I love Rocky Mountain Sheep. They are amazing animals and can be wonderful photographic subjects. I get excited about the possibilities of all these ideal scenes.
Somehow when I actually make the photos, it doesn’t always work out like the scenario I had in my mind. Here’s a few that were just a little odd.
It’s hard not to tilt my head when looking at this photo.
The sheep love licking the salt on the road which doesn’t feel like the wild image I was after. Nevertheless, I had to make one documentary photo. Besides, I am getting some interesting, curious looks.
It was probably just my imagination but I sense she was thinking something like, “Really? You have to take a picture of me now! I thot I could protect my modesty by standing behind this shrub.”
I never did figure out why the sheep in the background were mooning me.
In my head I’m imaging two giant rams crashing into each other with a thunderous sound that echoes through the valley. That’s not quite what happened here.
I didn’t think nursing would produce a scene like this. First of the all the “baby” is almost as big as the mother. It walked up to her and violently threw its head up against her udders twice and then went in for a drink out there on the road. Odd.
The idyllic scene of a nimble young sheep quickly jumping over an obstacle. That works. It just seems a little less than ideal to be jumping on to the road. But it happens.
Sometimes there are awkward moments that happen in the lens and it makes me wonder if I am supposed to be watching!
I also got some good shots … for a less odd kind of day.
Krahnpix 
Definite;y got a few chuckles looking at these and reading the captions-does that make me a voyeur by association?
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Thanks for the post-work smiles, and the gorgeous animals. Your thoughts are just as interesting as the subjects themselves 🙂
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I love bighorn sheep! And I love that tilted-head expression that you get from certain young ones like those in your opening shot. I have photographed them nursing in the most unbelievable spots, like right on the edge of a cliff, they are just amazing animals… Love your series, Lyle, outstanding work as always.
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Good picture
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Thanks.
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It’s so endearing when they look straight at you, or are they thinking I’m going to head butt him if he takes one more photo?
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I’ve often wondered what they are thinking. I’m guessing the head butt is high on the list.
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Ah, the joys of trying to capture images of a wild animal in its natural environment. The reality, as you so beautifully show, is that roads and man-made objects now form a part of the everyday world for these creatures as much as meadows and mountains. Your images also show the personalities of these sheep (who knew that sheep had personalities), especially in their interactions with each other. I do need to read titles a little more attentively–I initially thought it said “the otter collection,” though one of you shots could be included in “the udder collection.”
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When I see animals interacting with the world that humans have created, it really makes me think about what it was like before all the roads and cities were there. I watched a fascinating documentary about the land around Chernobyl that is returning to its former state, creating a wildlife haven. It is rather ironic outcome from that terrible event. It is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg0mVzL-gAg
I wish I had an otter collection – that’s on the list. I was hinting at the udder collection so I’m glad you picked up on that.
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Lovely animals 🙂
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They are indeed.
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These were fun and excellent shots, #1 and #4 really work for me, and I like the way you made the shots happen.
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Fun and excellent is great combination. You picked the best shots in my world too. Glad you enjoyed them.
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very attentive subjects … and great cutups, too. 🙂
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Attentive is right – they can be quite focused. Glad you liked them.
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I really was smiling at each image. One because they are so good, and the other because your captions fir perfectly. It is always a joy when I see a new post from you Lyle. Your wildlife is so darn wild.
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Smiles are good! Sometimes humour is the only connection between unusual photos. Glad you liked it.
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Thanks for starting my Monday off with a great laugh! 😀
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That’s how Monday’s should start – happy it worked.
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Definitely a sheepish look on the ewe in that last photo…
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Yes that’s exactly right! And well described.
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Quite the collection of photos! Yes, what life presents is often odd, but still interesting.
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If they were too much the same, they would be boring. You never know what life will present.
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I especially like the first photo and not just because of the amazing setting (which it is) but also because of the interplay of the various angles. But all terrific looks at these wonderful animals.
Oh, that butt shot was a fun one!
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The first one was my favourite too. There were some crazy angles there – I wasn’t sure which way to hold my camera! Glad you liked them. They are amusing creatures.
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Awesome photos! You captions crack me up. We were just in Yellowstone but didn’t see any action quite like you’ve got here. Any tips for finding these guys?
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Glad you enjoyed the post. I had to do something fun with these photos!
I wish I had some great tips. We were in Yellowstone last year and I had some absolutely wonderful photo opportunities. I also got really, really bored driving up and down the Lamar Valley many times without seeing anything other than a few sheep which were eating without looking up until a storm broke and I left. The sheep in the above photos were taken last fall in Kananaskis, Alberta – on and beside the road. They often show up in the same place so they are relatively easy to find there.
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Interesting! We’ll have to add Kananaskis to our itinerary when we make it up north. If you’re searching for sheep in YNP try the north side between Mammoth and Glacier. 🙂
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There are also sheep in Banff around Lake Minnewanka.
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I just had some of these awkward moments yesterday at the rodeo – too many pictures of the rear ends of bulls who need a wipe! Love the angles in the first photo.
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Yes animals can sometimes give less-than-pleasing perspectives. The angle was a fun challenge – glad you like it.
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