Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · RMNP

Elk

Discussion

17 replies
Posted by Dan Walters on October 2, 2006 at 4:33 PM
Elk
Pretty cool sunrise at Rocky Mountain National Park this morning.

Canon 20D
500mm lens
Gitzo tripod
Posted by Dan Walters on October 2, 2006 at 4:35 PM
Also got this image. He is not bugling, but I cannot think of what the term is for this particular behavior.
I do know that he is picking up the females scent.
Posted by Dave Showalter` on October 2, 2006 at 4:55 PM
Dan,

These are just amazing images - as good as it gets!

Then lip curl behavior is called flehmen. He's actually "tasting" her scent with his vomeronasal organ to detect the level of estrus.

Nice work, Dan.
Posted by Dan Walters on October 2, 2006 at 5:00 PM
Thats the term I was looking for. Thanks! It was on the tip of my tongue. No pun intended. :biggrin:
Posted by David A Bliss on October 2, 2006 at 5:08 PM
I thought that was you this morning. I nodded at you, but I don't think you recongnized me. We have only met the one time at Belmar.

These are up to your usual stunning images!
Posted by Renee C on October 2, 2006 at 5:50 PM
My first response to the sunrise pic was "Wow". My second response was "Funny how the females are ignoring the male like he has nothing important to say" :biggrin:

Great shots, as usual!
Posted by Arthur Lund on October 2, 2006 at 7:13 PM
Stunning images.

Art Lund
Posted by Bruce Painter on October 2, 2006 at 7:37 PM
Great shots Dan. I love the sunrise photo.

Bruce
Posted by bill meikle on October 2, 2006 at 8:03 PM
Dan, you have the most fantastic Elk images, these are just great. The bull elk seem to spend a lot of time with their heads up sniffing, and smelling with their tongues. The drive to reproduce seems to be a strong one!

Bill

Posted by Dan Walters on October 2, 2006 at 8:20 PM
Thanks so much for the compliments. I love this time of year. It really gets you motivated when you get up there and you can hear the bugles echo around the mountains. Very primal!
Posted by Robert Helms on October 2, 2006 at 10:03 PM
Dan, that first image is exceptional. The head gear on that bull looks mighty impressive and I love how you positioned him in the frame. I actaully see it has a perfect cover shot for a calendar or book. I'm equally impressed with the one on your site that appears to be from the same day. The lip curl shot is great as well, but I really like the first shot more.

I really wanted to purchase a long lens before my trip to Colorado in hopes of catching some wildlife images, elk in particular. Maybe next year I'll have it, but it sure won't be a 500. I just can't afford one of those.

Posted by Todd Caudle on October 3, 2006 at 1:48 AM
Wow, these are stunners!
Posted by Michael Renner on October 3, 2006 at 10:27 AM
Amazing shot Dan. Your elk images are always impressive to say the least!!
Posted by Patrick Surrena on October 3, 2006 at 5:33 PM
Simply, "amazing", and I'm not usually short on words, but that says it. Great work!
Posted by Patrick Cox on October 4, 2006 at 11:02 AM
Super shots! Where was the sunrise shot taken? I was in RMNP just last week. It certainly is a great time of year to be there!
Posted by Don Grall on October 4, 2006 at 8:56 PM
Sweet shots, Dan. :toast:

Don
Posted by Dan Walters on October 5, 2006 at 8:52 AM
Thanks for all the compliments!
Posted by Rick Dunn on October 7, 2006 at 8:58 AM
:toast: :toast: , for both!