I know I'm absent most of the time. Doesn't mean I don't think of you all. I've just been on an extended break. I've needed one. Now I'm really trying to get back into things, but I'm so rusty it's not funny. Still & stupid mistakes all the time.
Anyhow, I had family visiting for the month of August & we did some traveling around. One place we went to as usual was Las Vegas NV. Before returning home to LA we went past Hoover Dam. First time for all of us. I told my sister that I hoped we'd see some Desert Bighorns, but knowing how rare those are to catch I really didn't think we'd see any. Well on our way back to the highway guess what....
We got to see a ram. I hit the breaks so hard my sister & her man think I've hit something. All I can do is say Bighorn Bighorn Bighorn. So where's the camera - - in the trunk, with the 24-70mm lens on it. So I have to pop the hood, change lens & hope the highway patrol won't come after me & that the ram will stick around.
Yes, this is a wild Desert Bighorn, but he's right next to the road & habitation.
Well I got a few shots in
Shot with my month old D800 & the 70-300VR. Still learning the camera & keep telling myself to check my settings. I keep messing up.
Not super exciting, but I'm still thrilled. I got to see a Desert Bighorn in the Wild. Non of the family were all that impressed. But it kept me going all the way home from Hoover Dam. I did all the driving after all, so it was obviously a high for me.
Hi Lil. welcome back. Time to time we are all going missing from the FM for awhile. . I like your captures very much. 2nd and 4th ones are my top picks.
been too long Lil
Thanks for the "Bighorn."
Our sheep carry a lot more wool than those, but as I grew up on a property where we shore about 15000 every year of which 150 were rams the pic does raise a question for me
If he is wild, who cut the tips off his horns??
Welcome back Lil, lets hope you are able to stick around for a while
I would have done exactly what you did Yes they aren't the most natural shots but you got to see them, you wonderful memories because of them and the shots you came back with are technically wonderful. Great job, I'm sure your still grinning!
Jude Perera wrote:
Hi Lil. welcome back. Time to time we are all going missing from the FM for awhile. . I like your captures very much. 2nd and 4th ones are my top picks.
Jude
Thank you so very much Jude & I appreciate your top picks.
Lil
noelle wrote:
I would have done the same thing to my family
Your subject looks good and nice and sharp where needed.
#2 is my pick!
Well at least I've learned - - I drive & then if I see something i want to photograph - - I hit the breaks The amount of shots I miss because others won't stop......... Need I say more. Still when I'm not driving, there are all the times I can just take a shot by opening a window etc.
Glad you got to see ole' rectangle eye...having never seen one of these except in photos as well, I am sure I would have just about put everyone through the windshield stopping the car. Congrats and welcome back!
Eric
Tim Ashton wrote:
been too long Lil
Thanks for the "Bighorn."
Our sheep carry a lot more wool than those, but as I grew up on a property where we shore about 15000 every year of which 150 were rams the pic does raise a question for me
If he is wild, who cut the tips off his horns??
Tim
Thanks Tim, you're too sweet
Yes, wool they don't have much of in the heat. Lets accept fact - - these sheep are exposed to temps well into the 100F during the Summer in Nevada & Arizona. I'm sure that the winter coats are far thicker. It gets a lot cooler during the winter I'm sure.
As for the tips of his horns.... I have no idea. They were very uneven, so maybe fighting or the elements Or maybe they're "collected" now & then & released after the government's done something to them. After all, they're wild, but they're living right next to people in these areas.
15000 that's a lot of sheep Tim
Lil
72chevelle454 wrote:
Welcome back Lil
Great find, and I agree.. hit the brakes hard and explain why afterwards.
Sharp, exposed spot on. Congrats on your find.
Thanks Chad,
during my last visit you seemed not to be around..... Glad my "driving" gets approval
Thanks for your kind words - - I promise, I do have some birds to share as well
Lil
harshaj1 wrote:
Welcome back Lil. You did great.
Hope to see more postings soon.
Harsha
Thanks Harsha,
You're far too kind. I'm still learning the D800 - but to shoot these at ISO 100 with the sun behind the Bighorn was not the best of circumstances ah well it worked out. VR sure helped
I have more boring shots to share, so hopefully they will keep me going
Hey Lil good to see you back. From the look of these it looks like you are mastering the new toy quite well. Now for the backgrounds? Still it must have been a thrill.
Gary Lee 44 wrote:
Glad to see you back Lil. Missed you! Stone dead sharp. You are still in the game Lil!
Gary
Thanks Gary,
so sweet & you're all making me feel so welcome back Good feeling in the middle of the week for sure
Glad you like & that I'm "still in the game"
Lil
Tim Kuhn wrote:
Welcome back Lil, lets hope you are able to stick around for a while
I would have done exactly what you did Yes they aren't the most natural shots but you got to see them, you wonderful memories because of them and the shots you came back with are technically wonderful. Great job, I'm sure your still grinning!
Tim
Thanks Tim,
I'm feeling a lot better. I've come to terms with Ross's early retirement etc. He even told me to get the new camera. It's been a few trying years. This last one especially in the department of loss of pets. First my beloved Destined, my horse of 15 yrs who I had to let go to sleep as his legs gave out on him. Then Andrea's little West highland White Terrier had to be let sleep last month. She had a huge mass in her chest turning 13 & once we saw that, Andrea let her go. Then Ross forgot the cage door of our Lovebirds (Dwarf sized parrots) & 7 out of 9 flew away. I went into shock over that one. Losing one now & then is upsetting, but to lose 7 birds out of which 5 were born in that aviary....... They're all about 5 - 11 yrs old. So a trying pet year for sure. Anyhow, I'm planing to attempt to stick around.
Glad everyone understands my driving that time and yes - main thing is, I got to see them. I lived on those shots for days & they sure kept me awake for the 6 hr drive home that afternoon/evening. I was very excited
Thanks Tim
Lil
surfnron wrote:
These look good to me Lil. A more natural bg would have been better, but sometimes you have to take what you can get... Glad to see you back too ~ Ron
Thanks Ron,
I would have love it on a mountain side, but reality is, I didn't get a chance to hike around & with the temps being well over 100F - who wanted to. All family was complaining as it was This is what I got & I'm glad, it was not a game reserve nor a zoo. It's wild. End of story
Thanks again Ron & for making me feel so welcome back
eyelaser wrote:
Glad you got to see ole' rectangle eye...having never seen one of these except in photos as well, I am sure I would have just about put everyone through the windshield stopping the car. Congrats and welcome back!
Eric
Thanks Eric,
you may not have seen a Desert Bighorn Sheep - - but you sure have seen some amazing animals in their Natural Habitat over the years.
Thanks again & I'm glad you enjoyed
Rob Tillyer wrote:
Hey Lil good to see you back. From the look of these it looks like you are mastering the new toy quite well. Now for the backgrounds? Still it must have been a thrill.
Rob
Hi there Rob,
I'm getting better at it. It's mostly me being forgetful to check my settings etc. The camera is great - I love it. Yes the backgrounds..... It's not like a bird which could actually be sitting on a tree branch a foot from a trash can. The Bighorn does demand a tad more space & is therefor a lot harder to "hid" the actual surroundings of
Welcome back Lil!
That's a fine specimen of a Ram you got there and well worth the unscheduled stop. I could feel your excitement coming through in the narrative.
Cheers,
Martin
. I like your captures very much. 2nd and 4th ones are my top picks. 
Or maybe they're "collected" now & then & released after the government's done something to them. After all, they're wild, but they're living right next to people in these areas.