A Bison In The Storm

[Teton Chuck]

This photo was taken the same day as the Bison Traffic Jam. There was snow falling and wind blowing and this critter seemed not be phased. Once again I shot it at a fairly low speed to try to capture the feeling of the blowing snow. The area above the bison is blown out, but it didn't concern me. It was a white world and the part I wanted to show detail was from the water to the bison. I hope you feel chilly when you view the photo.

[Donald]

Gorgeous. The whole mood and atmosphere generated is tremendous. You can indeed feel the chill wind going through your bones. I'd like to see it at a larger size.

There's something bottom right on this side of the water, going up the edge of the frame. Wouldn't be too big a job to clone it out.

[Marie Hass]

Impressive. To me, a wall hanger.

Marie

[John 2]

That's a cracker. Donald's suggestion would just finish it off. I agree, it's a wall hanger.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Mike Buckley]

Agreed with all of the above. I wish I could see a larger image, as the small size may explain why there's too little separation between the bison's back and the background. That could easily be handled during post-processing if in fact it is an issue when viewed at a larger size.

[Teton Chuck]

Posted in a larger size. The first photo I posted wasn't the correct one - much to frequent these days. The object in the lower right corner is a tree. That is not in this photo. I had to get down really low and shoot through the trees to get the shot. I hope this helps.

[dabhand]

Chuck,

Superb - bison never seem to be happy at the best of times, but this guy really looks pee'd off, mind you, you can hardly blame him !

steve

[Teton Chuck]

I don't think he was angry - just cold.

[Manfred M]

Great shot Chuck. It looks B&W until you notice the tan colouring in the horn and the back, and that is very effective.

I find your choice of portrait format quite interesting (and a bit unusual) for this type of shot. I think your crop and positioning in the frame work really well. I think the streaks of falling snow along the body and water just add to that winter feeling. It must have been cold out there when you were shooting.

[Mike Buckley]

The larger image works really well in every way including the separation that I questioned in the first photo.

[tbob]

Flat out great. I can only echo what has been said

[teokf]

amazing feel to it.

[flashback]

If you had to sum up, in one photo, what being a bison is about, this is the image that does that. I don't know if it could be a National Geographic cover, but I don't know that it couldn't.

[Rita]

Fantastic!

[deetheturk]

Great capture Chuck!

David

[bnnrcn]

Very nice indeed

[Teton Chuck]

Thanks to all of you for all the encouraging feedback. Mike, in reality the snow on the back of the bison and the white amorphous background were hard to distinguish and I thought that was an important part of the image. I hoped that the lack of a distinct interface would add to the feeling of all encompassing cold. But it wouldn't work without a faint line.

To be honest, I didn't know if it would work given the snowstorm going on at the time.

[Mike Buckley]

I hoped that the lack of a distinct interface would add to the feeling of all encompassing cold. But it wouldn't work without a faint line.

Exactly. Even though there was probably absolutely no separation in the scene when you were there, at least a slight separation needs to be included in the photo to make the wonderful image that it is. You handled that masterfully.

[Mike Buckley]

Another thought for future images: If you had taken more of a head-on shot where the bison's hind was not displayed, you could have used a gradient on the side of the bison that gradually faded to total lack of separation.