Tag: fog

Young Bull Tule Elk Late To The Party, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, August 31, 2017  ©2017 Ben Gundy, all rights reserved.

This image is my last tule elk image in the series. Please see my other two previous blog posts on these interesting bull tule elk.

This is the last tule elk that Jeff and I photographed. He was in front of us this time, 180 degrees from the last big bull tule elk. Notice how the light is different and the fog is thicker. My Canon 1D Mark IV struggled with the auto focusing so I had to use manual focus, 10 frames per second helped a lot getting the bull jumping over the fence just at the right moment.

This young bull tule elk was the last one to join the others just over the rise in the fog. He didn’t have a chance with the females but his high testosterone level didn’t care. After we got our images we headed up the road after our next photo opportunity.

All media © Copyright Ben Gundy and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from Ben Gundy.

The Reining Champ, Big Bull Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, August 31,02017  ©2017 Ben Gundy, all rights reserved.

This is a prime example of a big bull  tule elk. I am not sure about the size of a tule bull elk compared to a prime bull elk in the Tetons/Yellowstone area. Again, taken in the fog, this bull elk was behind one or two female elk crossing a road, disappearing over a slight rise into the fog. There was a lot of bugling going on from two or three bull’s and you could hear the antlers clashing from two bulls fighting for supremacy and the females. We dared go over to where all the bugling and fighting was taking place, probably 150 to 200 yards out. In rutting season you don’t want to be near a hyper sensed bull elk in rut. Google, rutting elk near Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park for some interesting stories. All in all, we were enjoying all the elk bugling in the quiet fog shrouded air.

Again, auto focusing in the fog is difficult, you may need to manual focus your camera on your subject.

All media © Copyright Ben Gundy and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from Ben Gundy.

Adolescent Bull Tule Elk With Battle Damaged Antlers, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, August 31, 2017  ©2017 Ben Gundy, all rights reserved.

Before Jeff and I photographed the black-tailed doe hiding in the grass, the whole area was socked in with fog. Both Jeff and myself wanted to shoot elk in the fog, Daniel said sure thing. Actually, it didn’t take us long to find a Tule Elk along the road in the fog. Again Jeff and I photographed through the side windows of Daniel’s vehicle. We were pretty excited by our captures of this adolescent bull elk. I didn’t realize that his antlers were damaged until I got home and processed the Canon files in Lightroom. Damaged in battle no doubt as August is the Tule Elk’s rutting season.

Focusing in the fog is difficult using your cameras auto focus feature. My Canon 1D Mark IV did a pretty good job of it but when it was off, it was way off. Sometimes you just need to use manual focus on your subject.

All media © Copyright Ben Gundy and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from Ben Gundy.