Another one from my recent trip to Yellowstone with Dale. One morning we found 4 moose grazing on willows near the Lamar River. This was the only one that had not dropped his antlers yet. We were able to walk out on a trail to get a bit closer than the road would allow (but still in compliance with the regulated distance).
Canon 7D2
800 mm (Thanks Dale)
1/1250
f8
ISO 400
Tripod, slight crop for comp, luminosity mask, levels, curves, selective color adjustments, sharpened in CCPS.
C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,
Rachel
02-16-2015, 10:46 AM
D. Robert Franz
It's nice to start seeing moose again on a regular basis in Yellowstone. Before 1988 (year of the big fires) they were quite common with many impressive bulls visible in a number of areas within the park. The fires greatly reduced the amount of mature forests in the park which is vital for the survival of the Shira's moose. Fires also burnt the willows along the riparian areas in many part of the park as well. Willow twigs/buds is a primary food source for the moose. Moose was the one species that was really negatively affected by the fires. Wolf reintroduction has lowered the elk herds which allowed for the willows to regenerate giving the moose more to eat so we are now seeing a modest increase in moose numbers.
A nicely composed image. I like how the willows frame the bull which is giving us some good eye contact. Great detail throughout and in the snow... Much easier to achieve on a sunny day! I can see a great catch light ii the left eye and even one in the right eye probably reflected light off the snow.. Seems to be a bit dark on the flanks of the moose but that is probably just monitor variations.... Well done Rachel.
02-16-2015, 01:44 PM
Steve Canuel
Hi Rachel,
I like the framing of the bushes on the opposite corners. Exposure, color, and detail look spot on, feels like I'm looking out a window at the scene myself.
02-16-2015, 02:32 PM
Steve Kaluski
Hi Rachel, I quite like the idea of having the bushes in either corner with the Moose in the middle creates a nice diagonal line to me. Love the habitat, the light has created some great contours. Would agree with Dale about the dark flank, but that might also be attributed to the light reflected from the snow???? Overall, looks well exposed.
TFS
Steve
02-16-2015, 02:50 PM
Rachel Hollander
Thanks Dale, Steve and Steve for the kind comments. I see what you mean about the flank but I don't think it's choked. It seems to have a sheen either from being wet or from a reflection off the snow as Steve suggested.
Thanks again,
Rachel
02-17-2015, 03:35 AM
Dumay de Boulle
Gorgeous PP (Nice texture and IQ) and the exp on the snow is perfect. I just don't feel the comp works. For some reason for me either more on the right would work better or central. looks like you ad a amazing time in Yellowstone. I dream to go there.
02-17-2015, 08:13 AM
Rachel Hollander
Thanks Dumay. Funny, my crop was to move the moose off center :Whoa!:
02-28-2015, 03:22 PM
Gabriela Plesea
Dearest Rachel,
For me the comp works and the subject is well positioned off center -very much to my liking:)
Cannot imagine what this chap would look like without his gorgeous weapons/antlers? His fur coat resembles dark chocolate to me (I like that too, very much, for it stands out so well against the white of the snow), lots of detail in the snow as well and I presume the footprints in the BG belong to Mr Moose?
You had an amazing trip, and so fruitful in terms of photography, your PP work here is faultless IMO so all that is left for me is to congratulate you on a series of Yellowstone images that make me want to see more!