show me your best are you looking at me shots

Bobster wrote in post #19119055

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19118810

SYS wrote in post #19118806
Thank you, Charles. Even though these are very gentle animals, I don't go close to them. The lens I used was Canon 70-200mm, shot at 200mm focal length and cropped a bit. I'd say I was about 30 yards away or farther.

Thank you! I would not think you would WANT to get very close to most any wild animal!

200mm on FF? that's closer than I'd want to get without something between me and it!

This guy was Alpha on the local golf course, he had quite the harem of cows. After taking this, I noticed a couple starting to get real close with their iPhones. Had to stop them (they had zero idea) and explain that the bull would charge and gore them without a second thought.

Elk antlers look nice and blunt while they have their spring coat (still dangerous), but they sure like to sharpen them up during rutting season!

I "LIKED" this post for both your comment AND your extremely wonderful photo!!

Excellent shot!!

All the Elk photos are getting me hyped for the Rut. Coming soon to a mountainside near me!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2jCK​PXX

5280Pics wrote in post #19119091
All the Elk photos are getting me hyped for the Rut. Coming soon to a mountainside near me!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2jCK​PXX DSC03691 by Noah, on Flickr

Beautiful!

Bobster wrote in post #19119055
200mm on FF? that's closer than I'd want to get without something between me and it!

This guy was Alpha on the local golf course, he had quite the harem of cows. After taking this, I noticed a couple starting to get real close with their iPhones. Had to stop them (they had zero idea) and explain that the bull would charge and gore them without a second thought.

Elk antlers look nice and blunt while they have their spring coat (still dangerous), but they sure like to sharpen them up during rutting season!

Great shot, Bobster !

I was hiking with my daughter in Rocky Mountain National Park a few years back, when this big guy appeared from nowhere, and started giving us the dreaded hairy eyeball ! Almost immediately, I saw his girlfriend, standing in shallow water on the other side of the trail.
We backed away semi-gracefully, and headed back from whence we came !

This was with a a 60mm macro (EF-S lens, on my old 50D body)..... so he was too close for comfort.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …28bull%29-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A

hammer418 wrote in post #19119097
Great shot, Bobster !

I was hiking with my daughter in Rocky Mountain National Park a few years back, when this big guy appeared from nowhere, and started giving us the dreaded hairy eyeball ! Almost immediately, I saw his girlfriend, standing in shallow water on the other side of the trail.
We backed away semi-gracefully, and headed back from whence we came !

This was with a a 60mm macro (EF-S lens, on my old 50D body)..... so he was too close for comfort.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …28bull%29-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

Majestic!

fotoi wrote in post #19119106
Majestic!

Yes, they are majestic creatures. Many thanks for your comment.

hammer418 wrote in post #19119097
Great shot, Bobster !

I was hiking with my daughter in Rocky Mountain National Park a few years back, when this big guy appeared from nowhere, and started giving us the dreaded hairy eyeball ! Almost immediately, I saw his girlfriend, standing in shallow water on the other side of the trail.
We backed away semi-gracefully, and headed back from whence we came !

This was with a a 60mm macro (EF-S lens, on my old 50D body)..... so he was too close for comfort.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …28bull%29-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

That is a wonderful/stellar shot! And yes using a 60mm lens you were waay too close!

avondale87 wrote in post #19119043
Great series Wayne, but I love these sort of shots where they've got a bit tangled with the surroundings

I think that was my favorite shot of the day. Don’t know how I ended up with such high aperture and ISO in the others.

5280Pics wrote in post #19119091
All the Elk photos are getting me hyped for the Rut. Coming soon to a mountainside near me!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2jCK​PXX DSC03691 by Noah, on Flickr

hammer418 wrote in post #19119097
Great shot, Bobster !

I was hiking with my daughter in Rocky Mountain National Park a few years back, when this big guy appeared from nowhere, and started giving us the dreaded hairy eyeball ! Almost immediately, I saw his girlfriend, standing in shallow water on the other side of the trail.
We backed away semi-gracefully, and headed back from whence we came !

This was with a a 60mm macro (EF-S lens, on my old 50D body)..... so he was too close for comfort.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …28bull%29-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

Wow, 2 close shots! felt naked enough taking this guy at 400mm on my 7D2 in the middle of the RMNP meadow!

LoneRider wrote in post #19119033
Yes, Elk shed their antlers in the spring and grow new antlers each year over the summer months. While growing they are covered with a soft tissue called “velvet” this provides a blood supply for the antler growth. Then as the rut (mating season) approaches, the antlers stop growing as the blood supply is cut of. The velvet essentially dies off the remaining soft tissue is scraped away by rubbing on trees leaving the exposed antlers.

Interesting. Many Thanks Wayne, appreciate that.

Bobster wrote in post #19119150
Wow, 2 close shots! felt naked enough taking this guy at 400mm on my 7D2 in the middle of the RMNP meadow!

That is where my shot was from as well. I go every year for the Rut. I have had a few Bull's walk within 5-6' from me. The day of that last photo I posted was the craziest day I have ever experienced in the park. There were 7-8 big bulls marching their harem's into the valley. I didn't even notice one of the largest Bulls until he bugled right behind me about 6 feet away. I think a few drops of pee came out!

Bobster wrote in post #19119055
200mm on FF? that's closer than I'd want to get without something between me and it!

This guy was Alpha on the local golf course, he had quite the harem of cows. After taking this, I noticed a couple starting to get real close with their iPhones. Had to stop them (they had zero idea) and explain that the bull would charge and gore them without a second thought.

Elk antlers look nice and blunt while they have their spring coat (still dangerous), but they sure like to sharpen them up during rutting season!

Definitely a magnificent looking bull! Very nice shot!

5280Pics wrote in post #19119091
All the Elk photos are getting me hyped for the Rut. Coming soon to a mountainside near me!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2jCK​PXX DSC03691 by Noah, on Flickr

Gorgeous shot of this dandy looking bull!

hammer418 wrote in post #19119097
Great shot, Bobster !

I was hiking with my daughter in Rocky Mountain National Park a few years back, when this big guy appeared from nowhere, and started giving us the dreaded hairy eyeball ! Almost immediately, I saw his girlfriend, standing in shallow water on the other side of the trail.
We backed away semi-gracefully, and headed back from whence we came !

This was with a a 60mm macro (EF-S lens, on my old 50D body)..... so he was too close for comfort.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …28bull%29-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

Fantastic bull, hammer! Excellent shot of this ol' boy! You were definitely closer to him than I'd ever want to be.

Bobster wrote in post #19119150
Wow, 2 close shots! felt naked enough taking this guy at 400mm on my 7D2 in the middle of the RMNP meadow!

I made sure the other photographers that were around, were in front of me, felt better knowing they were older than me too!

This guy hangs out at my sisters place, so my visits aren't all of Elk
40% crop

Two very different subjects, but both are very nicely photographed!

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19119170
Fantastic bull, hammer! Excellent shot of this ol' boy! You were definitely closer to him than I'd ever want to be.

Thank you, Mike. I assure you, it wasn't on purpose ..... he just came bounding over that rise directly behind him, and there he was ! Eek !