Elk Scrapes on Aspens

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 18, 2014254 views11 comments

I am not sure where to post this one so here goes for landscape but maybe flora or wildlife.
This old growth of Aspens are on a high mountain ranch above Ouray, Colorado next to a Elk path where the herds travel to and from water. This is a very remote ranch closed during winter.
The old leaning Aspen in right frame has many years of scrapes from a few feet from the ground to over six feet which cover a very long period of growth.

Sony a700
16-80 Zeiss zoom at 80mm that converts to 120mm on half frame.
hand held
LR 5.2 raw
PS 5 corrections
C&C welcomed

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on January 18, 2014 at 8:13 AM

Hi Rick!

The aspen trunks and lush green forest floor complement each other well. If it were mine, I might consider cropping out the dark trunk on the left border and dodging the dark foliage in the foreground a touch. A pleasing image over all.

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 18, 2014 at 8:30 AM

A fresh Elk scrape.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 18, 2014 at 8:31 AM

Elk trail with old scrapes in lower left frame

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 18, 2014 at 8:34 AM

I like the dark tree in left frame to keep eyes from bouncing around and out of frame. Leaning tree with scrapes does the same in left frame. Thaks for the comment Randy and keep on shooting.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on January 18, 2014 at 3:49 PM

I tend to agree with Randy on the crop from the left, although I like the dark shadow in the fg and the dappled light throughout. You've got good separation on the trunks and a very nice image. I could be wrong, but the close up of the tree with the rub, looks more like teeth marks, perhaps from a porcupine.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 18, 2014 at 5:22 PM

Gary,
The rancher told me these were Elk scrapes.
go to

http://davidmoskowitz.net/2009/05/western-colorado-aspen-forests-and-wildlife-of-the-high-lonesome-ranch/

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 18, 2014 at 9:52 PM

This is an excellent look at a group of Aspens, RIck. I like the emphasis on the tree on the right set against the business of the grove. Based on what I've seen in Rock Mountain NP, these trees have barely been touched by the elk and yes they do look like Elk scrapes.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on January 19, 2014 at 8:28 AM

nice light and colors, the place looks very interesting

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on January 19, 2014 at 1:05 PM

Very cool. I like the dappled , middday light here. You handled the exposure very well

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 19, 2014 at 4:22 PM

Very nice Rick! I like the light and color in this very much. Your larger version makes this scene very inviting!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on January 20, 2014 at 6:25 PM

Nice dappled light in this Rick and you handled the bright light very well. Very nice scene and info. Well done.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments