Moose encounters aren’t everyday occurrences for me so three weeks ago I was delighted to come across this very dark cow moose and her calf as I explored the back roads on the border of southwest Montana and Idaho.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 540, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc
I was on a Forest Service road going up Dairy Creek when I spotted them in the sagebrush in front of me. They were close, too close for my 500mm plus tc so the first shots were tight but I wanted to get some images in case they turned around and high-tailed it.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 375 mm
They didn’t so I had time to switch to my zoom lens for more flexibility. I didn’t know it at the time but they were intent on crossing the dirt road in front of me so they could drink from tiny Dairy Creek to my right. Here the cow is just beginning to cross the road.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 375 mm
Once she was on the other side the calf followed. As you can see the youngster is all legs.
1/500, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 210 mm
There was a decrepit old fence between them and the creek and I wasn’t able to see how they crossed it but after they did they came out into the open to drink from the meager water in the creek. They took their time doing so and even though they were sidelit I spent about 25 minutes photographing them while they were in the creek bed. Mama drank lots and lots of water! She was wary at first but quickly lost her apprehension…
1/640, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 210
so I was able to photograph a few tender moments with them, including this shot of her licking the calf. After drinking the cow was a champion drooler and I’m surprised we can’t see a stream of water coming off of her mouth in this image.
1/1000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 235 mm
Eventually they left the actual creek bed and wandered upstream to disappear into the willows. In this final image I enjoy the unobstructed look at both of them and the setting that includes Indian Paintbrush and other wildflowers.
I thought their trips to the creek might be a routine for them so I looked for them at the same time and place over the next two days but I never saw them again. These huge animals can truly be wisps in the willows…
Ron
These photos are so sweet. I have never heard of a cow moose before and thanks to you, Ron, I know what they look like.
What wonderful shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Mama is a leggy beast as well. And very, very glossy.
Thanks Ron, moose are another wonder I will probably never see for myself, and I loved this glimpse of the family.
Well, you certainly have many Australian “wonders” that I well never see, Elephant’s Child so I guess we’re even. And yes, she was very glossy and the blackest moose I’ve ever seen. Thank you.
These are great! Mama moose looks so healthy.
I believe she was in her prime and thriving, Deb. Thanks.
Great capture, Ron. Nice to see a mom & baby in the wild!
Thank you, Annie.
What a special encounter! I would love to encounter a moose. They have a mystique that really draws me, so I’m grateful that you have shared these images with us.
Thanks, Susan. Yes, it was special – especially because she was a wild moose in wild country and she had a calf to protect but she was tolerant of me anyway.
These photos are exquisite! I love moose and have been worried about the moose population here in Minnesota as they struggle through changes in their habitat. This mother and baby are so sweet. I’m going to send a link to this to my husband. You are just a wonderful and patient photographer.
So nice of you to say, Kathleen – thank you. Although I must admit that my photography is about the only part of my life that ever sees much patience from me…
Like my friend Jorge, I, too, have often wondered why your photography is so unique and special…why i’m so addicted to it….it’s more than just the crispness and composition of the images…it must be that you capture images that show such interesting behaviors…and your titles and comments capture, educate and delight us…an unbeatable combination…somehow you make us feel almost as if we were there with you. Whatever it is, it’s unique and special. checking out what new thing you’ve posted is the first thing I do everyday. I wake up looking forward to it.
Thanks for that, Patty – you made my day.
I have been wondering what makes your photography so unique and I think it is the interaction you create with the subjects that you photograph (either birds or mammals). On this series it looks like they sits for you.
Even knowing it is a bit tiring for you please keep the data on your photos. Although having a Nikon gear I appreciate very much that information.
Thanks very much, Jorge. And yes, I’ll continue to include techs.
I keep coming back to the first image, with calf peeking around its mama…the darker figures against the silver-grey sage….how good can it get?
Glad you like it, Patty. I do too.
What a pleasure to see cow and calf looking so healthy. The mother’s dark coat is surprisinly shiny so soon after giving birth. For a moose mama to be as trusting of you when she has her baby by her side, makes me woder if you’re a moose whisperer, too. Those long legs give them a wonderful gracefulness and beauty in spite of their size, bulk and otherwise odd appearance…
If so I don’t whisper often enough, Patty. I seldom see moose, even when I’m looking for them…
She is so shiny. It looks like she is very healthy if you go by her coat. I really liked this especially the one of her checking you out over her back. Cautious mama!
Yeah, she was a little leery of my truck at first, Arwen – especially after some ATV’ers passed me on the road but she settled down quickly after that.
This is probably a good time to say I really appreciate the techs, too. I’d love to become more proficient at photography. I have a Canon EOS 7D and am just at the beginning of my learning curve. So this is all most inspiring and encouraging – to have the info and these photos to link your techs to. I love these photos – the first one really makes me smile!
Good, I’m glad to hear the techs are helpful, Alison – thanks for that feedback. I hope you like your 7D as much as I do mine (both of them). I’m anxiously awaiting the upgrade (7D Mark ll) supposedly coming out next month.
Beautiful sequence Ron, especially the first image.Lovely portrait of them together!
Thanks John. I wish I had catch lights in that first shot but I still like it a lot – especially their eyelashes…
Great series, great shots!! I have been meaning to thank you for the data under each picture. Believe it or not, that has been very helpful to me, and although I don’t own a 500, I do have the 100-400 with a tc.
Dick, I appreciate the feedback about providing techs. It’s a pain to do (I don’t use an app for it) and sometimes I’m tempted to leave them out when I’m in a hurry (occasionally I actually do omit them) so it’s nice to know that you find them useful and I’m not wasting my time.
For several years after I got the 500mm I very rarely used the 100-400 but that was a mistake. I look back at some of those older images and lots of them are just too tight, which could have been avoided if I was more in the habit of reaching for the other lens in those situations. I am SUCH a creature of habit…