An oldie, but a...
This image is a bit of an "oldie"- dating from WAY BACK in 2009...just before cameras were invented!
But recent experience is that - at least to associate editors of newspapers - it's a bit of a goodie! I posted it because it provides a nice segue into an explanation of why I've been a bit absent in this gallery in the last week or so. Long story short, in recent weeks my time has been totally consumed by some wolf conservation and advocacy work I've been involved in (publishing articles, organizing a letter-writing campaign, etc.)
I've always had an emotional connection to this image - simply because the whole situation surrounding it was very moving and personal for me (in a sense like John L.'s recent excellent Red Fox image). While the subject here comes almost across like a tame puppy dog, I can assure you this is a fully wild wolf - outside of a park or protected area, and in a zone where it may be shot 12 months a year. For some reason I still don't understand it allowed me the privilege of spending some very "intimate" time with it. The entire story behind the encounter can be found on my website (link below).
Anyway...the generosity of this wolf "giving" me this image may be paying off for IT - this shot (and one taken only minutes later when it laid down) is becoming a favourite for newspaper editors to accompany some wolf advocacy articles I've been writing regarding the treatment of wolves in British Columbia. My guess is that the editors like the puppy dog look. The focus of the advocacy work strays too far from photography to get into here - interested parties can simply click on the "Blog" icon below to find out more about it if they so choose.
Subject: Grey Wolf ([i]Canis lupus/i]) lounging in the daisies (Ox-Eye daisies)
Location: Southeast BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D3
Lens: Nikkor 600mm f4 VR. Hand-held. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/125s @ f5; ISO 400. -0.67 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: Moderate - this is about 80% of full frame
More details about the image can be found here on my website:
http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/mammals/wolvesandkin/detail_10.html.
Comments and critiques welcomed - probably best to view the larger version prior to doing so!
Cheers...
Brad
Comments
9 commentsAs an Albertan, and living just off of "Cowboy Trail" in the SW corner of the province, I am surrounded by ranches and ranchers who help provide at least a somewhat informed perspective of the complexities of living with predators (for us, wolves, grizzlies and cougars primarily). Most studies and even rancher anecdotes recognize wolves (and the others in the big three) aren't exactly decimating herds of cattle. While there are losses every year to predation within the ranching community, it's frankly not as high as one would expect given the government's "open range" policies in the forest land and high country.
Back to the image--while probably not your most drop-dead, awe-inducing artistic masterpiece (of which there are many), there is a remarkable and endearing quality to this frame. One wonders if it needs some clockwise rotation, but somehow that "tilt" (real or apparent) adds a touch of something as well. The wet coat, natural surroundings and great techs all contribute to a solid look, but it's obviously the eyes that are the winning element here.
Beautiful.
And thanks--on all fronts.
You could be right on the image rotation - but have to say that I can't find a darned thing in this image that could be used as a reference to level it! I THINK it's level, but really can't back that up with anything but gut feel!
On the depredation rates by wolves on livestock in BC: BC's mirror those of Montana (and, presumably Alberta, tho' I don't have Alberta's figures at my disposal): most recent figures - in ALL of BC - of the more than 210,000 cattle on the range, 162 were lost to predators in 2013-2013 (one year period) and that's ALL predators (wolves, bears, cougars, coyotes, sasquatches, and possibly UFO's). Quick calculation and you find that's 8 one-hundredths of a SINGLE per cent (.08%). And, ironically, all indications are that current management practices are making this figure higher than if we left the wolves alone (fracture a pack through killing and the probability of it preying on livestock goes UP, presumably because you've interfered with their ability to take down natural prey).
But thanks a bunch! Biggest trick in capturing this image was hand-holding the 600mm f4 lens at 1/125s (years of wood chopping probably helped, eh?).
Cheers...
Brad
It can be so nice to have a cooperative model!
Good work helping to protect the wolves of BC.
Clinton