Musk Ox Mom and Calf

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 17, 201332,767 views17 comments

While hiking and photographing birds in the back country on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska this June, I encountered a wild herd of musk oxen. At first, they were nervous about my presence, but I was actually more interested in the birds in the area, so I did not approach the musk ox. I did keep my eye's on them as they foraged a couple hundred yards away. A few hours had gone by and I noticed them approaching this ridgeline and thought it could be a nice photo opportunity. Slowly, I began to meander toward them and was able to get close enough without affecting their behavior to make some pleasing portraits.

Canon MKIV, 600mm, 1/500, f10, ISO 640, manual exposure adjustment with the use of the spot meter light reading.

I very much appreciate all your comments and suggestions.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 17, 2013 at 8:01 PM

Hey Ken,

First off - I quite like this. The low angle and "tightness" of the pair makes this feel like a very intimate moment. Well done.

Overall the exposure looks good (in a somewhat tricky situation too)...perhaps the shadows on the front of the little one (and the lower portion of the adult) could be opened up a little, but that's by no means a deal breaker. In a perfect world my preference would be for more DoF so that the the foreground was in focus, but this is both personal preference on my part and could have been impossible (that's certainly one of the hardest things to control with a 600).

Have to say I envy the opportunity - I have a few images of these guys that currently only exist in my mind (and I'd love to bring them to reality). Good for you...

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on December 17, 2013 at 9:09 PM

This is really nice. I love the detail of the fur...you can just "feel" how soft it must be. The comp and colors are wonderful. I love the collection of colors in the leaf litter in the FG.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 17, 2013 at 9:32 PM

Ken, I need to be on your travel schedule...I am envious! Always wanted to see these guys. I do think Brad has a good point on the FG since the legs are cut off. If they were visible, I am not sure it would make as much of a difference. Still great job getting this.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on December 17, 2013 at 9:34 PM

Love the intimate feel to this Ken. Well composed and captured!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on December 17, 2013 at 10:59 PM

I don't think I've seen a photo with a young musk ox in it. Wonder if they have a particular name for them? Anyway very nice pose and nicely captured. They certainly were cooperative for you. The little guy is very cute. I like the multi-colors in the FG. Just a little splash of color.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on December 18, 2013 at 12:07 AM

Great shot of these guys! Nice pose, and good color. These ice age survivors are very interesting creatures. Took care of some when I was a zoo keeper in Minnesota. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 18, 2013 at 12:27 AM

I'm struck by the contrasts here - little and cute baby, plus big, wary, and likely grumpy mom.
Really nice detail on the fur, and like the tundra too.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 18, 2013 at 2:11 AM

Ken,

What a wonderful capture you have made here!
I would love to see these one day

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 18, 2013 at 9:35 AM

Hello Ken

Well Done.... Sweet Image .... Tough lighting with the Sky and front of the Ox being so different. Detailed Ox head area with excellent detail. These guys are near the top of my bucket list .

Maybe you & Brad can come up with a Musk Ox Trip?

Thanks for sharing this ... Really like the Detail.

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on December 18, 2013 at 1:16 PM

Beaitifully composed image of a species we rarely see posted. Thank you. Dave

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 18, 2013 at 5:42 PM

Great to see a family portrait. If I ever made it up there, these guys would be high on my list. I think I'd be busy with oxen while you'd be hunting birds.

Nice work, Ken. I like the low angle and the composition.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on December 19, 2013 at 6:09 AM

Ken, this is a wonderful picture of mom and calf. I like your DOF to hold all that hair on the adult. I am with Brad on wishing the foreground were in focus, but probably not possible with the 600. Congrats on a great one. Patience paid off. I had the immediate thought (nothing to do with the photo skills) that mom has a face only a calf could love.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 19, 2013 at 7:06 AM

Great setting n wonderful frame !
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 19, 2013 at 10:00 AM

I think you did a great job with exposure, capturing subtle and soft color variations. If this is cropped, I wonder if a wee bit more space would be ideal.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 21, 2013 at 1:45 PM

Impressive detail and colours on the Ox. The eyes are beautifully illuminated with catchlights. I like the low perspective here, but agree with Brad that a bit more dof for the foreground would have been ideal. What a unique species, has to be a real feather in the hat of any wildlife photographer to shoot them.