The image above was taken in Yellowstone National Park in October of 1998. I was using my Canon EOS A2 camera along with my Tokina 400mm f/5.6 lens mounted upon my Bogen tripod. I was most definitely keeping a safe distance as this Bull Elk was in full rut and several female elk were moving out in front of him. I watched as several other very foolish professional photographers were putting themselves and their equipment in harms way by being physically way to close to this magnificient creature who was becoming very agitated with them. At one point, one of the other photographers had to abandon his very expensive camera equipment in the middle of the road as the Elk was getting ready to charge him. A very foolish thing for any nature photographer to do, not only for his/her own safety, but also for the safety of the animals in the wild. A good nature photographer can get the desired shot without upsetting the animals in their environment. I captured this Bull Elk on film just as he was about to jump a small stream to follow his girls.

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