Moose Calf

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 30, 2010126 views5 comments

We went to the dog sled demonstration at Denali National Park when we were in Alaska this summer. About the time they were going to start a Moose cow and this calf showed up munching willow leaves. They came right up to the area where they were set up for the demonstration. They tried all kinds of things to get her to leave and to keep the people with their point and shoot cameras from getting to close. Finally a ranger with an air horn came and the loud blast from the horn finally moved them away. The demonstration started about 15 mins. late.

Cannon 30D
Tokina 80-400
400mm
Aperture Priorty
Shutter 1/350
Aperture f6.7
ISO 400
Handheld
Evaluative Metering

The out of focus foliage to the right is a little distracting but I don't think I am good enough to take it out.

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 30, 2010 at 7:55 AM

Good photo, taken under unusual conditions. The OOF foliage is not IMHO that distracting as you have a good pose from the moose calf. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 30, 2010 at 11:52 AM

Terrific exposure on this calf. I like the willow surroundings, too. I think if you cropped from the right to maybe a 4x5 ratio, it would move the face off center and place the body line across the diagonal of the frame in a pleasing comp. Also I would carefully apply a selective darken to the oof spot to the right of the chest so it matched the surrounding vegetation. I like the catchlight and the rim lit ears. I would apply some additional sharpening to the face/head for larger viewing or printing.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 30, 2010 at 1:48 PM

Excellent exposure indeed Richard. I like how the eye contact with that catch light in the eye. I do agree with you that the very OOF vegetation is a bit unfortunate, but I would not suggest to even try to remove that. If only you would have been able to get closer or had more FL to work with you could have gone for a portrait, eliminating the OOF vegetation all together.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on August 31, 2010 at 12:31 PM

You did very well here Richard, nicely captured. Love the detail and environment.
Thanks for sharing.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 1, 2010 at 8:35 AM

Great expressions n interesting image !
I agree with Lon on some additional sharpening.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments