 |
Fine Art Photography
| Home | Nature Photography | Studio / Portrait Photography | About Us | Contact Us | News |
 |
A bull elk rests in front of Palette Springs.
Copyright Wayne Higgins 2005
I caught this big bull resting
after exhausting himself trying to take over a harem from another even larger
bull. Palette Springs on the lower side of Mammoth Hotsprings makes a perfect
background. This photo was shot with a
Sigma 300-800mm lens handheld while resting it on a nearby fence. Not a recommended
platform for this monster glass!
Yellowstone National Park is well known for it's abundance of wildlife. Often called the "Serengeti" of North America, Yellowstone offers opportunity to view a number of large mammals including bison, wolves, coyotes, bear, moose and bighorn sheep. While the bison are an impressive sight and being lucky enough to see a bear or wolf is an experience to remember the splendor and magnificence of a large bull elk in rut is second to none! We took care in planning our photo trip to coincide with the elk rut in hopes of catching these majestic creatures at their finest. The elk rut begins in late August to early September winding down in mid October. At this time the bulls will begin rounding up the cows in harems and competing for the right to breed. The sound of bugling elk can be heard throughout Yellowstone as the bulls announce their presence, bring in the cows and let other bulls know that this is their territory and they are ready to fight for it! The experience of standing on a mountainside in the cool morning air and hearing a big bull bugle through the misty landscape is sure to raise the hairs on the back of your neck!
Beware however, these animals are large, dangerous and at this time of the year have little tolerance for intrusion in their activities. Keep a safe distance and use a long telephoto lens to protect your well being as well as that of the wildlife. Always remember that wildlife is just that...wild which means unpredictable. Be aware of your surroundings as often other bulls will arrive to challenge herd bull. Being caught between two or three rutting bulls can be extremely dangerous and people have been injured by charging bulls. The activity of photographing should be done with great concern for the welfare of the animal so as not to impose stresses upon them as they go about their normal activity. Their survival depends on it!
 |
A bull moves in at dusk, Mammoth Hotsprings.
Copyright Wayne Higgins 2005
This beauty moved in as the light was leaving, chasing out a smaller bull and taking over a large harem of cows and calves.
Elk are abundant in and around Yellowstone and capturing frame filling images is often easier than one might expect. Lenses in the range of 300mm and up will provide for the needed reach. A tripod is a necessity as they are most often seen in morning or early evening hours when light is low and long lenses contribute greatly to motion blur. One of the challenges in shooting elk as well as other wildlife is the fact that the rarely stay still. Use as fast a shutter speed as possible to try and reduce blur and shoot multiple frames. As the elk are readily found, take the time to maneuver for a good angle and keep an eye on foreground and background elements.
More than 30,000 elk make their home in Yellowstone. In the autumn the bulls will gather the cows in harems accompanied by any calves and he will rigorously guard his harem as other bulls try to take over control and breeding rights from him. Mammoth hotsprings host's a large herd which can often be found in the area near the visitor's center. Lamar Valley, the road to Norris and along the Madison river are also good places to find elk.
Part two coming soon
Click here to Sign our guestbook and add your comments
|
|