Cooling Moose

As one who has unsuccessfully tried to photograph mooses on both sides of Canada -- in the Algonquin Provincial Park (located, as I recall near North Bay where I stayed on a motorcycle trip in my past) and the Banff Park out in Alberta where I also camped in Johnstons Canyon on another motorcycle trip.

I have but one picture of a moose to show for it, and that one a juvenile shot from the window of a moving car shot on the road from Banff to Lake Louise.

So when I see a moose image of this impeccable clarity and perfection, especially in the larger view or it, I cannot help but recall the poem that Arlo Gutherie wrote about mooses, which I will copy here in honor of your image, Brad. As one who has tried and failed to capture images of this, the largest member of the deer family; a potentially dangerous animal even if you offer it an apple.

Mooses Come Walking by Arlo Gutherie

Mooses come walking over the hill
Mooses come walking, they rarely stand still
When mooses come walking they go where they will
When mooses come walking over the hill

Mooses look into your window at night
They look to the left and they look to the right
The mooses are smiling, they think it's a zoo
And that's why the mooses like looking at you

So, if you see mooses while lying in bed
It's best to just stay there pretending you're dead
The mooses will leave and you'll get the thrill
Of seeing the mooses go over the hill

What an excellent shot Brad! Despite such a dark coloured animal your exposure is perfect and I love the rim light highlighting (pardon the pun) the “velvet” stage of antler growth.

Great light, great pose, great shot .. . well worth the intimidation.

Great shot Brad! Nice comp and well done with the lighting....moose like bears can be so tough because of their near uniform brown color.

nice refreshment, well done

Nice moose shot. No wonder he was grumpy, look at all those mosquitoes. I like the composition and the position of the animal in this shot. And moose always look good standing in a pond.

I don't know whether a moose poem can be interpreted as a constructive critique, but it sure is a unique approach to image critiquing!

This is a cool Moose portrait Brad and I really appreciate the excellent detail evident in the larger version. The perfect isolation of the subject with him standing in the water without any distracting elements whatsoever also is a good characteristic. Personally I might have preferred the moose a bit more to the right in the frame.

This is a great image Brad. The larger image is a must see. Chet

I have not nits; nicely done. Hopefully you have additional versions, perhaps showing more of the surroundings? I especially like the good detail on the shadow side of the face and how you have the line of head/nose fitted on the diagonal of the frame.

Looks like he's gonna be a big boy ! I would love to find a bull with that kind of antlers out my way. Great image! I think if there was any way you could improve this, you might try positioning the moose a little more towards the right of the frame. That's just my opinion though.

This is a great image! The moose is so sharp, and I like that you got him in the water. I love going out with my family looking for moose but I haven't photographed them in the water yet. The colour in the background looks really cool, too.