I would like to know what everyone thinks of this photo. I spent 5 months in Yellowstone and it was my first summer ever using an slr. It was taken in Yellowstone, mid september, 9:30 am. This elk was facing his herd of cows, so I couldn't get a shot with him facing me. he is closing his eyes either because of the sun or because he is napping. Taken with rebel 2000, 100-300 5.6, fuji superia 100, @ 1/250 5.6. Apeture priority. Thanks!



-- marc turgeon (marcnh@hotmail.com), December 04, 2000

Answers

I like the way the antlers are juxtaposed with the dark background. My problems with the photo are: The animal is looking away and has his eyes closed. There are soooo many elk photos floating around, I'd be more excited about this one if he was doing something (anything) other than laying around. The static nature of this image lacks "That Great Moment" that my favorite photos possess.

-- Todd Caudle (tcfotos@home.com), December 04, 2000.

One of the things you have to realize is that it doesn't matter why a photograph has problems, it's the problems that matter. So even though you can expain why the eyes are closed and the head is pointed away from the photographer, it doesn't lessen their negative impact on the image.

I'm not trying to be overly critical, just pointing out the real world. I'm sure the photo means a lot to you because you were there, but don't forget the viewer wasn't!

I think the crop of the foreground is better than the earlier version you posted, but the horizontal crop would be better with the Elk looking into mode space on the left

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), December 05, 2000.

Fine, he's facing the other way and that's not so great. But what's wrong with a photograph of an elk taking a nap? They do that from time to time, so I don't see why it is so wrong to document it in a photograph.

This isn't the most effective portrait of a napping elk though. Next time you are photographing an napping elk, try to look for a composition which conveys a more content and relaxing mood. In this particular picture, there is so much contrast between the antlers and the dark background that they tend to dominate. This, for me, sets a more unsettled and aggressive mood. Antlers don't make me feel calm and comfortable.

Also, the elk is centred, and I think he might look more balanced a little closer to the right edge of the picture.

Overall, not a bad picture given what you likely had to work with at the time, but I wouldn't buy it from you :)

-- Patrick Feltmate (pfeltmat@tupmcms1.med.dal.ca), December 08, 2000.