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Wind Blown Bison


Wind Blown Bison
Photo Information
Copyright: Billy C Banks (K9madtex) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 122 W: 67 N: 278] (1022)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-20
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon 70 - 200 f2.8L IS USM, Canon 72mm UV Haze
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-23 5:44
Viewed: 10331
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this shot near the entrance to San Angelo State Park. The wind was really gusting hard and made it difficult to get a stable position. The Bison seemed unconcerned about my presence and more concerned about keeping the sand out of his eyes.

The American Bison is a bovine mammal, also commonly known as the American Buffalo something of a misnomer as it is only distantly related to either of the two "true buffaloes": the Water Buffalo and the African Buffalo.

The bison originally inhabited the Great Plains of the United States and Canada in massive herds, ranging from the Great Slave Lake in Canada's far north to Mexico in the south, and from eastern Oregon almost to the Atlantic Ocean, taking its subspecies into account. Its two subspecies are the Plains Bison (Bison bison bison), distinguished by its smaller size and more rounded hump, and the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae), distinguished by its larger size and taller square hump. Wood Bison are one of the largest species of cattle in the world, surpassed in size only by the massive Asian Gaur and Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo, both of which are found mainly in India and Southeast Asia.

Buffalo symbolism

"Buffalo nickel" (1935). This style of coin featuring an American bison was produced from 1913-1938.

State of Wyoming uses a buffalo in its flag

Crest of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The American bison is often used in North America in official seals, flags and logos. In the United States, the American bison is a popular symbol in the Great Plains states which range from Texas to North Dakota. In Canada, the bison is used in the official coat of arms of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The American Bison was depicted on the reverse side of the U.S. "buffalo nickel" from 1913 to 1938. In 2005, the United States Mint coined a nickel with a new depiction of the bison as part of its "Westward Journey" series; the Kansas, Montana, and North Dakota quarters have a depiction of the bison on its reverse as part of its "50 State Quarter" series. The Kansas State Quarter only has the bison and does not feature any writing. The North Dakota State Quarter has two bison.

The bison is a symbol or mascot of many institutions, including:

Bucknell University
Buffalo, New York, although the city was not named for the animal.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Sabres
CFB Wainwright
University of Colorado, mascot name is Ralphie
Howard University
Lipscomb University
Harding University
Kansas, official state mammal (see Governor of Kansas Quick Facts).
Manitoba
University of Manitoba
Marshall University
Independence Party of Minnesota
Nichols College
North Dakota State University
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
West Texas A&M University
Wyoming, official state mammal

Dangers
Bison are among the most dangerous animals encountered by visitors to the various U.S. and Canadian National Parks, especially Yellowstone National Park. Although they are not carnivorous, they will attack humans if provoked. They appear slow because of their lethargic movements, but they can easily outrun humans—they have been observed running as fast as 35 miles per hour (56 kilometres per hour). Between 1978 and 1992, over four times as many people in Yellowstone National Park were killed or injured by bison as by bears (12 by bears, 56 by bison). Bison also have the unexpected ability, given the animal's size and body structure, to leap over a standard barbed-wire fence.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison
Adanac, eqshannon, nglen, rcrick, rousettus, mariki, mattadunn, angybone, Roynsam, lovenature has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rcrick: Pretty Darn CloseK9madtex 1 01-24 07:25
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 225 W: 0 N: 356] (1752)
  • [2008-01-23 6:17]

Billy,

This is a great shot. Shows the details of the hair very well. Great POV.

TFS
Scott

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-01-23 6:51]
  • [2]

Hello Billy,
Great capture this poor guys nose is just full of dust. The image has great details, colors and depth of field wonderful work Billy.
Rick

Hello Billy
This is a fine picture of this wonderful Bison..The poor fella is covered in sand which is probably a good thing!! He is a big Lump!!...I really like the low pov you have taken this shot with.
All the best
Paul

I have seen my share of buffalo but the brand you have down in Central Tejas ia a bit different. I have also seen zebras by Angybone. Is this the same place? A fascinating picture and not one that we would normally see unless it were at a zoo or in Montana or some parts of the Dakotas...now if it were only White it would fulfill an ancient prophecy. So far all the white ones which were born in Janesville Wisconsin have turned color as they got older...
Bob

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-01-23 13:24]

Hi Billy. This is some big animal. you have captured him so well. good detail and natural colours. i have read your notes with interest, TFS.
Nick..

Hello Bill, wow this guy looks mean! Nice low POV and interesting light. Fine focus and details well captured indeed. tfs rgds Necip

Hey Billy,
Hells bells mate how close did you get to this guy! Awesome shot, excellent detail, reading your note not exactly something you can go you too and give it a pat, I assume ! Nice work mate, all the best Cheers Rick....

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer [C: 207 W: 0 N: 605] (2855)
  • [2008-01-23 16:38]

Hi Billy,

What a close-up of this bison. Great light, nice colours and great low point of view. Well done!

Lise

Hello Billy,

Great picture of this bison. Good POV and focus. Wonderful colours.
Well done,
Cheers,
Mariki

I like it! It makes for an interesting POV. Being that I have seem your lenses personally, I know that you weren't that close but it looks like you were right up in it's face.

Cool shot! He looks so sedate. They're mean boogers....I had a male charge me once. Scared to doggy out of me. ha ha
This is a wonderful photo! Great light - good capture of the entire animal with wonderful dof.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-02-03 15:59]

Hello Billy

wow,this fellow is imposing.
The focus is sharp with wonderful ,sharp detail.
The exposure is excellent,and the colours are rich.
You look like you got very close.
TFS

Rob

Hello Billy

Great photo of this magnificent creature.
His left eye is squinting against the windblown sand but his right eye seems to be firmly fixed on you.
A really excellent photo.
I just read your profile...I didn't know that the Royal Air Force had a base in Texas????

Thats my feeble attempt at humour.

Regards

Roy

Hi Billy
A good close up! How did you get so close...I hope you were behind a very tall fence. Nice detail, colours and composition.

Excellent and informative note. Especially about how many humans have been killed by Bison... it's doesn't surprise me.

I know of one more mascot you could add to your list...the 404 Squadron, Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron (Canadian Forces) :)

TFS Janice
PS Keep up the good work!

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