Fond Memories

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 6, 2012321 views11 comments

I've had a lot of wolf photos to go through in recent months, thanks in large part to some good luck in Yellowstone. However, in this case I'm going back to my visit to Vancouver Island last October, where I was fortunate to see and photograph some coastal wolves briefly.

I just got the news that a couple wolves from this pack, presumably the alpha male and female (pictured here) were shot and tossed in a dumpster this week. If it was indeed the alphas, this could mean bad news for the rest of the pack. I had hoped to see them again this year, but now the future looks uncertain.

Regardless, I feel fortunate to have at least had this brief encounter.

Canon 7D
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC
ISO 800
1/640th
f/8
Shot from a rocking boat. Not fun!

Max

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 6, 2012 at 1:26 PM

Love the soft colours and pose here.
She seems a little tilted - does this need some CW rotation, or is it an illusion from the different un-level areas?
If the wolves were indeed killed, this is a tragedy and very sickening. It's almost as if there is an innate fear of wolves that some will never get away from, as unfounded as the fear is.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 6, 2012 at 1:34 PM

Sandy, it's possible that it's tilted slightly, but it's really hard to tell, even in the original file. It was very windy, so all the vegetation is sweeping to the left, and she is on a bit of a slope. I'm sure I could rotate it a bit and it would like fine, but leaving it as is does remind me how gusty it was... it's like she's battling to stay upright.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 6, 2012 at 3:04 PM

I agree with Sandy on the rotation. If the wolf were just standing on uneven ground, the uphill legs would be flexed and the body leaning to the left. Otherwise, a good documentary shot.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on April 6, 2012 at 8:13 PM

Really nice shot Max, I agree with the others about the cw rotation. Horrible news about the wolves, hopefully the Canadian authorities are on the case and justice will be served.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 7, 2012 at 2:40 AM

Love the low angle and the expression on the wolf here Max. The clump of grass on the right is a nice compositional balance for the wolf. (I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope the Canadian officials will do much Guy. Alberta's government kills hundreds annually in my area through trapping, shooting, poisoning...).

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on April 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM

I love the low angle here Max, that IMO is key to the success of this image.

I do agree with the rotation correction suggestion; a minor visual improvement, even if it is not really tilted. My only 'nit' concerns the 3 OOF whitish branches in the BG (at least I think they are in the BG) as they are a real eye sore.
Very sad to hear that wild wolves are being shot. I do not know the situation well enough to judge, but I do know that it is very upsetting to hear or see this happening to the wildlife we love so much (in my case lions).

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 7, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Sweet photo Max, especially because the conditions were shooting in were so challenging.
I am extremely bummed to hear about their un-neccessary deaths though, I don't understand why some people have to be so radical and cruel.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on April 7, 2012 at 9:06 PM

Awesome image, Max! Great pose from the wolf. Really nice detail in the fur! It's interesting how much different the coastal wolves look than the wolves in Yellowstone or out here in Alberta! Too bad there is a sad ending for the wolf pictured here

, I really do hope the pack does alright without them! Best of luck if you go back this year!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 8, 2012 at 10:29 AM

I never tire of your wolf images, Max, and love the POV particularly in this one. Soft light served you well too.
It's so sad to hear about the senseless killing of the wolves.

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on April 9, 2012 at 6:13 AM

Great catch, Max! I love the look and the pose of the wolf. What a sad news about the killing of these beautiful animals!

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on April 10, 2012 at 5:37 PM

Very nice picture Max. I really like the pose and how the wolf is looking at something. I agree about the grass is balancing the image very well. I'm sad to hear somebody could kill this wonderful animals.

Oscar

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments