound harsh, I can't help but wonder if your close proximity and presence of the other photographers during the storm significantly altered the goats behavior in the negative. Capturing an image is always secondary to the animals well being.
Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments
Comment posted by James Blue on August 11, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Fantastic capture Verdon, I like everything about it.....and how you got it.

Jim
Registered on June 16, 2013, 16 Posts, 144 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 15, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Congrats on the WP! No doubt this would win - and possibly the yearly Wildlife photo as well.
Just exceptional!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Buck Ward on August 15, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Outstanding!
Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Pullen on August 15, 2013 at 10:29 PM
Damn near perfect! :toast: :toast: :toast: Ron
Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on August 15, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Congrats Verdon on the well deserved WP. This is one of those once in a lifetime photographs!! :toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 16, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Congrats on the wonderful outcome to your somewhat risky adventure! :toast:
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on August 17, 2013 at 1:57 AM
Fantastic shot Verdon. I have felt the hair stand up on the top of the mountain in North East California. You did a great job of keeping your nerve and thinking through this shot. Great clarity, and amazing result. Kudos galore.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on August 18, 2013 at 9:59 PM
Amazing Image Verdon,
Well worth the effort and I'm very glad you beat the odds, You have to go for it sometimes . . . :cool:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on August 18, 2013 at 10:36 PM
I can hear them bleating for mom as I look at this amazing photo. Glad you (and they) stayed safe during the storm. I'm sure now you can say it was worth it, and the photo is truly magnificent.
Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on August 19, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Wonderful image and excellent choice for the weekly pick.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Verdon on August 19, 2013 at 10:49 PM
Thank you very much dear friends for your support :wavey: :wavey: :wavey:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on August 20, 2013 at 1:42 AM
What a fantastic shot. Congratulations on the well deserved EP. :smile: :smile:
Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments