Winter Blues

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 19, 201172 views5 comments

Ill spare you from another bear post this week

Was looking back at my archives from two winters ago and found this. This is a Himalayan Blue Sheep during the winter rut. This guy posed no challenge to an older bigger (and "blue-er") male that managed to get the girls. He was busy building strength for the future. That little clutter of shrubs is as good as it gets for them in winter.

The dark blue black on the face and front quarters is where they get their name from. Its velvety and shiny to look at in person and more apparent in winter. This one however is not the most impressive in terms of blue and the pose doesn't help to show it either. It does however show how hard it is to spot them when they are still. I was super lucky to see them close.

Nikon D5000, 55-200 VR @ 200mm, f8, 1/320, iso 400.
Ladakh, Northern India.

Anand

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 19, 2011 at 10:35 PM

Anand, I do like this image. Very nice pose the blue sheep ram is in. I think you handled the exposure well, seems to be detail throughout most of the photo. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Guy Runco on August 20, 2011 at 8:54 PM

Cool shot Anand - nice detail, and I like the comp as well.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 21, 2011 at 2:24 AM

These animals must live a hard life if that is the food that has to keep them going in winter! Good detail and very well exposed indeed Anand. The look back pose also is very appealing. My only small nit with this is that the brush is protruding from behind its head.Interesting that this sheep has got your name written on its butt!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 21, 2011 at 2:24 PM

Well done! The only suggestion I can see is to have a little more space under his feet and less overhead, just to give of sense of him living in a vertical environment. But that is a very minor thing and this works well as posted. Thanks for sharing!

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on August 22, 2011 at 3:58 PM

Thanks guys !

@vincent: It was a strategically placed. Thats where most eyes go

@lon: There is not much room there. I did get a few other wider vertical frames that better show off the steep narrow gorge.

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments