View Full Version : You Wanna Rumble?
Andrew Merwin
11-17-2010, 02:48 PM
I hiked ~1-1.5 miles & climbed ~800’ in YNP to see, for the first time in my life (and I'm an old f**t), Big Horn Sheep in rut. Although I was unable to capture an image of the rams fighting, I did hear & witness it & I am here to tell you that it is spectacular. I will go back next year.
I spent 6+hrs. with a herd of 50-60 sheep that were so unconcerned with my presence that they frequently grazed with 10’ of me. It did get a little hairy when they chased & fought with each other & I was just something to go through.
I thought I would need my 500mm + 1.4, but at the last second I took the 100-400 instead. I am very glad I did since I was close enough that I frequently shot @ 100mm.
Here is one of the images that I made. The ram on the right is trying to get the ram on the left to fight by kicking him in the belly with a stiff front leg.
MrkIV, HH, FF, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400, +.33ev, 285mm, focal pt on right ram eye.
Sharpened, curves adjustment. I was sitting on the ground with my elbows on my knees. The day was cloudy & the temp @ ~18˚F.
Harshad Barve
11-17-2010, 09:47 PM
Lovely image , liked the pose of both and nice habitat colors too
TFS
Sid Garige
11-17-2010, 11:56 PM
Awesome details and exposure Andrew. Its all worth it. Like the comp and interesting behavior.
Correct me if I am wrong. I thought bighorn rut is around 1st and 2nd week of Dec. Are they rutting early this year?
Steve Kaluski
11-18-2010, 05:38 AM
Hi Andrew, really like this, things are really coming along for you now, perfect. Be interesting to visit some of those old images a while back and compare. ;)
TFS
Steve
Andrew Merwin
11-18-2010, 08:46 AM
Correct me if I am wrong. I thought bighorn rut is around 1st and 2nd week of Dec. Are they rutting early this year?
I thought that also & was surprised when I contacted the YNP rangers, asked when the sheep rut started, & they told me early Nov. Apparently, the sheep rut ends in Dec.—at least in YNP.
Be interesting to visit some of those old images a while back and compare. ;)
Steve, I did review some of my old images that I posted here, reread the comments, & got a very good photographic lesson. BPN has been extremely helpful to my improving my photographic skills. :D
Steve Kaluski
11-18-2010, 08:51 AM
Great Andrew, I'm pleased.
Don't think there is any point straying across the pond, you have everything you need here and in your backyard. :D
Andrew Merwin
11-18-2010, 09:04 AM
Great Andrew, I'm pleased.
Don't think there is any point straying across the pond, you have everything you need here and in your backyard. :D
Point taken.
Stu Bowie
11-18-2010, 10:17 AM
Good poses from both of them, and I do like the detail. Good comp, and the only thing I would do in this, is maybe tone down the BG a tad.
Rachel Hollander
11-18-2010, 08:49 PM
Andrew - well done, nice behavior, pose and comp. It's interesting how light the horns are, the ones i've seen seemed much darker. I wonder if it has to do with the rut.
TFS,
Rachel
Steve Canuel
11-18-2010, 09:49 PM
Fun to watch, isn't it. Detail and colors look good. I like the sage brush BG.
Andrew Merwin
11-18-2010, 11:18 PM
Andrew - well done, nice behavior, pose and comp. It's interesting how light the horns are, the ones i've seen seemed much darker. I wonder if it has to do with the rut.
TFS,
Rachel
Thanks all for your comments. I appreciate them.
Rachel, Big Horn Sheep range in color from light brown to gray-brown to dark brown. I think the color of the horns depends on the body color. All the sheep I have seen in YNP are light colored with light colored horns. The sheep I have seen with a dark body color have dark horns. I suspect their color has to do with the color of their environment; a light colored environment = lighter light colored sheep.
Rachel Hollander
11-19-2010, 05:53 PM
Thanks Andrew - the ones I saw near Slough Creek in 2008 had darker horns so interesting to know but it makes sense (so as not to stand out to predators).
Rachel
DanWalters
11-21-2010, 04:32 PM
Great comp and I like the interaction. It is quite the sight to see them going at it!
sam walker
11-26-2010, 04:36 PM
well done andrew. Worth the effort of the climb A true wall hanger.
Sam
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