Beartooth Pika

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 28, 2013190 views9 comments

During last year's autumn trip to Yellowstone, I spent a fair amount of time outside the park's NE entrance, up on the Beartooth Pass. Like the park itself, this region is teeming with wildlife, and I got some tips on good places to see pikas (though I was more interested in the weasels hunting them). I'd previously photographed these animals a lot in Yellowstone, but this particular location was far better than any I'd found in the park. Lots of colorful, lichen-coated boulders and loads of pikas perching on them. Stand around long enough and they'd come out and forage a foot or two away.

Canon 1DX
Canon 500mm + 1.4x TC
ISO 400
1/800th
f/5.6

Max

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 28, 2013 at 6:48 PM

This is lovely, Max. Great setting and perch with a nice echo of the subject in the bokeh behind it.
Soft light worked a treat.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 28, 2013 at 11:54 PM

Nice capture of this little guy. I do like the position you caught it in. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on October 29, 2013 at 8:36 AM

Hi Max,

I've always liked these little guys too - good choice of subject. I like the composition and how the Pika appears to be in mid-call - good timing on that. I'm not quite as in love with the background - I like that it's out of focus, and agree with Morkel about how the "echo" behind the Pika works well, but the contrasting light-dark shapes are a just a little bit intrusive to me (in this case meaning they keep stealing a little of my attention away from the subject). Overall though a very pleasing image...

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 29, 2013 at 11:21 AM

The perch and the attitude of the pika work great. I, too, was aware of the dark shapes in the background stealing my attention and wonder if you could lighten them a little without it becoming unnatural.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on October 29, 2013 at 3:14 PM

Great perch! Is he making his territorial call?

I would crop a bit tighter.

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

Comment posted by Guy Runco on October 29, 2013 at 9:59 PM

Really nice shot Max, pleasing bokeh and plenty sharp. Great work!

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on October 30, 2013 at 4:35 AM

Don't think you could improve on this excellent image I like everything about it.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on October 31, 2013 at 11:03 PM

Your photo brings out the cuteness of the pika, Max. I spent six days in Yellowstone in August, and saw just one pika. It was cute, too, of course.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on November 6, 2013 at 3:50 PM

Nice catch, Max. I do find the darker areas of the background slightly distracting, but not bad. Perhaps you could lighten them a bit as suggested already. Saw a weasel up there very briefly this summer, didn't get any shots.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments