Bighorn Ram at Alert

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 24, 2012152 views4 comments

...well, at least as "on alert" as this guy ever got while I was with him on this day! This is the same magnificent ram as my previous post, and he spent most of the time I had my lens on him kind of drowsing and only occasionally looking around. But eventually, another group of sheep started coming down the cliffs above us and one of them kicked a stone loose or something and he looked up to see if there was something to be concerned about or not. I squeezed, and happily had my focus selector locked onto his eye and everything worked out on this sequence.

I'd be delighted for you to tell me which of the two images you prefer...this vertical shot with him looking up and off, or the horizontal with him looking right at me (though with much less interest than here).

And I'm happy to announce you likely won't see much of me around these parts for a week or so as my family and I are headed to Yellowstone for a second spring trip this year.

Hard to leave my second home (Waterton Lakes National Park) right as the bears are getting extremely active and the sheep haven't all headed into the alpine, but I'm pretty sure we'll have plenty of new adventures to keep us busy and smiling while we're away.

Thanks for looking and for your comments and suggestions...

Nikon D7000
Nikkor AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF-ED VR @ 270mm
ISO 1000
1/250sec @ f/5.6
-0.7EV to control highlight on top of muzzle
monopod

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on May 24, 2012 at 11:51 AM

John, my opinion is that I prefer this one, for two reasons. The other sheep in the background isn't present to distract my eye in this photo, and the angle in this photo does not show those few OOF plants behind through the curl as the first one does. Nice photo. On my monitor, it appears that both are a bit over exposed. Enjoy your trip to YNP.
Ralph Kerr

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 25, 2012 at 1:41 AM

Difficult call John, I kind of like them both, but if I had to choose I would probably go for this one. I like the low angle and the frame filling portrait makes the busy habitat less distracting. Enjoy your trip!

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 25, 2012 at 1:59 AM

I like this one a bit better too. But both images are valuable in my opinion. Sweet Portrait John!!! Have fun in Yellowstone.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 26, 2012 at 12:21 AM

This would be my choice, John. I like the perfect focused detail on the ram, even with a bit of competition from all the surrounding vegetation. I think the gaze angling away, along with the white edge of the far eye, pulls the viewer into the portrait. It feels more natural than one where the subject is staring directly at the lens.

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