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Serious Business


Serious Business
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-17
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon Eos 300D Digital Rebel, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-04 18:59
Viewed: 1187
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Todays posting is a bull elk, an ordinary bull elk to most people, but to me a really big deal. One that now I can laugh at but at the time was a real SERIOUS BUSINESS. We were in Jasper National Park, Lucy had just been released from the hospital the afternoon before, we had stayed at a cabin so she could rest for the drive home. We could hear this elk whistling close by, so I grab my camera and started out the door to see if I could find him. Lucy said I should take the bear spray with and I laughed and said I didn't need it. I went looking and found not only him but a lady from Germany that was doing exactly what I was. We talked and followed this fellow together for about a half hour, he then started to display so displeasure at our presence, so I said that we should move back, which we did, I then saw what I thought was an opportunity to out flank him when he went behind a row of smaller spruce trees. When ever I move through the forest I always move from one tree to the next, as I did this trying to get ahead of him, he came through the trees and we were eye to eye about 7 meters apart and he was MAD. Not sure what to do I had to make a decision, do I hold my ground and let him make the first move. Do I holler and try to scare him off, or do I turn and run for the tree I had just left that was 2 meters behind me. Well I choose the later, a choice I'll never know if it was right or not. Well as soon as I started to move I could hear him coming, I spun around the large lodgepole pine just in time as he hit the tree with one of his huge horns on either side of the trunk. Thinking I was safest against the tree in case he came around the tree I would have less distance to move around the tree. That turned out wrong to as he started to move his head from side to side trying to get to me, so I had to step away from the tree, this would make me run a far great distance if he came around the tree. At this point I could hear my dear wife's' words as I was leaving the cabin " TAKE THE BEAR SPRAY" damn only if I would have listened. I then got what I thought was a brilliant idea, so I fired my cameras flash directly in his eye from just around the tree, well let me tell you, he stood back and whistled that my ears were hurting, then he slammed back into the tree as if he wanted to go through it. Well we had a bit of a stand off, then I noticed he really couldn't see me because of the tree so I back directly away to another tree then another and another until I was clear. I meet up with the lady from Germany and asked what she was doing, she replied taking pictures, then I asked why she didn't try to distract him. To which she answered, " I didn't want him chasing me". As I entered our cabin Lucy said "WHAT HAPPEN", as I was white as a ghost and all sweated up. So when I was telling her, first she was really upset with me, then when I mention the lady for Germany she said did you give her our Email address to send us some pictures and we started to laugh. We didn't find her when we went looking. So that's the story of my closest shave with death all because I pushed the envelope when I knew he was already upset and because I didn't listen to my wife. By the way this was rut season when bull elk are most aggressive, but just remember when you are dealing with that placid looking elk in some national park anywhere, they are capable of hurting or even killing you in the blink of an eye.
jeanpaul, oscarromulus, scottevers7, eqshannon, jaycee, bobair, ramthakur, jusninasirun, pvs, valy67, Argus, dejo, mariki, marieproue, PeterZ, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To bobair: Thanks BobAdanac 1 01-04 21:15
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Critiques [Translate]

Bonsoir Rick
Belle présentation et belle prise de vue avec ce joli mâle qui a un panache de toute beauté et qui est après appeler sa femelle , les couleurs et la nettetée sont très bonnes, belle composition .
Au revoir et félicitation ....JP

Rick,
What a MAGNIFICIENT specimen.
Great photography work.
Mario from COLD COLD Calgary with WARM greetings.

Hi Rick,
Great shot, and a great story to go with it. He is a big looking bull for sure. A good story to make people realize that you need to be really caeful around alot of these creatures.
Scott

Stop! It is a scary tale and quite true I can tell by your chosen words...my heart was beating as if I were there...my goodness..and I have heard stories of my great' many times great great grandfather with single shot muzzle loaders loosing a fight with a simple deer more or less this one...A super image and even better story in notes..GREAT!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-01-04 19:46]

Hi Rick,

Poor Lucy - she must always be worried about what you are getting yourself into. A great story and a great picture. I wouldn't want to mess with him.

Jane

Hi Rick,
your note today sure goes to show that even if an animal appears peaceful there is a dangerous side as well.In my old home town of Peterborough Ontario there was an elk in a fenced off enclosure that would charge the fence if a person rode by on a bicycle.The zoo had likely had to replace the fence a number of times as it was getting quite bent out of shape the last time I saw it.The point is even with a fence between you and an elk ,the elk could still get you good if you get to near,me I stayed well back of that fence.This animal behaved like that all year long as well.I'm happy you came out of your ordeal without any harm done as I know just how large these big boys are.I like the natural look of this photo and the grass in his mouth.Just off to the right side of your shot I see another elk,was that a female? I'm glad that you are gutsy enough to take photos like this one and the one of your bear that surprised you without any negative outcomes.Stay safe and get ever more shots of the wonderful wildlife you encounter.Thanks for the photo and heart pounding note. Bob

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12250)
  • [2008-01-04 20:11]

Bonne capture Rick.
Merci et bonne année.
Joseph

Your adventure story truly sounds exciting, Rick, though it was a foolhardy one -- going by your indifference to Lucy's very sensible suggestion. Thank God you are still there to share the story and show us the picture of this NASTY ELK with a set of most impressive antlers!
The picture very clearly captures the hostile expression on the animal's face.
TFS and don't be impulsive next time while trying to shoot an Elk.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
  • [2008-01-04 21:30]

Hi Rick,
Just marking this wonderful post for now and will be back with a proper critique later.
Regards.
Sumon

Hello Rick,
He's looking serious indeed. Good pose in brilliant details.
Regards,
Jusni

Hi Rick,
Incredible rack on this guy! Good thing he didn't shish ka bab ya. Great close POV and pose. Good details and comp as well as note. TFS your adventure and the image.
Richard

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2008-01-05 0:04]

Hi Tick,

A great capture,the story accompagnied by it makes it even beter,as well an indication you always have to becarefull in nature,thanks for this capture and informative note

Paul

Hello Rick !
Great picture and great story ! I'm sure youre not ready to forget this day ! Must have been a great experience, though. Anyways, the picture is excellent. Nice details, natural colors, beautiful composition and POV, and this beautiful forest in BG... very well done !
Valerie.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2008-01-05 2:08]

Hello Rick,
Great capture of this magnificent bull Elk and a fine note to go with it. You took him in an excellent pose in the forest, the antlers looking very imposing in this great POV with fine sharpness. Looks like one of his hinds (or cows?) is in the BG.
Well done, Rick, and thanks for sharing this one,
Ivan

Hello Rick,

Very nice composition. Good focus, sharpness, and colours. Nice story also.
cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-01-05 6:33]

Hello Rick, what a story and what a picture, it shows that he's mad ! You did very well even if it was frightening ! Very sharp, well composed and a great moment captured. Thanks !

Mario

Hi Rick,
Magnifique, quelle belle prise, très impressionnant, grandiose.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2384 W: 94 N: 5493] (17500)
  • [2008-01-05 11:39]

Hello Rick,
What an adventure! Certainly when I see his enormous antlers. I don't think that you forget this story soon when you see this beautiful photo in the future.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-05 15:28]

Hello Rick

And lived to tell about it! An amazing story,I imagined it vividly as I read the notes.
This posting is deserves 4 points 2 for the awesome photo and 2 for the story.
Excellent capture of the Sean Penn of elk, I guess he just doesn't like paparazzi.
The elk is well placed in the frame with sharp focus and detail.
After reading the notes I can see in his eyes that he is a bit of an SOB.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer [C: 207 W: 0 N: 605] (2855)
  • [2008-01-05 16:13]

Hi Rick,

What an impressive elk that you're presenting us with an impressive story too! Good wowrk!

Lise

hello Rick

great wild animal nature image, nice eye contact with your camera lens,
it is your low pov that i like most of your image, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2008-01-06 3:06]

Hello Rick,
really magnificent speciment and looking directly to you :)
great story
best regards, Dejan

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