gessman Loc: Colorado

Here's a few submitted for critique. These 3 were shot with an EOS 5D MkII & 70-200 IS 2.8 lens with 1.4 extender at 1/2000 f4 ISO 200, handheld while rapidly retreating :-) I shot in AV mode and set the minimum aperture to f4 to ensure the desired depth field. The distance between me and the elk ranged from 50 ft to 200 ft. At my age I try to leave myself a little wiggle room between me and wild beasts.

Sugarpenny Loc: Mid Michigan

OH my Gessman, those are beautiful pictures ...and beautiful animals too. How did you come upon such a gorgeous animal with no fencing in between your lens and the animal? I love the first one because you've captured it in it's natural surroundings and it's just stunning. The Second picture is outstanding! How far were you from this animal? And those were in Colorado huh? My son lives in Colorado, I'll have to tell him to keep an eye out. What part of Colorado was this taken? Colorado is such a beautiful state. You did a perfect job on these photos! I love them. How long did it take before you got the chance to get the perfect shots?

gessman Loc: Colorado

Sugarpenny: OH my Gessman, those are beautiful pictures ...and beautiful animals too.

Thank you. Canon and I will take credit for the first part and the rest will be left up to a superior power.

Sugarpenny: How did you come upon such a gorgeous animal with no fencing in between your lens and the animal?

There's not too many fences in National Forests.

Sugarpenny: I love the first one because you've captured it in it's natural surroundings and it's just stunning.

Those things pretty much make wherever they are their "natural surroundings and after all, who am I to argue with that.

Sugarpenny: The Second picture is outstanding! How far were you from this animal?

Thanks again. I was probably around 50 ft., give or take...

Sugarpenny: And those were in Colorado huh? My son lives in Colorado, I'll have to tell him to keep an eye out.

I'm sure he's seen plenty of this kind of stuff. It's pretty much everyday stuff here, unless or until you want to see it.

Sugarpenny: What part of Colorado was this taken?

Rocky Mountain National Park is the name of the area but I haven't seen any swings or slides in there. There's no swimming pool either. It's just a great big area of the national forest system that has been set aside and is called that. It includes the highest continuous paved road in the U. S., Trail Ridge Road. It is indeed a place of wilderness beauty and abounds with wild life.

Sugarpenny: Colorado is such a beautiful state.

I couldn't agree more.

Sugarpenny: You did a perfect job on these photos! I love them.

Thank you once again. You're way too kind.

Sugarpenny: How long did it take before you got the chance to get the perfect shots?

I used to hunt a little but now I only do it with my camera. I've been here 30 years and have been doing this all that time. I had a clue where to go when I want a little challenge and am usually not disappointed.

macmarti Loc: Texas

These are amazing!! The photography plus the gorgeous animal!!! I can even see a dragon fly on his antlers in the second photo!

Sugarpenny Loc: Mid Michigan

I thought I saw a dragon fly too and then I thought maybe it was grass or something...glad you cleared that up for me...again..gorgeous shots.

manna Loc: Australia

i am a total amateur and i have no idea on the camera things that you posted with the pictures but i have to say that they are gorgeous shots!!! The second one would have to be my favorite!

Jingluo Loc: Pennsylvania currently

Oh my, Gessman. These pix make me long to get back to Colorado permanently, sigh. I've seen elk up at RMNP and in the town of Estes Park where they are 20-30 ft. from the road. I heard them bugling as well as watched a couple bull elks fighting each other, which is a magnificent sight to see in person. Thanks for sharing these fantastic pix.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thank each of you for the compliments. The stuff on the horn is grass and mud but there is a bee on the other side of the rack that I didn't expect to get in the shot. Started to clone it out - thought it was a blemish until I took a closer look. It's a hard life, enjoying picture taking and living in Colorado. My wife paints and those are the reasons we're here - for the subject matter and it is appropriate to say, "it's everywhere." I got interested in photography while living in Texas and with everything behind someone's fence, longed for a place where I could go roaming through the woods like I did in Arkansas as a kid. Came to Colorado on vacation, went back, sold out, and moved. Haven't regretted it. I would just like to have some of my youth back to begin again. It hurts more when you're old even if you are able to keep a spirit of youth and enthusiasm going. I'm like Patton, "I love it, God, I love it."

Leah03 Loc: Iowa

Wow!! I especially love the middle one, I have lot's of family in Colorado, especially in Estes Park...the elk run wild,its nothing to wake up to a herd of elk laying down resting in the back yard...

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Man! You guys wanna get a room or something?..lol :)

Nice shots, Gess. I like the middle one best of all, just clone out that blade of grass coming up from the bottom, and I'd submit it to Field & Stream.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Being the son of a Southern Baptist Minister, I'm tempted to pass on the first question but I guess since he's not in a position to hear me I can go ahead and reply this time. uoi fsnb nryvhs! Uh oh, Sorry. Looks like my fingers got off the home keys. Shucks!

About the sprig of grass, thanks and thanks for the compliments. I have been discouraged because nobody has given me any suggestions for improvement. Maybe I just left it in there to see if anyone was awake and it looks like you're the only one. :-) It looks better but it blows the elk's cover, don't you think? You can see him a lot better now.

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Since he's in rut, I thought at first that this was drool running off his muzzle; the pic is outstanding, but I think editing it does improve it. Good advice about keeping some space in between. Those antlers ARE weapons, after all, and he knows how to use them.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Oh yow, they do know how to use those antlers, and thanks.

lindann

What lens did you use and what setting?

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Beautiful. I aspire to take wildlife photos like these. Thought I got some good ones in Yellowstone this spring, but they are no where near as spectacular as these. I would also like to know what lens you were using. A telephoto will be my next purchase.