Elephant Seals

kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
edited May 10, 2011 in Wildlife
Some elephant seals from a trip to CA last week. It's molting season. I'm told they're mostly or all males, although it's very hard to tell.

So cute and cuddly...
IMG_6832.jpg

Not sure who was watching who...
IMG_6943.jpg

"Whoa, bad breath!!!"
IMG_6831.jpg

"I am not lunch!"
IMG_7050.jpg

IMG_6898.jpg

IMG_7059.jpg

IMG_6912.jpg

Lot's more here...

Thanks for looking.
-joel
Moderator of Landscapes forum
Link to my Smugmug site

Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    Outstanding Joel. There's something about that second shot that just keeps drawing me back to it. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    Outstanding Joel. There's something about that second shot that just keeps drawing me back to it. thumb.gif

    Cause it reminds you of YOU !!! blbl.gifrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif :lol blbl.gif :hide rolleyes1.gif


    Excellent work Joel thumb.gif
    Benjamin
    My Galleries
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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 25, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    Outstanding Joel. There's something about that second shot that just keeps drawing me back to it. thumb.gif
    Thanks, Harry. That's my favorite as well. I really appreciate the comments.

    Here's another one you may like.

    IMG_6876.jpg

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 25, 2006
    bfjr wrote:
    Excellent work Joel thumb.gif
    Thanks, Ben. I was reminded of your moniker "Machine Gun" as I was shooting these guys -- 2.5 gig's worth. eek7.gif

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • KhaosKhaos Registered Users Posts: 2,435 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    nice set. I really like #2 also.thumb.gif
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    Fantastic series Joel.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • dallasdallas Registered Users Posts: 1,638 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    kdog wrote:
    Some elephant seals from a trip to CA last week. It's molting season. I'm told they're mostly or all males, although it's very hard to tell.

    So cute and cuddly...
    IMG_6832.jpg

    Not sure who was watching who...
    IMG_6943.jpg

    "Whoa, bad breath!!!"
    IMG_6831.jpg

    "I am not lunch!"
    IMG_7050.jpg

    IMG_6898.jpg

    IMG_7059.jpg

    IMG_6912.jpg

    Lot's more here...

    Thanks for looking.
    -joel

    Very compelling Joel, I like them all, and an excellent subject to cover. I keep promising myself a trip up the coast in Feb., but I always forget when the time comes. Maybe next year
    William
    http://woofwoof.smugmug.com
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    too cute but too fast if they get mad --sure would like to get the time when they come to pismo ne_nau.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • LCDLCD Registered Users Posts: 494 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2006
    Awesome shots!! I've never seen the moulting before.
    I would suggest a slight crop at the top of #1 to take out the green.

    I love #2 and the last one as well. They are all great.
    clap.gifclap.gif
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 26, 2006
    Khaos wrote:
    nice set. I really like #2 also.thumb.gif

    Thanks, Khaos!

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 26, 2006
    Dick on Aruba wrote:
    Fantastic series Joel.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.

    Thanks, Dick!

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 26, 2006
    dallas wrote:
    Very compelling Joel, I like them all, and an excellent subject to cover. I keep promising myself a trip up the coast in Feb., but I always forget when the time comes. Maybe next year
    Thanks, William. You may still catch molting season if you go now. Feb is mating season, that would be the best. nod.gif

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 26, 2006
    jwear wrote:
    too cute but too fast if they get mad --sure would like to get the time when they come to pismo ne_nau.gif

    Thanks, Jeff. It's true. They can move surprisingly fast for such big lumbering beasts.

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • SeefutlungSeefutlung Registered Users Posts: 2,781 Major grins
    edited June 26, 2006
    Great Stuff!!! #2 is my fav ... but (the big but), I'd try a very tight crop. a little sand up front, nothing on the sides and nothing on top 'cept seal ... just to see what happens. Regardless of my crop suggestion ... excellant shots.
    My snaps can be found here:
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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 26, 2006
    Seefutlung wrote:
    Great Stuff!!! #2 is my fav ... but (the big but), I'd try a very tight crop. a little sand up front, nothing on the sides and nothing on top 'cept seal ... just to see what happens. Regardless of my crop suggestion ... excellant shots.

    Thanks, Gary. Your cropping suggestion did occur to me as well, and I'd already tried it. However, I felt that it didn't quite work. Part of the appeal of the posted version is the hemispherical profile of the seal. A squared-off face shot just didn't have the same impact.

    I appreciate your comments.
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 26, 2006
    LCD wrote:
    Awesome shots!! I've never seen the moulting before.
    I would suggest a slight crop at the top of #1 to take out the green.

    I love #2 and the last one as well. They are all great.
    clap.gifclap.gif
    Thanks, LCD. Glad you liked 'em. :D

    You're probably right about fixing the crop in the first one. At the time I wanted to preserve some of the vegetation to show the environment a bit more. But now that you mention it, I realize that the bit that I left is more of a distraction than anything. (See my moniker above my avatar.)

    Thanks for your comments.
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • MikeAldrichMikeAldrich Registered Users Posts: 145 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2011
    Excellent series Joel! I really enjoyed these. clap.gif
    “The digital camera is a great invention because it allows us to reminisce. Instantly.” -Demetri Martin

    http://www.shuttershockphotobooth.com/
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2011
    Super set, Joel. I am with Harry as far as a favorite goes. clap.gif
    Dan
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  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2011
    Joel, absolutely great series! I'm with Harry and Dan about #2, but they are all keepers! Best, Pam
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 9, 2011
    Holy thread reincarnation, Batman! :wow rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks for the resurrecting this old thread, Mike. You must have been googling for Elephant Seals. I've always had a soft spot for these big lovable and sometimes scary creatures. Glad you liked the shots.

    Thanks Pam and Dan as well. thumb.gif:D

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • MikeAldrichMikeAldrich Registered Users Posts: 145 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2011
    kdog wrote: »
    Holy thread reincarnation, Batman! :wow rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks for the resurrecting this old thread, Mike. You must have been googling for Elephant Seals. I've always had a soft spot for these big lovable and sometimes scary creatures. Glad you liked the shots.

    Thanks Pam and Dan as well. thumb.gif:D

    Cheers,
    -joel


    Haha... I just saw the dates on the original posts. rolleyes1.gif So worth the reincarnation, all the images are amazing! I had my first encounter with elephant seals last summer and now they are one of my favorites. Love em.
    “The digital camera is a great invention because it allows us to reminisce. Instantly.” -Demetri Martin

    http://www.shuttershockphotobooth.com/
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2011
    Joel, these are great captures some stunning images here. Well done.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
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