Romantic pair

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 1, 20132,242 views7 comments

For the past couple of days I have been having some fun in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. The bison are shifting into full rut behavior, with always interesting action as the bulls vie for the cows acceptance. This image shows one of the strategies employed, where he keeps the she away from the main frenzy, staying with her, shoulder to shoulder until the time is right. It can work if a bigger guy doesn't come along and steal her attention!

D3S, 200-400 @400, ISO 4000, f8, 1/250

View large. Comments welcomed!

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on August 1, 2013 at 5:55 PM

I like the setting here with the mountain backdrop, Lon. Also, the diagonal line in the FG adds a lot of dynamic. Good exposure and placement of the bison too. Only thing that bugs me is the grass protruding over the big guy's face. Was it possible to shoot from just a little higher vantage point?

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 1, 2013 at 7:44 PM

They are such beautiful mammals Lon and the setting here is outstanding. I agree with Morkel's excellent critique. I would be very happy to call this mine !!!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 2, 2013 at 12:19 AM

Thanks, guys, for the excellent feedback. This is looking up slope, so a different perspective was impossible. I did make half a dozen frames, however, and there is at least one with a little less grass in his face. It looks like I will need to process that one!

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on August 2, 2013 at 2:29 AM

Lon,
Apart from the grass already mentioned this is a marvelous image.
Do you have any frames when they crested the ridge?

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 2, 2013 at 1:34 PM

My thoughts are similar to Morkel's here Lon. A pity you could not shoot from a higher vantage point, that would have made a significant difference. One of the many challenges wildlife photographers have to deal with.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 10, 2013 at 11:43 PM

I have never seen a bison in the wild but I would think getting detail on the face would be difficult. So, you've done very well in getting not only that, but catchlight as well. I like the way the two are moving up the slope, and I also like the dark bg and the bright and light foreground as well.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 22, 2014 at 6:53 AM

I especially like the sense of the much larger environment one takes away from this..
Not usually the case for a relative closeup like this. Excellent.
And thanx for the back-story on this behavior as well Lon

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments