Donner & Blitzen Sparring Reindeer

[Steve Kaluski]

The great thing about these trips is the diversity of animals you get to see, although these guys were not that much in abundance sadly, although there were small groups of them peppering the islands that we landed on. These chaps had come down to feed on the grass and what was left of any flowers. They were quite happy to eat, then spar together, locking & twisting their antlers, but not of that hard 'crashing' sound you normally hear from say stages or elk. The grass had a nice, wet dew which is what you can see in places.

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Svalbard Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) sparring
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 HH
Exposure: 1/2500s at f/5.6 ISO2500
Original format: Landscape, crop from the top & RH side
Processed via: LRCC & PSCC

[haseeb badar]

Hi Steve -- Very nice interaction,the Reindeers look nice and healthy and the dew adds to the greenery.

A bit more separation from the BKG would have been an ideal scenario but i feel the moment is more important here .

TFS !

[shane shacaluga]

I like the awkward head angle of both reindeer and that the eye is visible on both

Nice greenery and the dew adds to the environment

Does the RHS deer have horns on its forehead or is that the front arm of its antlers?

TFS

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Steve - Nice action, well captured and the colors look spot on. So did you see any arctic foxes this trip?

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

A bit more separation from the BKG would have been an ideal scenario

Not quite sure how you would achieve that Haseeb?

Does the RHS deer have horns on its forehead or is that the front arm of its antlers?

It's all part of the 'Antler' rack Shane.

So did you see any arctic foxes this trip?

If you were with me here Rachel then I think you might have been pulling my leg. We yomped about a half might up, a very steep incline traversing each time and as this was a quick landing where anything goes, I made the mistake of the 500, 200-400, 70-200 & two 1Dx. Fit, I was after, gambling like a Mountain goat, was then, Arctic Fox no, we kept chasing it, hence the climb!

[Rachel Hollander]

Sorry Steve. Most of the images I took of the reindeer were when we were waiting for the arctic fox to wake up. That's why I asked.

[Steve Kaluski]

Sadly, our Arctic Foxes were far more mobile and seen more from a distance, but there is always next time.

[haseeb badar]

Steve what I meant was a lighter BKG like snow or sky in the background from another angle , might have isolated the antlers quite well in that case .

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve had a laugh while looking at your thread / title ...... during this visit i was listening to ´Metallica ´ and their Antarctica concert on " You Tube " , just on the other side of the planet as your Reindeer´s .

Lovely sparring frame of the reindeer , all sits nicely in the image , as expected from your posting .
I am just wondering that they are sparring as the antlers do look like being still somehow in velvet ...... which i find quite unusual ... being in velvet and do some sparring ???!!! AS the velvet is quite sensitive against damage , but i might be wrong with both ??
Nevertheless it does look good in total . Love the tonal range and the greens do look lovely and natural .

TFS Andreas

[Morkel Erasmus]

Cool moment here Steve, always enjoy seeing images of these guys.
I think you made the most of this, given the setting on the incline, and the colour contrast between grass and reindeer helps them stand out despite the proximity from the BG.
I would crop even tighter from top and bottom?

[Stuart Philpott]

Hi Steve had a laugh while looking at your thread / title ...... during this visit i was listening to ´Metallica ´ and their Antarctica concert on " You Tube " , just on the other side of the planet as your Reindeer´s .

Lovely sparring frame of the reindeer , all sits nicely in the image , as expected from your posting .


I am just wondering that they are sparring as the antlers do look like being still somehow in velvet ...... which i find quite unusual ... being in velvet and do some sparring ???!!! AS the velvet is quite sensitive against damage , but i might be wrong with both ??
Nevertheless it does look good in total . Love the tonal range and the greens do look lovely and natural .

TFS Andreas

I picked up on the velvet too Andreas my curiousity is added to yours,i'm unsure if there is more at play here. Steve is this the real thing or just sort of a warm up for what might follow. Metallica made me smile

Steve, stunning image like the symmetry of the two bucks/stags unsure on correct nomenclature. I sort of wish you had got around them a bit more ,but I'd guess you were deliberate in the diagonal pose??

take care

Stu