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Afternoon Nap


Afternoon Nap
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-25
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-29 5:26
Viewed: 577
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Todays posting is a cow moose napping and chewing her cud in her snow bed. Here she had just brought up some cud and you can see her breath drifting down her side.


Moose

This animal
is a powerful swimmer within days of birth
can dive more than 5 m for food on a lake bottom
has extremely poor eyesight
gains weight as a calf faster than any other big-game animal
Description

A bull moose in full spread of antlers is the most imposing beast in North America. It stands taller at the shoulder than the largest saddle horse. Big bulls weigh up to 600 kg in most of Canada; the giant Alaska-Yukon subspecies weighs as much as 800 kg. In fact, the moose is the largest member of the deer family, whose North American members also include elk (wapiti), white-tailed deer, mule deer, and caribou.

Moose Alces alces have long, slim legs that end in cloven, or divided, hooves often more than 18 cm long. The body is deep and massively muscled at the shoulders, giving the animal a humped appearance. It is slab-sided and low-rumped, with rather slender hindquarters and a stubby, well-haired tail. The head is heavy and compact, and the nose extends in a long, mournful-looking arch terminating in a long, flexible upper lip. The ears resemble a mule’s but are not quite as long. Most moose have a pendant of fur-covered skin, about 30 cm long, called a bell, hanging from the throat.

In colour the moose varies from dark brown, almost black, to reddish or greyish brown, with grey or white leg "stockings."

In late summer and autumn, a mature bull carries a large rack of antlers that may extend more than 180 cm between the widest tips but that are more likely to span between 120 and 150 cm. The heavy main beams broaden into large palms that are fringed with a series of spikes usually less than 30 cm long. The antlers are pale, sometimes almost white.

A bull calf may develop button antlers during its first year. The antlers begin growing in midsummer and during the period of growth are soft and spongy, with blood vessels running through them. They are covered with a velvety skin. By late August or early September the antlers are fully developed and are hard and bony. The velvet dries and the bulls rub it off against tree trunks.

Mature animals usually shed their antlers in November, but some younger bulls may carry theirs through the winter until April. Yearling bulls usually have spike antlers, and the antlers of two-year-olds are larger, usually flat at the ends. Moose grow antlers each summer and shed them each autumn.

From Hinterland Whos Who
CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, fartash, Bass, writerscrawlz, MMM, eqshannon, SkyF, jaycee, gerbilratz, nglen, Luis52, Jamesp, Argus, jusninasirun, NinaM, K9madtex, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Rick

today we are neighbors in our postings,
wonderful close-up shot of this female moose,
excellent POV and DOF, great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Rick,

This is a very lovely portrait capture of this beautiful Moose. Excellent details, sharpness and colours with a fantastic BG. I like the long nasal bridge of these lovely animals friend.
TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Rick
Excellent portrait of this cow moose,
Perfect details,colors and composition,Welldone my friend.

Regards
Fartash

  • Great 
  • Bass Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 101 W: 0 N: 115] (467)
  • [2008-02-29 6:50]

Hi Rick!
lovely moose, very nice expression of this girl! The picture is very well presented, with a natural frame. I like the POV, altohugh the branches disturbs a little, but they gives a nice sensation, like the moose is hidden. Great details over this girl. I like this soft colours.
well done!
TFS, have a nice day!
Brenda

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1068 W: 26 N: 3206] (11487)
  • [2008-02-29 7:03]

Hi Rick,
really like the low POV here, were you in your own snow bed?! Lovely natural moment caught by you as always, well done my friend, have a great and restful weekend.
Paul

I love this portrait (but then, I am a moose-lover). The details are sharp and crisp. I also love the snow that dots the landscape and how you caught the texture of her fur. Nicely done.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 787 W: 0 N: 1581] (7260)
  • [2008-02-29 7:18]

Hello Rick
Excellent portrait.Good POV.You had capture in a different pose that I'm not used to see.Sharp image and good details.
TFS Michel

so it is actually laying down in the snow? wow...Nice close in shot and glad you pointed out the breath..I might not have noticed, but you not only brought it to my attention, you tell us why it is so...a good lesson..and a fine image..Hope you are well sir!
Bob

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-02-29 7:29]

Hi Rick,
interesting shot , never knew they have a snow bed. Nice close shot to study the facial features of this animal.
Composition, sharpness and POV are great.
TFS... Sky

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-02-29 8:16]

Hello Rick,
very nice shot of this Moose!
I love the silky texture of the fur and soft lighting that enhances this effect.
I've always been amazed at how big their noses are! :-D
The contented expression and pose with the mouth open is great!
Well done my friend,

Joe

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-02-29 9:55]

Hi Rick,

And what position were you in taking this shot?? Great close-up and we can see the mouth movement. Good details, natural colors, and brilliant pov.

Jane

lovely portrait in a natural setting, great timing and an excellent composition...great notes as well...regards h

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-02-29 12:00]

Hi Rick. Firstly very interesting notes worth the read so thanks. this is a fine close up of this female . good natural colours. with good detail in the fur. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1026 W: 5 N: 2888] (10447)
  • [2008-02-29 17:36]

Hola Rick.
Bella la foto de este "Alce Americano" la pose en la nieve tomando un descanso. Muy hermosa la presentacion y agradables detalles.
My buena la nota Rick.
Saludos
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-02-29 22:33]

Hi Rick

Great close-up - very good framong and detail.

JAmes

Bonjour Rick
Très beau portrait, belle netteté, lumière et couleurs, très belle attitude du sujet.
Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-03-01 10:01]

Hello Rick,
Nice close portrait of a Moose cow chewing the cud. You must have been quite close to her to get such a fine capture and she must have been more concerned in her chewing.
Thanks for sharing this one,
Ivan

This is a really a close capture of this resting lady. I really think that you could bring out a lot of saturation and contrast and sharpness. It looks very unsaturated and soft on my monitor... but I don't think it really is. I am impressed at seeing missy's teeth!.

TFS
Evelynn ; )

Hello Rick. Very well captured of this sleepy eye. Very good mugshot in natural environment. Good details under well exposed shot. Well done and have a nice day. Regards. Jusni

Hi Rick,
Un vai chasseur d'image, quelle partienc et bien récompensée par ce magnifique close-up impressionnant.
Bravo
Marie

Hi Rick
Hey, that's impressive how you captured her breath ... I guess it was just real cold outside. She sure looks relaxed chewing her cud in the snow. It probably won't be long before she gives birth. A nice winter scene and good notes.
TFS Janice

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-03-04 17:20]

Hello dear Rick, I missed a couple of your great pictures! This moose portrait is superb, she seems to be smiling at you. Those animals really are the ones I have to see at least once in my life. In the meantime I am happy to be able to look at your pictures, so natural and superb. Thank you!

Francine

Hello rick,
Great close up, good sharpness and fantastic details, nice natural ccolors and good pose.
angela

And I thought the snow was neck deep to a moose. I would like to see some snow in Texas but not like that, Ya'll can keep it. Great shot. You always have great photos.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-05 19:41]

Hello Rick

Great POV on this one.
Very good focus and details.
The lighting is well handled,with very good colour.
TFS

Rob

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