Old Warrior

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 11, 2014878 views15 comments

Sometimes an opportunity for a portrait arises. Bighorns happen to be one species that I have good year round access to living near Jasper, so you may have noticed that I have posted a few portraits of these guys over the years. This survivor isn't pretty and I wouldn't hang it on my wall perhaps, but I thought he had a lot of character with his beaten down horns and that tortured expression.

Nikon D4, 600VR, 1.4 teleconverter, 800 iso, f8, 1/640, small crop. LR5 and CC Photoshop, from June/13.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Karen Kane on January 11, 2014 at 4:30 PM

WOW. What a massive old guy! Love the expression you've captured Gary!

Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments

Comment posted by jack jaeger jr on January 11, 2014 at 5:45 PM

Your title Old Warrior is perfect for this guy. Great capture !

Registered on April 2, 2012, 26 Posts, 355 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 11, 2014 at 5:48 PM

Awesome image. Full of emotion, it captures this guy perfectly.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on January 11, 2014 at 7:46 PM

Great shot, Gary. He does indeed have an anguished expression. I think that's one of the fullest curls I've seen on his right horn and, boy, is that left one banged up. He's probably seen quite enough in his life time. Really nice detail on this guy and a wonderful neutral BG to show him off all the better. The exposure is right on. Looks like you had a cloudy day to soften the light.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 11, 2014 at 9:04 PM

Super detail and the expression is mesmerizing; my eyes return continually to it!

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 12, 2014 at 1:58 AM

Gary,
Extremely fine shot of the "old warrior", great detail

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on January 12, 2014 at 8:42 AM

Hello Mr. Gary,

Yep, this guy has a lot of stories to tell...and your image tells us THAT story well! I almost feel sympathetic agony when I look at this, tho' I suppose it's totally possible that this guy is doing just fine in his old age!

Techs look great here...no nits at all on them.

On the creative side - my only thought is that if this is a small crop only, perhaps it might be worth tightening it up even a little more? This shot is all about what's conveyed in the head, and I find how the body enters the frame to be a bit on the awkward side? Just a thought...

Cheers...

Brad

PS: I have a resident herd of these that live only about 2 km from me with easy access to them. Unless I have guests I almost never "bother" going after them (too resident? too local?). Think I should start visiting them more - thanks for the idea and inspiration!

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on January 12, 2014 at 11:29 AM

Love this portrait Gary - great expression and details...

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

Comment posted by Chris Brookhart on January 12, 2014 at 3:20 PM

I love Bighorn Sheep so much! Your portrait and title of this image are perfect. It reminds me of a character from one of the Hobbit movies. Like some have said, it expresses anguish, pain, exhaustion but at the same time I have to keep looking at it over and over and each time notice something that I had not the time before. As was said, maybe a tighter crop of mainly the head since it seems to contain much of the emotion of this image. Great photo!

Registered on January 29, 2010, 10 Posts, 36 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 13, 2014 at 12:13 AM

I felt this was superb as posted, but after considering the recommendations for a closer crop, I think I would try that as best option. I love the character of those horns. What a subject...and you found a great perspective.

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

Comment posted by Ashleigh Scully on January 13, 2014 at 6:34 PM

Awesome so different and original. I love it!!!

Registered on November 4, 2013, 36 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 14, 2014 at 12:25 PM

Look like he has been around for many years from the worn down horns (at least he still has teeth!). Wonderful image that conveys a true survivor of the wild. A very compelling and interesting portrait, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on January 16, 2014 at 12:28 PM

Gorgeous portrait, excellent as is for me.

Grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on January 17, 2014 at 4:54 PM

Hello Gary

Great capture with this mature guy!
He certainly exudes Character!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on March 22, 2014 at 11:04 AM

Amazing unusual pose with great depth of emotion.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments