Enjoying the View

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 29, 2014209 views8 comments

Hi all - thought I'd take a break from bighorns for at least one post and share a frame from this spring of a couple of coyotes. These were actually only two of four coyotes we spotted on a low ridge overlooking a valley in Waterton Lakes National Park, but I preferred this image to my larger group shots.

It seems I have a snow theme of late...must be longing for the winter!

Thanks in advance for any comments and suggestions...please view the larger version if you have time.

Nikon D7100
Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4 IF-ED
ISO 720
1/800sec @ f/8
+0.3 EV
on "noodle" from truck window
cropped to app. 80% original width
A few branches cloned from behind the sitting coyote's back

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Ashleigh Scully on August 29, 2014 at 8:04 AM

Oh wow I love coyotes and this is one of the nicest shots I've seen of them. I love the composition and how they are on the ridge making them stand out against the sky. I wonder since it was spring if this is a pair because they look like they're together.

Great shot. One of my favorites from npn!

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

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on August 29, 2014 at 8:17 AM

What a great image! I really like this kind of pictures with more space in the frame. Nice composition, good control of the DOF very sharp and they are paying attention to something different from you, that makes, IMHO, the image even more interesting.
Recomendable see the large version.

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on August 29, 2014 at 1:08 PM

Wonderful image. Composition and lighting are right on. Even the bushes seem to be looking in the same direction as the coyotes. One very small nit: the lower left corner shaded area is slightly distracting for me.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 29, 2014 at 1:37 PM

Really pretty scene, John. I don't think it would be the same without the side lighting on the lower coyote's face. It really helps them pop out of the rest of the scene.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on August 30, 2014 at 10:53 AM

A technically solid image, very nicely executed and the pano presentation works well here!
One small nit after giving it a hard look is, I wish that bushes behind the Coyote ware slightly on the left side n not rising from the tail.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on August 30, 2014 at 5:43 PM

Thanks for the kind comments, everyone!

Jim - I know; that triangle of shaded snow in the LLC bugged me in processing and I pulled it back a little but decided not to clone it out.

Jagdeep - thank you and I agree! I actually did clone some branch tips that were emerging from the sitting coyote's back, but decided not to remove more even though I was thinking the exact same thing. Getting wildlife "models" to cooperate can be a bit of a challenge most times, eh?

Thanks again!

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 3, 2014 at 12:22 AM

Really loving this one John. Comp is awesome and this one would look great printed large over the sofa. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on September 16, 2014 at 3:30 AM

John,
I love the inclusion of the environment in this one, perfect poses

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