This time he was real close. I could see the pores in his nose. Note that this bull still has some velvet hanging on. This time I had to over-expose +1 to open up the dark area of his neck.
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| Shag Bull Crossing the Buffalo II |
Information on Elk and Wildlife Watching and Photography in the Buffalo National River Region.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Picture of the Day
I got my first elk crossing the river in the fall season today. He was surprised to see me, but gave me some great poses. This is one. I got so close to him I had to dial back with my 100-400 zoom, my "go to" lens.
I shot this in RAW and overexposed slightly. I like mixed light and I seek it. Light was crossing from my right.
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| Shag Bull Crossing the Hailstone |
I shot this in RAW and overexposed slightly. I like mixed light and I seek it. Light was crossing from my right.
Nik Software Plugins on Sale
I recommend the plugins from NIK software. Fairly recently Google purchased NIK software and the good news is that the entire suite of NIK plugins are now available for $150. This is a terrific deal.
http://www.niksoftware.com/nikcollection/usa/intro.html
Why do I like them so much? Well you can get to a great result with your images without wrestling with the Photoshop learning curve. If you are clear what you are going for, this is the best package out there.
When I first discovered Viveza, part of the package, I bought it after a 15 minute review. I paid nearly as much for Viveza as what the entire package is selling for now. There is much more in the total package.
If you love black and white, there is nothing better than Silver Efexs Pro. It has won international awards. Part of the package. So is HDR. Noise reduction. Sharpening. And so on.
Know this. I don't take money from anyone for an endorsement. This set of plugins runs in Photoshop and Lightroom. You will find these plugins indispensable tools for your entire work flow from noise reduction to sharpening. $150 is a steal. I paid $400 (that was a steal). These plugins will elevate your work to another level and they are pretty easy to learn.
Do the free trial and prove it to yourself. Once you get them, you will buy them.
http://www.niksoftware.com/nikcollection/usa/intro.html
Why do I like them so much? Well you can get to a great result with your images without wrestling with the Photoshop learning curve. If you are clear what you are going for, this is the best package out there.
When I first discovered Viveza, part of the package, I bought it after a 15 minute review. I paid nearly as much for Viveza as what the entire package is selling for now. There is much more in the total package.
If you love black and white, there is nothing better than Silver Efexs Pro. It has won international awards. Part of the package. So is HDR. Noise reduction. Sharpening. And so on.
Know this. I don't take money from anyone for an endorsement. This set of plugins runs in Photoshop and Lightroom. You will find these plugins indispensable tools for your entire work flow from noise reduction to sharpening. $150 is a steal. I paid $400 (that was a steal). These plugins will elevate your work to another level and they are pretty easy to learn.
Do the free trial and prove it to yourself. Once you get them, you will buy them.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
7x7, Junk Yard Dog 2013
This is JYD, Junk Yard Dog for 2013. He is the bull I saw this morning showing rut behavior. This year he is a 7x7 and very early to the rut. If past experience means anything, he will still be in the rut at the end of the season.
This year he definitely has "game". Big body, and a nice rack. Note that his nutmeg brown rack was scraped of velvet a while back. He has been early all around, other bulls still have some velvet.
The first fights are just a couple of weeks off. Countdown to the rut continues, will you be ready? If you want to photograph this big guy, get to the valley early, around 7AM. Today at least, he was down by Smith Creek at the south end of Boxley Valley.
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| JYD, Junk Yard Dog 7x7 Curly Eye Guard on His Left |
9/3/13 Elk Herd Locations in Boxley Valley
Elk have shifted to the south end of Boxley Valley probably concentrated by haying in much of the north end of the valley. I would expect this pattern to hold for at least a few days.
As mentioned in my prior entry, there is a nice 7x7 running cows in the south end. He is a the second bull this year showing rut behavior.
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Elk Herd Locations in Boxley Valley 9/3/13 |
9/3/13 Big 7x7 Bull has Joined Early Rut
This morning I was surprised to see a 7x7 running cows in the south valley field bounded by Smith Creek on the south. No bugling, but he did exhibit some rut behaviors.
This is a nice bull with good symmetry and a pretty big body. He will definitely be in the hunt this year for breeding rights.
Picture to come later today. He has nice forked tines on both sides bringing him to 7x7. Nice looking bull. I believe this is JYD a couple of years older.
More later.
This is a nice bull with good symmetry and a pretty big body. He will definitely be in the hunt this year for breeding rights.
Picture to come later today. He has nice forked tines on both sides bringing him to 7x7. Nice looking bull. I believe this is JYD a couple of years older.
More later.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Rut Coverage Plans -- Current Viewing Conditions
I will take a little different approach on covering on this year's rut. It will include maps and herd locations as before, but it will also include periodic essays and tutorials on photography. I am working on my first book on photography so there will be some spillover.
For me there is nothing that ignites my passion for photography like the elk rut. Sure, I love wildflowers and landscapes, river shots, otter, mink, and butterflies, etc. But nothing is the equal photographing the elk rut. For these next 3 months elk are my focus.
I am certain your mental approach is the primary key to your success as a photographer and sets the stage for your continual improvement. Fundamental to this success is getting clear on basic issues that go very far beyond f-stops, shutter speed and so on.
Photography is about creative expression, not hardware. Creative expression is about being clear about what you are going for. I will have a lot to say about that. Time to start your "bucket list" and pre-visualize what elk shots you are going for. If you are clear on what you seek, your chances of anticipating the opportunity and getting the photo improve a lot.
Current Conditions
Elk viewing is still in a summer pattern. Hot summer temperatures have shortened elk viewing. Elk head for cover now often by 8AM and come out fairly late to avoid the heat. The good news is that today temperatures are backing off some.
This last 2 weeks a lot of Boxley Valley has been hayed. The timing of this is just about perfect for the rut -- leading it out by about 2 weeks. For now elk are pushed back a bit, but I expect that to change as things return to normal.
For me there is nothing that ignites my passion for photography like the elk rut. Sure, I love wildflowers and landscapes, river shots, otter, mink, and butterflies, etc. But nothing is the equal photographing the elk rut. For these next 3 months elk are my focus.
I am certain your mental approach is the primary key to your success as a photographer and sets the stage for your continual improvement. Fundamental to this success is getting clear on basic issues that go very far beyond f-stops, shutter speed and so on.
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| Bull Fight from 2012 -- Eye to Eye Near Ponca |
Current Conditions
Elk viewing is still in a summer pattern. Hot summer temperatures have shortened elk viewing. Elk head for cover now often by 8AM and come out fairly late to avoid the heat. The good news is that today temperatures are backing off some.
This last 2 weeks a lot of Boxley Valley has been hayed. The timing of this is just about perfect for the rut -- leading it out by about 2 weeks. For now elk are pushed back a bit, but I expect that to change as things return to normal.
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