Rocky Mouuntain Elk, frosty morning

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 19, 20062,829 views24 comments

I took this shot the last morning of my trip to the Northern Rockies.
The bull was a bit ornery on this day, so every time he looked my direction I would pick up my gear move back just to let him know that I knew he was BOSS.

Canon 30D, 100-400mm, ISO 400

All comments and suggestions very much appreciated.

Happy Holidays Everybody!!!

Ken Archer

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Jim Salge on December 19, 2006 at 9:46 AM

Ken,

Brillient use of cool tones in this to enhance a mood around a great subject. Really love the scene!

The top of the frame bothers me a little bit. A little too little sky if you including the sky IMO, and a little tight to the tree to crop it out. Since you cant reshoot this, it might be worth it to try a crop, perhaps leaving only the bottom bubble of the sky.

Welll worth some experimenting, as this is really good!

Registered on February 23, 2006, 269 Posts, 2210 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 19, 2006 at 10:00 AM

Nice atmospheric image Ken

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Jasper Doest on December 19, 2006 at 10:28 AM

I agree with Jim here....I'd crop it just above the tree to give it more impact. Otherwise quite impressive!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 371 Posts, 2101 Comments

Comment posted by Josh Anderson on December 19, 2006 at 11:31 AM

I would eliminate the sky. Otherwise a nice image.

Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Krehbiel on December 19, 2006 at 11:57 AM

I agree with eliminating the sky. Having said that, I wish this image were mine.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 59 Posts, 155 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on December 19, 2006 at 2:03 PM

I love the feeling this photo gives. Congratulations on a very nice capture!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ennis on December 19, 2006 at 3:08 PM

Great shot! I agree with the others about cropping the sky out. The sky is very bland, and the ridgelines seem to have some kind of color fringing along them. I would crop to just above the tree on the right. I love the cold feeling to this image!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 118 Posts, 422 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 19, 2006 at 3:45 PM

Happy holidays to you too Ken, great shot

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Salge on December 19, 2006 at 5:16 PM

Just another quick note, with all the talk of crops, I can see this working very well as a pano crop a little more than halfway down the tree. The mist in the background and row of trees would work as a backdrop!

Registered on February 23, 2006, 269 Posts, 2210 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on December 19, 2006 at 6:29 PM

Hi Ken

What a superb atmospheric image - I love it. I would leave it as it is as IMO the inclusion of the sky helps set the scene by showing the mountain tops, without them you loose that sense of scale!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by D. Robert Franz on December 19, 2006 at 11:35 PM

Sky is a bit bright but overall a very moody image. Well done Ken!!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 93 Posts, 335 Comments

Comment posted by Scott M on December 20, 2006 at 7:38 PM

Wow, fantastic image Ken. I would definitely crop out the sky.......down to the snowline on the far right-side mountain.

Registered on May 16, 2006, 27 Posts, 388 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on December 22, 2006 at 2:44 PM

Killer shot!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on December 23, 2006 at 5:16 PM

Ken,

the blueish cast really makes this images. One feels the coldness and frost. I would crop away the sky... That bright area is not helping the composition...

Happy Holidays...

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on December 23, 2006 at 9:28 PM

Hi Ken!! After reading everyone else's thoughts, I am in agreement with losing some of that sky. Also, I like the idea of the pano too!! Beautiful animals set in a beautiful moody setting. Congrats!!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on December 24, 2006 at 8:25 AM

Great shot! Like the comp and the blue tones.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Taylor on December 26, 2006 at 6:55 AM

Agree about the crop Ken,
But in saying that, it's a fabulous shot, great composition,

Wish I'd taken it.

Registered on December 22, 2006, 4 Posts, 15 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 8, 2007 at 10:26 AM

What a great capture. Well deserving of the EP. Congratulations.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on January 8, 2007 at 2:55 PM

beautiful capture - the atmosphere and feel of this is superb.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 10, 2007 at 12:08 AM

Congratulations on the pick. Well deserved!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Frank Winters on January 10, 2007 at 4:18 AM

This is a fabulous image. Yes there is an alternative w/o the sky but its excellent as is. The sky line of mountains gives the image a sense of place and scale. The empty sky adds to the graphic feel the image has.

Registered on January 5, 2006, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on January 28, 2007 at 7:31 AM

Great mood in this image, but I agree with the previous opinions - the sky is a bit distracting. I did some "cropping-by-scrolling" and for me the image gains in impact with the upper third cropped out.
Regards Dietrich

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on February 11, 2007 at 12:16 AM

Hi Ken,
I really like this photo. It looks like it is made for a Christmas Card.
Ralph Kerr

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 7, 2011 at 1:14 PM

This is one of my favorite shots, beautiful blue light ,love the placement of the Elk. Really amazing work!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments