First plane with diagonal © JRP

Pronghorn
J. Ramon Palacios (jrp)
 Camera  Nikon D2X handheld; AF-C, Lock On
 Lens

80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR Zoom Nikkor @ 400mm

 Filter Nikon A2 warming filter
 Aperture f/7.6
 Shutter speed  1/250 seconds
 Film / ISO 400
 Date October, 2005
 Location Custer State Park, South Dakota, USA
 Comments

The day was cold and windy in the early morning. So much that we returned for breakfast to our hotel. But the afternoon turned glorious when we saw this pronghorn with his harem. Still dark and windy, raised the ISO to 400 to get a steady shot at a decent speed, knowing that someone could scare them away fast and the opportunity would be lost. I left the tripod in the van and riskied three shots handheld; and then a shy sun came out from the clouds, raising the shutter speed from 1/60 to 1/250 of a second to make this one. Even at that speed the grass and trees are moving, but the beatiful male was steady on his tracks.