Bighorn Ram Portrait
by Judi Dressler
Title
Bighorn Ram Portrait
Artist
Judi Dressler
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
It was the time of year when the males are rutting -- consumed with females and mating (and fighting for them if necessary). This Bighorn Ram was expressing his desires while keeping watch over "his" flock of ewes (females). I love going down to the canyon to watch and photograph them during rutting season, because not only it is fascinating to watch their behavior, but also they are less concerned with people being nearby and often come right down to the road.
From the National Park Service: "Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are the largest wild sheep in North America. Muscular males can weigh over 300 pounds and stand over three feet tall at the shoulder. Females are roughly half this size.... Specialized hooves and rough soles provide a natural grip as bighorn sheep make precarious jumps and breath-taking climbs up and down sharp cliff faces.... Males, called rams, have large horns that curl around their faces by eight years of age. These horns can weigh up to 30 pounds. Females, called ewes, have smaller horns that curve slightly to a sharp point within the first four years of life."
Photo taken on October 31, 2018, in Waterton Canyon, Littleton, Colorado
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Descriptive tags and keywords for this image include bighorn,bighorn sheep,ram, bighorn ram, wild sheep, portrait, rut, rutting, courting, mating, breeding, male, calling, cliffs, canyons, mountains, proud, powerful, love, in love, flirting, mountain goats, dominance, colorado, rutting season, ovis canadensis, bovidae, wildlife, animals, sheep, wild, goats, nature, photo, photography, photograph, judi dressler, and dressler.
Uploaded
May 17th, 2019
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Viewed 1,426 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/10/2024 at 2:18 PM
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Comments (22)
Lorraine Baum
Congratulations Judi - Your wonderful image has been Featured in the All COLORADO group. Please add it to the 2023 Featured Archives group discussion. L/F
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups Special Features #20 promotion discussion. Please help your fellow artists by visiting and passing on the love to another artist in the the 1000 Views Group....L/F/Tw
Geraldine Scull
Wow, awesome portrait ! Nominating in the 1000 Views Group for a Special Feature~ L/F
Diana Mary Sharpton
Nominating this marvelous Bighorn capture for special feature on the 1000 view group... T/F
Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group ..... Please place your featured image in the Feature Archive and any other appropriate Archives l/f/p
Bijan Pirnia
I bet he was saying, "Just look at me. Aren't I handsome?" Your wildlife artwork is superb, my lady.
Morris Finkelstein
Wonderful portrait photograph of a Bighorn with great pose, clarity, framing, and composition, Judi! F/L