"Elk in Fog"

This photograph is from my Smoky Mountain Elk Collection and so far, is my favorite elk photograph.   It was a cool September morning in the Great Smoky Mountains.  The kind of morning where I can here every twig snap and every leaf crinkle as I walk along the mountain paths and roads.  Along one of the meadows, a large bull is making his way up the valley through forest and field.  He is a beautiful elk with well sharpened antlers and one strip of greenery hanging from where he was thrashing earlier that morning.  Only 50 yards away, another bull eyes him carefully and keeps his distance. It is such amazing time of year as each bull tries to secure his own harem for breeding season.  Sometimes there are clashes between bulls, but I am least guaranteed to see great poses and showdowns each autumn.  In the end this bull was not the strongest or at least most aggressive bull that day, but he was such a great looking animal. I can't wait to see what is in store for me next year as I explore the Great Smoky Mountains!

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If you haven't already done so, it is time to setup the hummingbird feeders. I have a great deal of activity at my feeders and have started photographing the ruby-throated hummingbird.

As many of you know, I expand The Hummingbird Project in my backyard every year. This year, I am using different flower arrangements and other unique backgrounds to really make the image pop. If you are unfamiliar with The Hummingbird Project check out these links to get you started and following my journey.

Hummingbird Project:
http://blog.mattcuda.com/2016/06/the-hummingbird-project.html
http://blog.mattcuda.com/2018/02/june-was-month-for-hummingbirds.html

Hummingbird Photography Podcast Episode:
http://www.mattcuda.com/app/podcast/Episode16.mp3

My Goals for the Hummingbird Project this Year

• Create images showing the birds from different angles
• Create images of the birds in different settings. This might involve different locations or different backgrounds.
• Keep from duplicating previous years photography
• Don't get so hung up photographing the birds that I forget to enjoy their behavior

A male ruby-throated hummingbird gathering nectar from penstemon. 

I encourage all nature photographers to make an effort to photograph these amazing little birds at least one time. There are numerous approaches you can use to capture images of these little guys, so I encourage you to view the above links to find out more. I tend to gravitate more toward the "artsy" side of things with hummers. It gives them the formal, somewhat regal, images they deserve.