Pronghorn Antelope Photo

Photographer’s Note

I managed to stock to within about 10 paces of this Pronghorn Antelope buck in Custer State Park, South Dakota. These animals are curious by nature so it is not terribly difficult to get within fairly decent camera range. My "hike" to get this shot took me through heavy prairie grasses, brambles, and weeds so I spent the rest of the day picking debris from my socks!

Fleet-footed pronghorns are among the speediest animals in North America. They can run at more than 53 miles (86 kilometers) an hour, leaving pursuing coyotes and bobcats in the dust. Pronghorns are also great distance runners that can travel for miles at half that speed.

Pronghorns are about three feet (one meter) tall at the shoulders. They are reddish brown, but feature white stomachs and wide, white stripes on their throats. When startled they raise the hair on their rumps to display a white warning patch that can be seen for miles.

Both sexes sport impressive, backward-curving horns. The horns split to form forward-pointing prongs that give the species its name. Some animals have horns that are more than a foot (30 centimeters) long.

Like other even-toed hoofed animals, pronghorns chew cud—their own partially digested food. The meal of choice for this speedy herbivore is generally grass, sagebrush, and other vegetation.

Pronghorns mate each fall in the dry, open lands of western North America. Bucks gather harems of females and protect them jealously—sometimes battling rivals in spectacular and dangerous fights. In the spring, females give birth to one or two young, which can outrun a human after just a few days.

fulvio52, pen, Gerrit, feather, plimrn, Cretense, Dyerco, dareco, gunbud, mortijo, riclopes has marked this note useful

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PJE (19417) 2008-11-24 6:17

Good Morning Gerald. I think this antelope wanted to be posted on the famous trek earth site...but it also wanted you to enjoy picking branble debris from your socks. I am glad your 18-200 lens captured these details through the grasses. Excellent work!

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-11-24 6:36

COOL shot, Gerald! Perfect framing, striking colors, wonderful buck. South Dakota is awesome, isn't it?
Have a good day, I'll be seeing you.
Fulvio.

pen (446) 2008-11-24 7:34

Nice capture, Framing, Colors ... seems everything is choreographed .... the subject seems very cooperative along with the grass.

Gerrit (35613) 2008-11-24 8:05

Hi Gerald,
he's looking to you in a sort of indifferent way. You don't seem to be a big danger.
Great capture of this mighty animal in good sharpness.
Regards, gerrit

feather (49858) 2008-11-24 9:22

I have this vision of you crawling on your stomach stalking your prey like a lion. ;D That would account for the low POV and the sight of the pronghorn through the grasses. Excellent shot; worth getting messy socks. He looks as if he has just noticed your presence.
Kath

plimrn (19602) 2008-11-24 17:54

Hi Gerald,
A great nature shot: the detail is impeccable, the colors natural and the framing just right. The note is also very interesting.
HLJ, Pat

danyy (68602) 2008-11-24 22:51

Bonjour Gerald,
une vue toute simple qui nous rapproche de la nature et interessante pour nous , Belges, qui ne voyons pas cette espèce chez nous.
Un POV qui te met un peu dans une position d'affût.
Superbes teintes naturelles.
Regards.
Daniel.

Philippe (11771) 2008-11-25 0:49

Hi, Gerald. Some people will not like the grass in the foreground, but I do. They give you the impression we are taking part in the approach with you. I think you chose the right moment to shoot with the antelope turning its head towards the lens. You also left some space to the left of your composition, where the animal will be looking. I think this is a good idea. The colours and light are good.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

Cretense (55848) 2008-11-25 3:51

Hi Gerald!

Beautiful wildlife photography, beautiful profile portrait! Excellent low POV, great framing, simple but perfect composition! Excellent light managment and brilliant colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

Nicou (44641) 2008-11-25 3:59

Hello,

Très beau captage, chasseur d'image par excellence, cahée dans les herbe jaune pour saisir le bon moment, superbe.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

Dyerco (9038) 2008-11-25 7:12

Hi Gerald
This a superb shot of this animal. I know whenever I have tried photographing them in Alberta or Sask they generally run as soon as the car is stopped. I can only assume that the locals shoot at them so they are quite wary. Great idea to shoot from a low POV and include that prairie grass.
Phil

dareco (17104) 2008-11-25 7:28

I don't think I've ever seen one of these. I like the pov and the pose. A beautiful capture through the grass. TFS

gunbud (27789) 2008-11-25 12:20

Hi Gerald,
This marvelous animal stands out brilliantly aganist the deep blue sky background that is so richly enhanced by the golden strains of grass.
Wonderful sharpness and details to this beauty.
I remember seeing a large herd of these guys in Jackson Hole.
Regards, Tom

pablominto (40508) 2008-11-25 23:26

Hello Gerald,

This is a fine composition sowing this curious fellow!
The animal is well aware of something going on but I suppose he doesn't fully comprehend the concept of photography, hehehe...
Sharp fine details and an attractive colour palette!

Greetings,
Pablo -

mortijo (12180) 2008-11-26 6:33

A phantastic shot Gerald. The low POV portrats the animal against the clear blue sky. It has that "what have we got here..." look. Great job, congratulations.

toto (18703) 2008-11-26 7:02

Bonsoir
belle photo de cette bête prise sous cet excellent POV en contre plongée, au raz du sol, avec ces herbes hautes en avant plan et ce ciel bleu en arrière plan.

Amitiés Thomas

jemaflor (39259) 2008-11-26 9:58

Hi Gerald,
Perfect capture with an interesting attitude for this animal, nice light and colours with good blue BG.

dcawker (5667) 2008-11-26 13:49

Excellent capture here.. I love the low perspective too! Regards, Doug

Waylim (10741) 2008-11-26 23:13

I have seen a few of these guy travelling in Montana, but not this up close. This is a great shot and good details, I like the grass in the foreground, giving it much of the natural environment settings and depth. Good sharpness on the antelope, and beautiful sky.
Way

riclopes (32971) 2008-11-27 1:38

Great 'wild life' shot, Gerald. A clear and sharp image with excellent colors and details on the Antelope. Good thing 'he's' curious and was looking back to you. I like the 'hidden' low POV too and I'm smiling while picturing you lying on the ground im the middle of all these weeds. It sure was worth it :)
ricardo

Silvio1953 (41557) 2008-11-27 12:23

Ciao Gerald, great capture of superb creature, wonderful natural colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

guitianmiranda (3612) 2009-10-27 15:14

I found one too, but not the same one.

Best regards.