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kkart — Bull Elk in Velvet
Published: 2009-07-06 13:54:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 13954; Favourites: 483; Downloads: 479
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Bull Elk in VelvetI really love shooting the Elk this time of the year, seeing their antlers covered in "velvet" is always neat. In another month it will all be good, as they start to pack on massive amounts of weight and shed their living organism velvet skin, and prepare for the rut. This bull will make quite a formidable opponent come September, challenging other males for rights to the females.
I captured this guy in quite a unique position, he and another huge male, teetering right on the edge of the Alpine Tundra with the wildflowers around 13,000 feet that had a drop off of nothing but straight down, several thousands of feet. The background you see is actually the mountainside of the Never Summer Range of the Rocky Mountains here in Colorado...shot using my Tamron 200-400mm lens.
Hope ya all like it!
---John
See more on my website http://jdebordphoto.com all work copyrighted.
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Comments: 144
I can feel like if I was in the mountain just by looking at this photo. This a great shot !
The composition is perfect with the elk on the left size and the rock on lower right corner. The depth of field on and only on the elk, the unfocused rock and the background add a good balance to the image.
The light is not so good but at 1pm you had no choice. The colors aren't very vibrant but it looks natural. If I had the luck to meet such an animal while hiking in the mountain, I won't be difficult with the light !
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John,
Nice composition here(with him taking up the left side of the image); you captured the Elk perfectly - and the colors look very natural. Although, the huge rock in the lower right corner could do without; it seems to me like it is actually forcing my eyes to look at the Elk and the background rather than the rock itself(I can't help but notice it). You also have a nice horizon going on, but you probably could have tightened the image in a bit more to the Elk rather than leaving empty space around him. Great job though, Fantastic shot of the Elk!
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What a beautifully put-together picture, it looks very even and alligned- your photography is stunning! This actually looks like a pretty young bull, but one day he'll be a beautiful 6x6 bugler.
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Hello !!! I allowed myself to featured this work. I find it excellent. I hope you don't mind. Good continuation.
[link]
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I have featured this marvelous piece of your work @ [link] 
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wow i feel like im there, great capture. i was just taking pictures of some deer recently. elk are beautiful animals :]
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Yes they are and very majestic too!
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Moo? I jus feel liek being silly.
So clear, you can take a photo and it seems like I'm right there. Wow!
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The focusing is spot on and with the lens at your possession, the DOF plays great.
Love the blues of the mountains as they add to the shot something special.
As for composition, i think that the left half of the rock closer to the screen can be cropped off. As that part of the image isn't adding anything to the photo. Getting rid of it, still maintains the surrounding/atmosphere. I would also selectively burn/darken the stone closer to the screen. The shot might have benifited with the subject looking anywhere but at the ground 
But still it a lovely shot that has other details that reveal the beauty of subject & its surroundings
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oh wow, thats an impressive rack and
it's definitely not taken in a zoo
so I love it even more!
the focusing and colors are truly stunning too,
hats off pard!
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am in agreement that this is a stunning moment with wonderful detail and sharpness. However the midday light detracts from some of the wonderful colours. I personally adore the feel of the backdrop and the way your lens has blurred it!
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Owwww now this one is beautiful. It just looks oh so natural, as if you were there watching.
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I most definitely do like it!
I don't think I've ever seen an elk outside the zoo (if those were even elk 
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I'd like so much to touch those antlers, but I don't think I hate my life so much to attempt it! 
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I really like the way that you've isolated the Elk against the distant mountain, which makes his shape much easier to pick out and appreciate. There's definitely a sense of being right on the edge of the mountain and peeking in on an animal that seems unaware of your presence.
The foreground rock is a touch big to be so out of focus, for my taste, but it's not a big complaint!
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Thanks, in wildlife photography, you take what ya can get!
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Yeah, that's certainly true. It's only a minor nitpick to be honest, and on reflection isn't quite as bad as I though initially. I guess there should always be a cooling-off period!
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i certainly do
green grass, brown bull elk
and the background almost appears blue
perfect
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Hi John
You've been featured in my journal -
[link]
Have a good one!
Josie
P.S: Absolutely superb shot, the composition is just amazing. That blue in the background is incredible.
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Incredible photography !!! 
Best regards,
Anna
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they are awesome animals, huge
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great depth of field and lovely blue tones of the background, would have been awesome if he was looking at us though!
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Ya take what ya can get when it comes to Wildlife photography though
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An amazing look at the natural wildlife what a setting!
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The color and texture of the mountains in the background is perfection for the contrast of the animal. He's beautiful. I can just smell that wonderful mountain air.
And it's seriously starting to sound (& look) like you live in paradise. I'm jealous.
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hehehe thanks, it honestly is paradise here! If you ever get the chance to get out this way, hop on it!
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Beautiful shot, you can almost reach out and touch the velvet
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Well you certainly succeeded 
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