The Shadow of Man

A coyote that was stalking along the roadside in Yellowstone was soon surrounded by people anxious to get a photo, with everything from P&S to DSLR's with giant lenses, and even someone with a Red DV cam.

I was really taken by surprise by the proximity of the animal to the people - it was very relaxed - and when I saw the shadows of the onlookers from the roadside fall across it I grabbed this frame and a few others. Its not as sharp as it could be as it was moving, I was using too long a lens (did not expect the animal to come so close), and I was moving too.

Any comments, harsh, kind, or otherwise welcome!

1DsMk2, 300 f2.8 IS.

Tells a story John,well spotted!!!!!

Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk

It's one of those shots that needs context for you to appreciate it fully.

In context it is kind of bewildering as to why the coyote is happy about this situation unless he is being frequently fed which I was told (?) is banned in Yellowstone. Can you comment?

T

Interesting shot, must have been very close!

It's one of those shots that needs context for you to appreciate it fully.

In context it is kind of bewildering as to why the coyote is happy about this situation unless he is being fed which I was told (?) is banned in Yellowstone. Can you comment?

We came across it wandering along the roadside - within a metre of the tarmac - several cars already stopped and we did too. I can only presume that its learned to associate road with roadkill - and possibly scraps left by visitors, but the latter, although highly illegal, would be more likely in a parking/picnic area - which this location was not.

So my guess is its not too bothered by people because as its a National Park and very well patrolled its not been under direct threat from humans, apart from camera-hassle which it coped with pretty well.

Hello John

I really like this image and the concept of the story that goes with it and I wish I had the vision for seeing it more in my own photography as I sometimes get so fixed on producing the standard stuff. Very clever and very good.

Danny

Thanks for the comments so far folks. I'm surprised that you're interested in 'the story' of the specifics of the image, because I'd not actually considered that as being hugely important (!) - for me when I saw it through the lens, it was the generic nature of the shot - the 'anyman' of the shadow falling across the animal, that attracted me - and the wider comment it made on the position of nature - very much in the shadow of man. There's a follow-on image from this sequence I'll post another time when I've uploaded it - again very much about that interaction between nature/people - same animal, a few moments later but telling a very very different story, and a reminder that in such story-telling image sequences the implicit message can flip to and fro second by second.

Hi John,

'Fraid it doesn't work for me. Almost - but no cookie this time. I think the missing element is that the shadow is a bit to ambiguous - it could be anything. It isn't defined enough to say 'man'. If the shadow had both shoulders & head identifiable, or had a hat on then it would be another matter....

Certainly an idea worth trying, but just needs that bit more. I'll keep an eye out for your follow-on image.

I think this should be titled 'too close' - I can still hear the echo now...This is a great storytelling picture John and is that little bit different.

Ian

John

I think you have captured a unique moment.

This coyote looks well fed, from what I've seen of the species the location as you have stated has a bearing on that factor.

From the encounters I've had they tend to keep a good distance.

Look forward to more images.

Barry

An image with a story to tell. Shame its not that bit sharper though.

Lee

Lacks sharpness, but understandably so. It tells its own story.