Saturday, May 16, 2009

Camera Critters: Elk County Trip-Part 2



While I enjoy photographing any type of elk, whether it be cow, calf, or bull, it is always most interesting to concentrate on what is the most outstanding at a particular time of year. Now elk and deer are physically less attractive than that any other time of year, as they are in the process of shedding the coat from the winter to summer hair and they have a somewhat ragged, disheveled appearance.

The Ragged Winter Coats

The calves will be born shortly, providing exceptional photographic opportunities, and the other animals will be more photogenic as well, since they will be completely changed to the summer coat.

For now however, the bulls are of primary interest, but they were hard to find during my recent trip. This changed on Wednesday morning when I encountered a beautiful mature bull and spent well over an hour photographing and filming him.

Mature Bull

This one should have an exceptional rack this year. The bull pictured was completely acclimated to humans so I suspect that he is one of the bulls often found in downtown Benezette. (I only found one bull in town during my recent trip)


Which Bull Is This?

For more Camera Critters Photos, click Here!

17 comments:

Indrani said...

Wow! Fantastic! You got good images. Interesting text too.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Fascinating shots! I did not know that elks shed their coat! Interesting post!

Unknown said...

Beautiful images Willard. The last one is stunning.

Kerri Farley said...

He is gorgeous!!!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Willard: Wonderful capture of the maturing elk, you always make some neat captures.

said...

Majesty, thy name is elk!

imac said...

Wonderful Willard.

Safari post now up.

Keep an eye up for Dorothy in about 3 weeks when we back from holls.

Shelley said...

Just an amazing creature - your photographs were just outstanding!

Unknown said...

Excellent captures !!!

I really like that last one ... he's probably quite used to posing for the camera :-)

Brad Myers said...

It looks like there will be some nice bulls to photograph this fall. I hope to make there once before the rut and then spend a few days during the rut.

The Birdlady said...

I would love to see those guys...the head shot of the bull is stunning!

Adrienne Zwart said...

Wow, I really like the last one. I can see the velvet on his antlers.

Michele said...

Whoa!! This image is fantastic... I have yet to see one so beautiful as the one that you have put here.... stunning!

Anonymous said...

Incredible looking with the velvet. Nice shots Willard.

Gobsmacked

Tom said...

What a find it was to... Hope the new cars coping well... it sure looks as if it will. Thank you for giving me the chance to show off my older pictures. We got another engine fitted into my 1969 land rover a few weeks back.. my health is holding me back on getting it all sorted but hopefully it will be back on the road soon. You will be the first to know...:O)

Anonymous said...

I would like to know which bull that is. How close to town did you see him?
I'm looking forward to more of your Elk County Trip installments. It is nice seeing photos of a familiar area.
I'm also waiting to see if you got a photo of the "world's greatest elk"!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing the land the way it should be, instead of the strip mine. Great photos.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

They do look most untidy when they are shedding their winter fur. :)