Something in the Air

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 10, 2014224 views9 comments

Well, this one is a long time coming...both in that I'm WAY behind in processing and only looked through my pictures from this year's elk rut over the weekend, and this is a look I've been wanting to capture for a long time! In my dreams prior to every rut, I had envisioned just a little more curve to the bull and an up-raised front leg, but you gotta take what you're given!

There was sadly no time to get out of the truck and set up the tripods for the lower camera angle Jenaya and I desperately wanted of this pair. We spotted this bull, pulled the truck into position, saw the debris in his antlers (something that almost NEVER happens in our area unfortunately), and got the gear pointed out the open truck windows as fast as we could, capturing just a few frames before the moment passed.

I would love some feedback/input on this comp, as I have room all around and several viable options for crops. There is a band of the dark blue mountains above the trees in the original that seemed a touch distracting but offered a decent vertical version as well. Happy to hear your thoughts.

If you have time, please take a look at the larger version.

Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4
ISO 1250
1/100sec @ f/4.5
-0.3 EV
mounted on Kirk window mount with Fiesol ballhead
Cropped to approximately 65% of original

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on December 10, 2014 at 5:27 PM

Sorry, I can't think of a thing I would change in this photo under the conditions you have described. It is an outstanding image IMHO. Thanks for sharing, wish I had taken it.

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on December 11, 2014 at 1:08 AM

Well, like John, I can't really think of anything within your range of options that would improve this. Maybe if I actually saw them. But this is really good. Nice color palette, you've got action, and a good comp. What more could you ask for? Realistically. Lots of detail in this, I'm sure it would print well. As I'm not an elk biologist, is this guy bugling or is he doing a lip curl like mule deer to determine if the cow is ready?

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on December 11, 2014 at 1:16 AM

Sorry, Peter...I missed noting that in my post: the bull is bugling. Sadly in my corner of Alberta anyway we almost NEVER get that classic "steam shot" as they bugle, though trust me, Jenaya and I have spent countless hours in the pre-dawn and cold evenings hoping to nail it.

We've gotten lucky a few times, but this evening the temperature wasn't right and there was a strong breeze that would have carried it away anyway. Thanks for inquiring!

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

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on December 11, 2014 at 1:24 AM

John and Peter summed up my feelings quite well. Superb image. Is it just me or is it slightly tipped to the right?

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on December 11, 2014 at 2:44 AM

Hi Jim - 99% sure it's level...I rotated it slightly in post to be bang on across the "horizon" line (grass-to-trees-transition) and it looks OK as I scroll up here, although that's not exactly a perfectly consistent line to anchor too. If others agree it needs a slight CCW rotation I will tweak again with appreciation for the correction.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 11, 2014 at 4:32 AM

John,
If I was to be terribly picky then the only thing I would wish for is a lower head angle, so that you could see more of the eyes

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 13, 2014 at 8:24 AM

hello John

well done with excellent detail.

Bill

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 14, 2014 at 8:42 AM

Hi John,

Nice to see you back.

Given the short time you had to get set up and shooting here I think you've done quite a good job on the shot. Timing on the capture (with respect to the head position on the bull) looks really good. Having the female right there certainly contributes to the "story" behind the image.

In most cases I tend to like elk bugling shots done in a bit more of a 'scape approach...so given you say you have more room all-round perhaps a wider view might be even stronger? But this is impossible to say without seeing the original (perhaps posting the full-frame original might help in eliciting alternate crop suggestions?). I am wondering if how close (horizontally) the male and female are together might mitigate against going wider on this?

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on December 14, 2014 at 10:05 AM

John: I think this is best in the landscape orientation and like the crop as is. Although,

if you have Lightroom, you can make virtual copies with different crops to see what appeals to you. Still think given that the animals are side by side, a portrait crop might look a bit cramped. I would hang it as is. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments