The Magestic

Herds of over 200 Elk roam Glacier's Eastern meadows and make great subjects backdropped by the massive peaks. I peeked over a small hill and quickly got the attention of this smaller herd which looked up and allowed me a couple shots before disappearing into the forest. For seeing so many tourists they sure are wary of people with cameras...I would have liked a composition with a bit more foreground, but didn't have the chance at it. Let me know what you think.

5D, 70-200 at 200mm, 3-soft grad, ISO 400, 1/250, F10.

I love this type of shot. I used to shoot a ton of wildlife and have always loved it when you're able to capture wildlife in it's surroundings, epsecially when it is captured as powerfully as this. Frans Lanting has some great shots like this that I always envyed. This is one to envy, well done, Marc.

I agree that a little more room at the bottom would have been nice but this is hard to beat as is. The dusting of snow and moody atmoshperic conditions are icing on the cake. I also like the fact that the elk appear to have spotted you and are looking at the camera.

I'm surprised this has not gotten more attention, this is a fantastic wildlife in the landscape image. I suppose the only thing that could make it any better is a bit more room at the bottom which you already stated, but this is quite a capture!

I'd get more of a sense of Majestic if the tops of the mountains and that bit of sky on the right were cropped out. I'd feel the mountain would go on forever and tower over the elk. Lack of foreground really hurts though.

I wish that I could see more on top (left) as well, but hey, you are not gonna see this same scene ever again (with all the elements). This photo is outstanding as is. I love it. I wonder where you cropped and why? Thanks for sharing.

I love this scene - totally crisp and sharp and the environment is awe-inspiring. I do agree with others that this almost feels like the magnified slice out of a larger compostion where these guys are almost not even scene. I'd love to see this at 70mm based on imagining what would be around them - but then again there might have been elements that didn't fit this scene that you found (thus the almost square crop) ???

Mark,
I agree about it needing more foreground. The mountains are majestic but I just feel it needs more foreground. Nice shot nontheless. Mahesh captured some really nice elk shot with his 'Bigma" from Yellowstone lasr year.

I completely dig this. It makes you literally feel how big the mountains are and am not sure why there is less foreground.

What Mark Said...