Alberta Bighorn

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 2, 2014765 views6 comments

Hi everyone! Well, it seems winter has arrived in Alberta! I really enjoyed the summer weather lingering for a while (we didn't get a ton of autumn weather), but now I have to say good bye to it for now and welcome winter (but I really don't want to).

So since I'm not ready for all the snow that's falling, here's a photo from this summer of a bighorn ram. I really like the yellowish leaves in the background. I loved photographing this guy as he's just so photogenic.

I hope y'all like it! Thanks for lookin'!

Nikon D7100
Nikkor IF-ED 300mm f/2.8 VR lens
ISO 320
1/1000sec @ f/4
Handheld
Custom vignette
Cropped to approximately 80% of original

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 2, 2014 at 8:25 AM

Very nice Jenaya. I too like the leaves in the background. I like the slightly uplifted head. It's as if he is contemplating something.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 2, 2014 at 9:25 AM

Love how he's offset against the dark BG, Jenaya. What was in the BG - knowing your style I have to presume it's naturally like that...

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 3, 2014 at 9:13 AM

Hi Jenaya,

Classic pose on this ram...very nice. And I like simplicity in images, so this one certainly fills that bill!

I'm a bit torn on both the yellow leaves and the background. Those leaves do add a nice touch of colour, but for me they compete a bit with the ram for attention (which is one problem with simple images...if there's very few elements in a shot they have to be in a bit of a hierarchy with respect to "attention-grabbing" power). I'm wondering if just toning them down a bit might help? Just a thought.

The background - not sure if that's natural or enhanced (darkened) in post (and that's not a problem), but to me it feels a bit stark and unnatural? It does make the ram "pop"...so that's a positive. And...it's entirely possible that the bighorns near you differ from those in my necks of the woods (but they're probably separated by only around 100 km as the crow flies) - but the ones here have much lighter butts...this one almost looks "burnt down" (darkened in post) too much? But that could be totally natural...

Looking forward to seeing more...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on November 3, 2014 at 9:19 AM

Jenaya: yours is a very unusual and very good portrait of a bighorn. The dark background and yellow foliage are a big plus. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 3, 2014 at 9:48 AM

Jenaya,
Like Brad I am unsure about the background, which looks unnatural to me

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

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on November 3, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Hey Jenaya,
Outstanding portrait of this handsome fellow who gave you a great pose. I love the BG and the yellow leaves and feel they both add to this well balanced composition. The detail and colors of the Ram are very pleasing to the viewer as per your usual work.
Well done . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments