As with anything we are passionate about, and aspire to do better, we must practice and study.  Learning from masters in the trade that have come before us is a good way of learning.  As such, I have been studying from my photography masters and reading their advice and wisdom.  Joe McNally, as a photo journalist, cites the key is to capture ‘gestures’.  Whether it’s in the expressions, the actions of the individuals, or the drama as it unfolds.  No doubt,  Joe didn’t have elk in mind when he offers this advice.  But the same is true.

Just as ‘a picture tells a story’, so do the movements and expressions of my subject… and in this case, our elk.  Their territorial nudges, tender nose kisses, or ‘banter’ between themselves all convey emotion and interest.

I’ve been fortunate enough to get a lot of elk photos… but with the astute advice of a photography master… my photos can become better, more poignant, and tell a better story.