Muskox and baby
A young muskox calf and adult on the turndra of Alaska’s arctic north slope. Canon 5D Mark III, 500mm f/4L IS w/1.4x (700mm), 1/200 sec @ f/11, ISO 400
Baby muskox rank up there with the cutest of all little creatures. There were four young ones in this herd of ancient and odd looking animals. Like many wild animals that I’ve spent time with, the younger the accompanying offspring, the more wary they behave – for obvious reasons when one considers the predators that are all too ready to strike. I spent the afternoon getting some exercise under the cloudless skies, waiting for the hot and harsh light to tame down a bit. Even by 9:30pm, the light is still pretty harsh in this setting, but better something than nothing. I ended up hiking across the tussocks and fording a chilly river to photograph these animals, but by they decided to eventually move on before the soft, late evening light fell.
I shot this scene at f/11 in order to get enough depth of field to have the muskox calf and the adult female in the focus. This is one of the rare instances when the animals looked at me. For most of the time they were feeding on the tundra, or napping, and not offering or expressing much interest in me.
Very cute. I agree 100% about the babies. Well worth the trek and wet feet. Mark III seems to be working well for you. I (like you) just wish it auto focused at f8.
Cheers.
Great image, but was not aware that the light could still be that harsh at 9.30 pm.
Patrick,
Another great image! And besides being cute, those muskox babies are tuff! Decades back while at UAF I was doing my obligatory photo assignments for class and decided to enter a indoor stall where they had a muskox baby like the one in your photograph. I never got the shot ’cause that youngster knocked me on my keaster!
Thanks Jim, what are your first impressions on the new 500?
Patrick, I think the new Canon 500 is awesome! Of course, I only have my FD 4.5 to compare to. I can’t believe I’ve been able to handhold this “Great White” and get sharp images. I just got a Really Right Stuff replacement foot for it and if the sun ever comes out again I’ll be out there trying the lens off my tripod and monopod. Don’t know if you know about Zeck caps for these big lenses, but I just found about them and got one as well. I think it’s great on the front of this 500. I’m broke now and need to make a million image sales to pay for it all, but I’m totally excited about what images I might make in the years to come. My photographic embers have been fanned into flames!
what a delightful image!!!! a pleasure to view!!!