Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Spent Friday night through Monday morning in RMNP, and came away with a fairly diverse collection of wildlife images. I'll save the landscape stuff for another time.
I'm certainly no Dan Walters, so it sure is fun when animals make themselves available to be photographed.
Let's kick it off with the ubiquitous elk.
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Ouch! Check out the sRGB red cast in the one above! Please disregard, the original looks fine.
Onlookers...
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Saturday morning I went up on Trail Ridge Road, expecting this last storm might close it for the season. Ah, one more time driving at 12,000 feet. Found some bighorns along the way...
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Kickin' back...
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:46 PM
I expected all the bulls w/harems to be down low, but unexpectedly ran across this guy...
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:48 PM
I have a series of these with different head positions, but what struck me about this one is something I didn't notice until I saw it on the monitor. Check out how the shadow mimics the elk's snout. Cool, eh?!
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:50 PM
On Sunday I went out and played in the snow. Jay Ryser and I must've crossed paths without knowing each other. I finally got a decent shot or two of a coyote...
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 16, 2007 at 12:52 PM
And elk in snow. I've got so many animal shots from this trip, but better stop here for fear of angering the bandwidth gods.
Posted by John Zinn on October 16, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Onlookers or cheerleaders?!! The shadow in the last one is really cool and I like the composition for the three bighorn sheep.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on October 16, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Always fun when the animals stand in front of your camera for you! Looks like you had fun! Cool snow shots.
Posted by Erik Stensland on October 16, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Simply amazing Todd!!! I can't tell you how jealous I am.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on October 16, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Very nice Todd. Those were some stout bighorns.
Posted by Chuck Peacock on October 16, 2007 at 1:41 PM
All very nice Todd.
The Bighorn shots and the bull just under them are way cool!
Posted by Rene Pirolt on October 16, 2007 at 2:42 PM
Great shots, Todd. The Coyote is in the snow is my favorite.
BTW - I think the elk in the first picture likes you!
Posted by Jay Ryser on October 16, 2007 at 2:53 PM
I think we must have crossed paths - I got the same coyote on the banks of the Big Thompson.
We need to have some flag or something to hang from our vehicles to identify each other.
Nice shots Todd, really like the snow scenes! The elk shadow was the first thing that stood out to me on that image. Are you beta testing CS4's new "Elk Shadow" filter?
What, you and wildlife?! (I know I know, you've got few shots already). I'm interested in the lens you used. I'm looking for a decent telephoto for myself.
Posted by Jack Brauer on October 16, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Wow... that's one hell of a productive weekend! They're all great, but I love the sole bighorn portrait the most.
Posted by Paul Beiser on October 16, 2007 at 3:49 PM
Nice!! I think I like the coyote picture best
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on October 16, 2007 at 3:59 PM
I agree with Paul on the coyote.
That rich coat stands out so nicely in the snow.
Posted by Roger Rouch on October 16, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Boy, that's quite a nice collection. The coyote one is outstanding. I have to say that the bull elk sparing with each other and the 3 cows in the foreground watching brought a smile. A story to be told.
Posted by Jesse Speer on October 16, 2007 at 6:56 PM
What!? No bear? :)
Killer collection Todd, and from only one weekend ...
Posted by Dan Walters on October 16, 2007 at 7:28 PM
Great shots!! I love the coyote and the bighorns. That second bighorn shot is really nice with the light and the blue background.
Posted by Momo Vuyisich on October 16, 2007 at 7:30 PM
All of these are nice, but I love the second one the most. Thanks for posting.
Posted by Bret Edge on October 16, 2007 at 7:42 PM
All are quite nice but I really enjoy that coyote in the snow photo, Todd. Excellent stuff.
Posted by Gabi Lach on October 16, 2007 at 8:38 PM
Those are really cool and also cute, Todd. Love it!
Posted by Don Grall on October 16, 2007 at 11:42 PM
Great collection, especially like both snow shots!
Posted by John Mumaw on October 17, 2007 at 7:31 AM
These are simply outstanding. Wonderfully composed and exposed.
I love the second shot with the bull elk clashing in front of the cows. The addition of the cows makes this a step above similar images, adding depth and interest.
Congratulations on a great day!
Posted by Rick Dunn on October 17, 2007 at 8:22 AM
You sure you didn't just scan a bunch of postcards from one of the tourist shops? These are fantastic, and the shots of the three bighorn and the coyote are top-notch.
These are amazing, Todd. How close can you normally get to wildlife in RMNP? (how long of a lens were you using?)
Guy
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 17, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Hey Guy, all were taken with the Canon 100-400 IS lens handheld, at varying degrees of zoom. Three - elk sparring, the reclining bighorn and the coyote - were cropped from the original, but only slightly. For instance, the elk sparring was given a slightly more pano crop, while the other two are at least 80% of the original.
Posted by Stan Rose on October 17, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Man, that coyote shot is a total classic! I also love the facing bighorn shot. Great stuff! Im already psyched for this weekends weather, but cant decide on whether im gonna stick around for the snow or head east for some tornaodes
Posted by Scott Borger on October 18, 2007 at 5:11 PM
Wow! I'm impressed that you came up with so many good wildlife shots from one trip. I like 2 and 4 the best.
Posted by Laurent Baig on October 20, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Great stuff, Todd! Keep it up, you'll send Mangelsson back to the field running ;-)
Posted by Les Barstow on October 23, 2007 at 3:26 AM
Great trip you had there. Do you have to give up your exclusive on clouds to get this kind of wildlife response? 'cause I'd like some of them if you're sharing now.
The cows spectating on the sparring match really add to that second image. The coyote in snow is also excellent.
Posted by Howard Cheek on January 17, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Great series of captures Todd, sounds like you had a good time too..
Thank you for sharing these gems
Howard
Discussion
36 repliesI'm certainly no Dan Walters, so it sure is fun when animals make themselves available to be photographed.
Let's kick it off with the ubiquitous elk.
Onlookers...
The Bighorn shots and the bull just under them are way cool!
BTW - I think the elk in the first picture likes you!
We need to have some flag or something to hang from our vehicles to identify each other.
I love the 3 bighorn and the two snow portraits!
That rich coat stands out so nicely in the snow.
Killer collection Todd, and from only one weekend ...
I love the second shot with the bull elk clashing in front of the cows. The addition of the cows makes this a step above similar images, adding depth and interest.
Congratulations on a great day!
Guy
The cows spectating on the sparring match really add to that second image. The coyote in snow is also excellent.
Thank you for sharing these gems
Howard