Daily Archives: January 3, 2014

New 2014 Post

** Those of you with PC s may not be able to enlarge the photos by clicking on them.  Apple users should have no difficulty.  I trust WordPress will quickly update the software to alleviate the problem by eliminating the shadow that appears over photos enlarged in Windows computers.

After the New Mexico workshop, shown in my last newsletter, I headed north to Wyoming for some bighorn sheep photography.  While the temperatures were below normal, we had plenty of warm clothing and encountered excellent photo ops.

sheep
Mature bighorn ram feeding on hillside.

In December, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep drift down from the Yellowstone to lower elevations.  Finding and photographing them can be a difficult in these cold climates, but the results are worth the effort.

Dominant bighorn ram (right) with younger male.
Dominant bighorn ram (right) with younger male.

Most of these images were made with the 100-400 mm lens, handheld.  I switched occasionally  to the 300 mm, f 4 lens for comparison, and was very happy with the performance of both considering it was -10 degrees or colder.

The dominant, mature ram occasionally left the ewes to keep the younger rams in line.
The dominant, mature ram occasionally left the ewes to keep the younger rams in line.

I was on foot in about 8″ of snow while making these images.

The young rams frequently fought among themselves by head butting.
The young rams frequently fought among themselves by head butting.
When the big rams joined the fight, the young guys scattered.
When the big rams joined the fight, the young guys scattered.

 

At below zero temperatures, the sheep do a lot of feeding.
At below zero temperatures, the sheep do a lot of feeding.

 

Ewe (female) and ram bedded.
Ewe (female) and ram bedded.
Large ram trying to scent ewes ready for breeding.
Large ram trying to scent ewes ready for breeding.

 

Mature bighorn ram approaching ewes during rut.
Mature bighorn ram approaching ewes during rut.

Rams would lower their heads and twist their necks when approaching ewes or chasing younger rams away from the ewes.

Mature ram approaching the herd during rut.
Mature ram approaching the herd during rut.

 

After feeding on a hillside, this ram headed into steep, rocky terrain.
After feeding on a hillside, this ram headed into steep, rocky terrain.

In the next newsletter, I’ll show you more bighorns and other wildlife we encountered in Wyoming.

Larry