We have just returned from a few days photographing the elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park. The last few times Kevin and I have visited the park, including an adventure to Yellowstone, we were thinking we were probably too early for the full experience. This time we thought delaying the trip until October might result in cooler weather, smaller crowds, and perhaps a more vigorous rut season. It turned out to be a beautiful and successful adventure, and I was able to get enough video footage to create a nice Youtube video for my channel.
We arrived in Estes Park early so we would have time to check in to the campground with plenty of time to set up camp and make it to the park in time for the evening photo session. Unfortunately when we arrived, the main herd was located on the west side of Fern Lake Road in Moraine Park, putting the light on the wrong side of the animals. However, using the Electronic Viewfinder in our mirrorless Canon cameras, it was quite easy to set an exposure that would make use of beautiful rim light glowing on the elk’s fur.
Sometimes the conditions dictate silhouette images, and we captured some beauties on that first evening. As sunset approached, the big bull strode to the top of the ridge to make sure his harem didn’t venture into his rival’s territory, and the results were amazing.
The following morning was when we saw the most action. The animals were a bit far out into the meadow, but our long lenses coupled with a 1.4X teleconverter were enough to capture the action. If you want to see the animals running around like crazy, you might want to watch the Youtube video! We had several bulls in the valley, along with quite a crowd of cows and yearlings. This particular bull strolled toward us close enough to get a beautiful closeup portrait. A bit later he crossed a narrow channel in the Big Thompson River for a beautiful photo op, splashing in the pristine water.
And just when we were looking forward to a fabulous evening in the meadow with plenty of subjects to photograph, the rut ended… just like that. That evening was a bust, as was the next morning. However, we made the best of it, with a hike around Sprague Lake and a sunrise run to the top of the ridge for a beautiful view of morning light on Longs Peak!
We packed up camp after the morning session and moved on to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, in hopes of seeing some moose. However moose hunting season is in progress, and the moose were in hiding.
But it was still a successful trip, and we captured a good number of images over the three day stay. Here are a few more pictures of the elk for you to enjoy! Click on each preview images to see the complete picture!
Many of these images are available on my website for purchase on glossy metal or acrylic sheets ready for hanging, stretched canvas, and traditional matting and framing. If you would like to learn how to find and photograph images like these for yourself, please consider a purchase of one of my photo books, including my Wildlife in the Colorado Rockies photography book:
If you would like to learn where to find our magnificent Colorado wildlife, and how to capture beautiful pictures for yourself, please consider a purchase of my book, Wildlife Photography in the Colorado Rockies. This full size publication is just one of several books I have published, and is filled with dozens of full color glossy pictures of Colorado wildlife, along with valuable tips and tricks for tracking and photographing them! Your purchases of course are a great way to support this site and my work helping to preserve our wild heritage and public forest lands.
If you would like to learn more about saving our beautiful iconic wildlife from destruction, please consider my thrilling wildlife advocacy romantic adventure novels!
If you are concerned about endangered wildlife in the western United States, please consider purchasing my series of historical fiction wildlife novels, as told through my group of fascinating fictional characters. In the first of the series, Spirit of the Wolf, you will learn the story of the most famous Yellowstone wolf of all time. Thundering Hooves tells the exciting story of Picasso, the famous stallion who ruled over the Colorado Sand Wash Basin for over two decades.
Steven W. Krull is a renowned photographer and author who has been photographing and writing of the beauty and wildlife of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for over two decades. Please visit his website at S.W. Krull Imaging to view his work, including thousands of prints for sale, stock images for commercial use, and his library of published books.
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Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull 