Yellowstone Elk

StueveShots

My family recently stayed in Norris campground in Yellowstone. I caught this fellow not far north of the campground...it was among the first shots I made with my new zoom lens. As some of you know, wildlife is not my normal subject. I'd like some feedback on these two shots--obviously taken seconds apart. I didn't do any cropping yet...this is the shot as taken. Is the foreground of out-of-focus leaves in one shot interesting or distracting? Any other comments? I zoomed out a bit in the next shots to try to get the full spread of his antlers...but he dropped his head too quickly and the moment was lost. Ah, well.

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

bfjr

The second one is better. OOF foreground rarely works unless it's integral to overall image or what you want the viewer to see/feel, hope that helps

As far as clipping well ............................ .....

StueveShots

Thanks for the comment, Benjamin. That was the feeling I had...the reason, of course, that I shifted myself slightly for the second frame.

Photostudent92

Wonderful capture I like that there was a bush or some kind of thing in your way so you photoshoped that out great job love the detail
Josh,

StueveShots

Thanks, Josh...but I didn't photoshop the leaves out. (I don't know that I could!) I took one really quick step to the left and shot a second frame....that's all it took, thank goodness. He was on high alert and not moving for a moment there... Another split second and I would have lost him...he dipped his head down after he decided we were not a threat.

Photostudent92

Oh sorry if i thought that it looked like you photoshop the leaves...And i wish i had my fujifilm a while back because I went to Cornell's nature center and there were deer there and they never ran away from no people it was really weird but i hope that I get to go back there after the winter. That means I have to take a trip lol