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WC 725 - Desert Dwellers

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted March 1, 2016555 views8 comments

This was taken on 11/9/2014 in the eastern region of Zion. I photographed this yucca for a couple of hours that afternoon before this fellow wandered by and decided to take a rest. (Actually ... I shadowed a large herd of about 25 sheep that afternoon for a couple of hours and was rewarded with several nice images.)

Canon 5D II
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS
176mm, f/4, 1/160 second, ISO 250
(Hand held, auto mode, IS)

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 1, 2016 at 10:17 PM

A very nice capture and very good management of the depth of field. The branches/roots behind and to the right of the sheep are a little distracting but the photo is strong enough that I don't think it is a serious problem.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 2, 2016 at 9:17 AM

A fine catch here, Jim, with both the Yucca and the Bighorn nice and sharp. The larger version "pops" nicely. Shadowing the herd sounds like a wondeful way to spend an afternoon.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 2, 2016 at 9:17 AM

Excellent, Jim. The bighorn and yucca make a very nice composition. I like the sidelong glance you're getting from the ram.

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on March 2, 2016 at 10:58 AM

Excellent composition and textures, Jim. An image well worth waiting for !!

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on March 2, 2016 at 11:36 AM

Jim, I had a similar event take place at Checkerboard Mesa several years back with a Bighorn. It was a wonderful experience. This is a very fine capture. Technically spot on.

My only nit on this image is with regard to the WC theme not being met. Not sure if the yucca was mistaken for meeting the cactus theme or this was meant to be posted elsewhere. Yuccas are a part of the agave group and not cacti.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Lockhart on March 2, 2016 at 3:14 PM

Nice portrait on both counts Jim. I don't believe I could have posed the ram better next to the yucca. Lots of nice detail in his fur and both subjects are sharp. Like the contrast against the red soil also.

Registered on February 19, 2013, 91 Posts, 500 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on March 2, 2016 at 7:28 PM

Yeah Paul ... I was wondering how long it would take for somebody to make the observation that a yucca is not a cactus. enlightened

I'm thinking of starting a crusade to have all yucca and agave and ocotillo classified as cactus. Who's with me?! cool

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on March 2, 2016 at 10:15 PM

Wow, nice ram Jim. I have found the desert bighorns up on the east side of Zion a couple times now and they never fail to please.

Love the red rock, the great curls and the fantastic detail of the coat on this ram. Well done.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments