This shot strikes me as something unique to the American west, even though I suppose it’s possible to get similar pictures elsewhere in the world too. The grassy plains in the foreground, the mountains in the background, and of course the gigantic bison at roughly the bottom third of the picture all combine to create a scene that makes the viewer think of an Old West aesthetic: Native Americans, cowboys, frontiers, and untamed wilderness beckoning one to adventure. That might seem a bit grandiose, and perhaps it is especially considering that I took this shot not from horseback but from the side of an air-conditioned Subaru, but it makes me think about things much bigger, and much older, than this present time and that’s something I find to be incredibly powerful.
I took this picture one morning on our trip to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge when my wife and I loaded up the kids and decided to get started with our hiking early so as to avoid the hundred-degree temps that were predicted within a few hours. We drove through the refuge for several miles on our way to Elk Mountain Trail, but found our drive unexpectedly interrupted by a herd of bison: some on the road, some grazing on grass, one one that was using a 20MPH speed limit sign as a scratching post. My wife pulled the car to a stop on the side of the road and all four of us just kind of sat there in the relative safety of the Subaru while watching these massive beasts go about their business, and making sure to keep our distance, ready to hightail it out of there at the first sign of trouble. After a minute I stepped out with my D500 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens to see if I could get a few shots of these animals, and eventually got the picture you see above.
What really sells the image, at least in my opinion, is the sense that it is a complete composition. It’s not just two bison on the prairie. It’s the entire scene, in which the bison are but component parts. All the elements (sky, mountains, trees, grass, and bison) work together to create a complete whole and the animals, necks bent and tails wagging, are just as essential as any of the other parts. It’s a visual representation of 1 Corinthians 12, and a reminder to me of why it’s important to have something greater in mind than just the subject you are photographing when you take out your camera and start to click away.
Mahesh says
Lovely composition and story of the whole enviroment.
Was wondering why you choose a f-stop of 2.8 for this frame?
I am an amateur photographer trying to learn the basics.
Simon says
Great question! F/2.8 allowed me to get a blurry background, which helped the overall composition feel more impactful. I certainly didn’t need a large aperture to freeze the movement of the buffalo since they were moving slowly and just taking their time. But shooting with a smaller aperture would have put the mountains in focus which, while not a bad thing, would have taken the viewer’s eyes away from the buffalo in the foreground. It’s a subtle thing, but one that really does matter.
Tom J Frye says
Up on Pine Ridge.
This hard-nosed Fed and his agents stormed onto Chief Black Elk’s land. The Fed, a cantankerous fellow, walked stiffly up to the porch to address the Chief. He stopped two
feet from Black Elk, lowered his shades, and snapped, “We’ve heard from a reliable snitch that you’re growing marijuana here on your land, Chief! We’re here to search your land! Don’t interfere and you won’t get hurt, understand?”
The Chief nodded and silently watched as the Fed walked boldly toward the fence of his corral. The Fed started to climb the fence when Black Elk protested, “No, Agent, you shouldn’t go in there.”
The Fed leaped down from the fence, whipped out his badge, and snarled, “See this badge, Chief? This badge gives me the right to go anywhere I damn well please! This badge gives me the right to search your land in any location I deem fit! This badge gives me authority to
do anything I damned well please!”
The Chief shrugged and watched as the Fed climbed the fence, jumped down into his field, and started across it, his eyes locked on the weed plants growing wild on the opposite side. A second later, the Fed came racing across the field with a bull buffalo chasing behind him! He was sweating bullets and grimacing with the effort to stay ahead of the enraged bull.
Chief Black Elk grinned and shouted, “Your badge, Agent! Show him your damned badge!”
Simon says
Hahahaha!!! Tom, you always find a way to make me smile and this was one of the best. I laughed out loud…literally!
Jill McKechnie says
I completely agree with your assessment. There’s nothing more majestic and awe inspiring then God’s creation. I’d love to ask God one day how He came up with the idea of jellyfish {lol!) They’re so weird.
My son lives in Oklahoma City, so I’m hoping to get to visit him in the next several months and visit the Tallgrass Prairie preserve. I think there’s buffalo there too.
Have a great trip!
Simon says
I know what you mean, Jill. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord! I hope you are able to visit the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve on your trip. I’ve been there, and it’s beautiful!