Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

I'm borrowing a song title from Thin Lizzy, because it seems so appropriate. There is a group of bachelor elk that makes frequent, wintertime visits to the golf course across the street from the Anvil Compound. Some refer to this group as the Boys' Club. When the Boys appear, it is usually at dusk. They might stick around until just about sunrise, but they are usually gone not long after that.

The other morning, the Boys' Club parked themselves on the hole, across the street, and stayed there for the entire day. It was like a spa day for the Boys. They mostly lounged, all day, with very little in the way of grazing. Long about dusk, they moseyed off, to do whatever bachelor elk do, in the off season.

The elk picked an absolutely gorgeous day for a spa day -- warm and sunny. I took advantage of the situation, and took way more shots than I normally would have taken. It took me a couple of days to thin the herd, as it were. I'm left with quite a few keepers.

I'm going to post two shots. Why post them in FYC? Well, I'm not really interested in oohs and ahs, though, I admit that getting those is flattering. I'm more interested in reactions to my treatment of the photos. What I did is not particularly important. What is important is whether it was effective.

I wanted to achieve a look that was different from one of my straight wildlife shots. Obviously, I want my subject to stand out, but I really wanted to showcase the superb form of the animal's body. In essence, I wanted the photo to have a "studio" finish to a shot that is, clearly, not a studio shot. To some, that might mean the end product is a bit too dark. I've actually always been partial to darker shots like that. (In an earlier version of each of these shots, I ended up with something that was too dark, even for me.)

So, here we are. A couple of members of the Boys' Club.

(Download)


(Download)

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I like the darker look, Anvil! It does present a more "finished" look than many wildlife shots.

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Thanks! That’s what I was looking for. There is also a bit of a matte finish.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

To me they don't look "dark" in the least. The photos look beautifully finished, with appropriate saturation and details. Really nice!

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Thanks!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Perfect title. And lovely, pin-sharp, shots. Its a pity he was standing slightly lower than the road, but we can't always have everything, as all photographers know.

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Thanks! Later on in the day, the elk moved to a spot where they were below me, but the light was nowhere near as nice as it was for these shots.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Hi, Anvil,
Good shots.
I much prefer #1 (the BG in #2 is unfortunate unless you are better at selecting him out of it than I am.)
I would consider a vertical crop of #1 for a portrait. He is obviously recumbent on the far slope of that green
and the incompletely captured pose just doesn’t cut it for me.

What luck to have repeated opportunities for a variety captures of those magnificent beasts!

Dave

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Thanks, Dave. I can see how a portrait crop of #1 might work. My general tendency is, first, to try to get the entire animal in the frame. If I can do that, I usually crop to keep the entire animal in the finished crop. I don't always work this way, but it is my tendency. Consistency is probably overrated.