While in Yellowstone National Park last Spring I observed multiple doe pronghorn sheep all alone in the sagebrush looking like they were about to give birth judging by the size of their bellies. On my last day while leaving the park I saw one close enough to the road to photograph using my large lens. Fortunately, there was a convenient pull-out allowing me to park my vehicle. I decided to set up my tripod and just observe her for a while. I was rewarded after about an hour by her giving birth to a calf. As it turned out, this was actually her second calf. She went behind a nearby bolder and came back with the second calf. One of the calves in the picture is less than an hour old and the other one can’t be much older. It is incredible to see how mobile they are after being out of the womb for such a short period of time!
Feedback Requests
The challenge often when photographing wildlife is getting trying to get your subject to stand out, but also look realistic. Any comments addressing this challenge would be most helpful, but also any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Pertinent Technical Details
I processed this image with Topaz Photo AI first to remove the small amount of noise present and lightly sharpen the image. Next, I used the new subject selection capability in Photoshop Beta to allow me to both darken and remove vibrance from the background. Finally, I used the depth of filed blur filter in Photoshop Beta to try to blur the foreground and background. Most of these tools were used to make the animals stand out slightly from the sagebrush, but hopefully not in an unrealistic way.
Specifics:
Canon R5 on a tripod
Canon 600 f4.0 using a 2x extender resulting in 1200mm. ISO 800 and 1/1250sec exposure at F11
What an amazing capture! Your patience and instincts were well rewarded. I don’t see evidence of any work on the BG. I could wish for a little more room on the right but it’s understandable if it isn’t there. You caught the one calf’s legs showing well. A little off the top (or more on the bottom) would balance the subjects a little better for my taste.
Evolution has selected for quick and easy birthing and early mobility in animals such as this. A good example of our characterization of “…just got up and walked out.”
I am insanely jealous of this shot! I once saw something similar while zooming down the freeway in Utah and couldn’t take time to stop. Lovely capture, the animals in motion, and the tight crop is necessary to show the miniature antelope staying close to their mother. If you had caught them nursing we couldn’t see them as well.
Willem, this is a fine look at this Pronghorn and her fawns. What a great experience to watch the birthing and then find out there was another. Your photo shows off the trio nicely. If you have the pixels, I’d give them a bit more room both on the right.
Thank you @Diane_Miller , @james7 and @Mark_Seaver for your nice for your nice comments and constructive critique! I have added a new version of the image above. The new version of the image is full frame, i.e. no cropping.
Nice work! Pronghorn fawns have been elusive to me! I always see them right next to the interstate but never when I am on a road where it’s safe to stop! It was fun to see this over on Facebook too!
