A Gentle Nudge

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 26, 201811,528 views17 comments

On the way home from Nome, I stayed a couple days in Anchorage, specifically to find bears and moose. My friend's "neighborhood" on the outskirts is very wooded, and she sees moose almost every day, including several newborns.
I was overjoyed to find this mom and very young calf within 15 minutes of starting to hike around.

This little fellow had his own ideas of where he wanted to go, and mom had to regularly nudge him in the right direction.

Unfortunately, I had too much lens, so this is the best I could salvage. I would have preferred to have more choices in cropping from full bodies! This is pretty much full-frame.

MORE unfortunately, this area is not far from where a grizzly killed a hiker a few days later, and badly mauled one of the volunteers searching for him. (Yes, I had anti- bear spray)
http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Eagle-River-man-missing-after--486028121.html

Anchorage, Alaska
2018:06:13 13:21:36
D850
500mm
1/1000 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: +1/3
ISO: 1250
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Nishand Venugopal on June 26, 2018 at 8:57 AM

A beautiful family moment...full of emotions. Thanks for sharing

Registered on January 3, 2017, 123 Posts, 84 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on June 26, 2018 at 12:09 PM

"too much lens" I think not. The close crop provides an intimacy that a wider one cannot. A close look at mom's eye reveals her vigilance in protecting her child. Excellent image.

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

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on June 26, 2018 at 4:54 PM

This is a lovely mother/calf interaction that you wouldn't have been able to capture as well with a wider lens. Kudos for this sweet view. Scary story about the grizzly. Especially in Alaska, humans seem to be the visitors in the home of wildness, and sometimes we aren't so welcome. Glad you were brave and also safe!

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on June 26, 2018 at 7:58 PM

Sandy: especially when viewed large, the composition is spot on. The mother forms a diagonal which leads the eye right to the calf and the rusty brown coloration of the calf is contrasted nicely against the greenery. Excellent details in both animals. Congrats! Richard

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

Comment posted by Kathy Snead on June 26, 2018 at 11:05 PM

Sandy

Great picture and glad you came out alive. I think you had just enough lens!

I always ask, did you test your bear spray? Someone told me to do this years ago and I always test a new one. That way you know for sure how to use it. Make sure the wind is blowing away from you when you test it though an make sure no one is nearby :).

Registered on April 6, 2017, 104 Posts, 397 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 26, 2018 at 11:33 PM

Kathy - The airlines no longer allow bear spray even in checked luggage, so all the confiscated cannisters at the airport may be borrowed for free, and surrendered again when you leave. Great idea!
Foolishly, didn't think to test it - will for sure this next time. (going back in 2 weeks to try to get older golden eagle chicks in a very accessible nest. )
Personally, bear spray doesn't give me much confidence - I don't want a bear ANYwhere near that close!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on June 26, 2018 at 11:52 PM

Aw, what a little cutie! I like your composition, especially given the circumstances. Looks really sharp, too! Great shot, Sandy.

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on June 27, 2018 at 1:04 PM

This is a great view of the active babe! I, too, like mom's eye... Bear spray, by all accounts of those who are supposed to know, is definitely your best protections short of hiding out on the couch. Kudos to you for being there!

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

Comment posted by Ed Williams on June 28, 2018 at 1:11 AM

This is such a nice shot Sandy. The focus is where it needs to be on the calf. Of course there could be a lot of other wonderful poses with these two, but I really like the attentive nose of mom nudging the calf. So sad about the bear. It must be a really hungry spring bear. Sad.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on June 28, 2018 at 2:34 AM

Very nice, intimate shot of this cow and calf, Sandy! Glad you're enjoying Alaska and also glad you missed the problem grizzly! Both colors and detail are excellent in this shot and the flowers add to the serenity of the scene. I like this composition also as it puts the focus on the calf and the interaction with Mom. Nicely done!

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 28, 2018 at 11:08 PM

A lovely composition, Sandy, with excellent detail in both the calf and the mother. Well done.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on June 29, 2018 at 12:05 PM

I also think this crop works quite well. It emphasizes the near tough between mother and calf, and gives the calf more of the spotlight in the frame.

Max

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 2, 2018 at 10:44 AM

Outstanding capture of the calf mom relationship. Really like the detail you have in the coats of both moose. thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 7, 2018 at 4:27 AM

Congrats Sandy!!!

An EP well earned!

Sweet Photograph devil

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 8, 2018 at 3:03 PM

Congrats on the pick Sandy, nicely composed. devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 15, 2018 at 12:58 PM

Hey Sandy,
Congratulations on the well deserved WP - Awesome Image
You gotta love Babies . . . laugh

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

Comment posted by Jay Levin on July 19, 2018 at 6:07 PM

I too like the intimate crop, Sandy. This is a superb shot.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments