Desert Bighorn

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 8, 2010138 views7 comments

Hi all, this is my first post over here in Fauna--I'm mostly a die-hard Avian guy--but I found this nice desert bighorn a couple weeks ago and thought it was worth sharing.

This was taken at the top of the Spencer Trail, a couple thousand foot climb up the Vermilion Cliffs in Glen Canyon Natl Rec Area. It's a pretty remote area, and the bighorns are definitely not accustomed to people as they are elsewhere. Here, the wind masked our scent and sound, and we were able to get a nice view of this bighorn. I like the setting and the frozen action here.

Canon 7D, 100-400 @ 400mm, handheld.

1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400. Crop to 43% (7.7 of 18MP), with no more room in front.

Comments and critiques appreciated, larger version available.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on April 8, 2010 at 11:50 PM

Well done. Nice separation of the Bighorn from the background. And great action freeze.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 9, 2010 at 1:00 AM

Brian, excellent catch in mid-air.
Nice detail and BG.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 9, 2010 at 1:03 AM

I like that you caught all four feet off the ground. The leading lines of the rocks lead to the sheep's landing spot, which I think is a positive, and might have been even better at the moment of touch down! Desert Bighorns, according to my reading (not experience) are much less common and much less approachable than Rocky Mountain variety. That makes this capture more special. Technical elements of the exposure look fine to my eye.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by István Pénzes on April 9, 2010 at 5:07 AM

Hi Brian

Excellent shot. Well exposed and processed.

István Pénzes
Gyõr, Hungary

Registered on January 12, 2010, 35 Posts, 192 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 9, 2010 at 9:29 AM

Great shot! Not much more to say that hasn't already been said. Wish I had taken it!! Thanks for posting.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on April 9, 2010 at 1:56 PM

Nice shot, great action!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 10, 2010 at 9:38 AM

Love the action pose and the beautiful background

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments