The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Another of the 2024 moments that didn’t quite land on my Favorites list at the end.
This encounter occurred during my traditional spring visit to Yellowstone. On my way down the east side of the park, I got caught up photographing sunrises, and bison, and whatnot, and therefore missed out on seeing a grizzly bear family catch and kill an elk calf.
All was not lost, however. By the time I arrived, the sun had crested the hillside behind the animals, and it was tremendously difficult seeing, much less photographing the scene with all the glare. I did my best, and was actually quite pleased to capture this moment, which I felt told the story well: the cow elk lingering on the scene in hopes that her calf might still be alive, or perhaps trying to distract the predators (it was far too late, of course).
Technical Details
Canon R3
Canon 100-500mm
ISO 200
1/1600th
f/9
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Max, in of itself without the back story, the image is a remarkable one for me. Just seeing the alert stance of the elk and two bears says it all. The backlighting I think adds to the drama of the situation. With your backstory, it is truly a great story of our natural world doing what it does. I can’t help but wonder what percentage of calf’s survive in that ecosystem. I don’t have any constructive feedback as I am sure you weren’t interested in getting in between the animals business to sort out better lighting or composition.
Thanks, Keith. I feel like there wasn’t much I could do better, except practice my MF skills more at home beforehand. I’ve found that AF with my mirrorless bodies really struggles at times, especially in back- or rim-lit situations. It’s rather odd, given the distinct lines and contrast we get from furry backlit subjects, but too often I’ve had to revert to manual focus to line things up properly. I missed a few shots in this series I would’ve really wanted to keep, so I was thankful that this moment in the story was preserved, at least.
I too struggle with AF at times during wildlife/bird encounters. The AF settings for modern cameras can be daunting. Your experience is a good reminder that having strong “basic” skills like MF in your back pocket will pay off!
