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The big, bad...

Posted by Viewfinder (Bradenton, FL, United States) on 1 August 2007 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

Wolf. Timber wolf, to be exact.

This is not an animal you expect to find on a dune in panhandle Florida. But in early July at our panhandle vacation cottage, sure enough, this big guy showed up. Huffing and puffing.

However, not to worry, he didn't come to blow the house down. The man who owns the cottage keeps this wolf as a pet. He was walking his wolf along the beach that day. On their way back to the car, the wolf noticed us excited tourista paparazzi-types waiting to snap his picture.

So all shy-like, wolfie took a detour from the boardwalk and sort of strolled up across the dune to avoid us, then met up with his owner at the car and they drove away.

But my zoom lens did its work anyway, and voila! This image in all its glory...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL AT AM3. I am out and probably away from the computer all this week. We are headed to north Georgia to spend Thanksgiving with our son and his wife and her family. I hope everyone who celebrates this holiday has a wonderful day, filled with turkey and gratitude for every blessing. And those who do not, I hope will remember to count their blessings and be thankful. Packing and getting the SUV all set for the drive today; we leave very early Tuesday morning and plan to return sometime Sunday.

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Comments (34)

Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada

I have seen wolves in the wild but they are off so quickly that it is extremely difficult to get a shot.

1 Aug 2007 5:36am

@Michael Rawluk: It was split-second timing; he moved so gracefully, but so swiftly that I wondered if I could get a good shot. But on the ridge of the dune, he paused...

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Pet or no pet, it's a great shot!

1 Aug 2007 6:34am

@Craiger: Ha-ha. What big teeth he has... Thanks!

ColNed Pictures from Amersfoort, Netherlands

Great shot, good that you had your zoom lens wit you !

1 Aug 2007 7:16am

@ColNed Pictures: Missed him on the way to the beach, but I was hoping to catch him on the way back.

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Wow! great capture Viewfinder :)

1 Aug 2007 9:44am

@MaryB: Thank you, MaryB.

Richard Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom

Well cool, the story you tell of your encounter was great, and the wolf is very impressive

1 Aug 2007 10:02am

@Richard Irwin: Thanks. This wolf certainly impressed all of us that day.

Myst from Bologna, Italy

Wow! Superb capture!

1 Aug 2007 10:53am

@Myst: Grazie.

Erik from Hamar, Norway

Oh damn! That's nothing you see everyday :D Great capture!

1 Aug 2007 11:08am

@Erik: :-D Thanks.

Natalia from Louisville, United States

Very handsome animal. Great shot!

1 Aug 2007 11:44am

@Natalia: Yes he is. Thank you, Natalia.

kairospix from Singapore, Singapore

nice long distance capture!
i watched a doucmentary where this guy actually lives with the wolves just so as to understand their behaviours - i think it was either on National Geographic or Discovery - interesting show

1 Aug 2007 1:04pm

@kairospix: This wolf's appearance at the beach surprised and amazed us all.

Bron from Canberra, Australia

Excellent capture and very fascinating story Viewfinder - I had no idea a wolf could be tamed. I suppose originally dogs were wolves so it's not so far fetched!

1 Aug 2007 1:23pm

@Bron: The owner said his wolf is very shy of most people, even sometimes of him. Which led me to wondering what might have happened if the wolf had decided to take off cross-country that morning instead of meeting the owner at their car.

tengtan from Melbourne, Australia

It certainly seems to fit in this environment with the harmonious colouring. Wonderful to have such a view from your cottage. Well captured.

1 Aug 2007 1:42pm

@tengtan: Thanks TT. This was one totally unexpected view, let me tell you. It was exciting to watch this wolf move across the dune -- almost as silent as a ghost in broad daylight.

amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada

That is a GREAT shot!! The way his colouring is so similar to the background. Well done!!

It's not really uncommon for people to have wolf cross dogs up here in our part of the world.

1 Aug 2007 2:06pm

@amy: Thank you. I had never seen one of these "up close and personal" -- much less, expected to see one on the beach. So it's sudden appearance was quite dramatic and quite memorable.

Lorraine from Canada

Fantastic! He si sooo beautiful. Great capture VF

1 Aug 2007 3:02pm

@Lorraine: My photo hardly does justice to the size, strength, and may I say "presence" of this wolf on that particular day. But thank you for the positive words; I appreciate your comments.

zoloper from Bucuresti, Romania

nice capture :D an interesting event in your life i guess :P
the wolf really adapted to the environment. he is only white on the back

1 Aug 2007 6:18pm

@zoloper: Thank you. Yes, he sort of blends with the sand; perhaps the better to catch those little wild sand piggies... <grinning>

Sriram from Chennai, India

Lovely story, moment and a lot of life on your images!

Very impressive work and commitment on the art! Inspiring!

1 Aug 2007 6:34pm

@Sriram: You are very kind to say this. I appreciate your being here and am encouraged by what you say. :-)

LuisRodrigues from Lisbon, Portugal

Nice catch!

1 Aug 2007 7:06pm

@LuisRodrigues: Thank you, Luis.

Shane from Toronto, Canada

It looks as though he was posing and knew you were taking a picture of him. Great shot!

1 Aug 2007 7:21pm

@Shane: It was kind of nice of him, eh? I knew I had only a split second to catch him coming up the dune... it was tense.

Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States

A great shot! The brush really gives it a "National Geographic" feel. Quick thinking!

1 Aug 2007 7:51pm

@Ken McCoy: Thank you Ken. You are giving me a nice compliment. It was instinct and reflexes alone that got this shot.

Celialee from Kyoto, Japan

Oh wow, oh wow. It is beautiful!

1 Aug 2007 7:52pm

@Celialee: You are so kind. Thank you Celialee. :-)

Bob Israel from Brookfield, WI, United States

Nice shot. I know how hard these are to come by!!!

1 Aug 2007 8:08pm

@Bob Israel: Thank you, Bob. Your shots lately have been incredible!

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

Fabulous shot! Beautiful timberwolf!

1 Aug 2007 8:36pm

@Jen: Looking into this wolf's eyes and seeing how he looked back at you, from high up on the food chain, untamed and not at all afraid -- as if you or I were possibly a mere annoyance, was a thrilling experience.

Cathie et Michel from Paris, France

reat shot ! beautiful animal !

1 Aug 2007 10:12pm

@Cathie et Michel: Merci, mes amis.

Oddiy from Paris, France

Excellent capture!

1 Aug 2007 10:35pm

@Oddiy: You are kind; thanks.

Tyler from Abilene, United States

it kinda looks like snow not sand around him...so he fits in. even if it is florida!

1 Aug 2007 10:55pm

@Tyler: I am sure this wolf is wondering how he got here when there are so many beautifully green northern forests to roam.

HorseRotorVator from Newton, United States

That is AWESOME! Cool shot! I would love to have a wolf as a pet! :)

1 Aug 2007 11:57pm

@HorseRotorVator: Thank you HRV. A wolf as a pet would be a rush. Can't you just see the muscle-breed dog owners just melting into a puddle of envy or pee as you and your wolf walk by? Lol.

Dawn Sutherland from Phoenix, United States

Great capture!!!

2 Aug 2007 12:49am

@Dawn Sutherland: Thanks Dawn, I appreciate your encouraging comments.

Amit from Santa Clara, United States

Such a nice dog...well captured

2 Aug 2007 1:23am

@Amit: This wolf knows who he is, a king, and does not look or behave like a dog when you observe him in person. I just wish I could have caught those eyes looking directly at the camera -- then you'd really see the feral wildness they still contain.

Shrig from New Jersey, United States

Nice! Were you very close to the wolf or just a longer lens? If you were close, you are brave.

Well done either way.

2 Aug 2007 2:52am

@Shrig: Thanks for the compliment. Now, for true confessions: Long lens. Not too close. Not brave. Safe on the cottage balcony.
;-)

Rob from United States

I love all canines but the wolf is an amazing creature and has always captured my heart. This guy is walking with the cautious step of a great hunter even in this domestic setting. I grew up with a family that had "tame" wolves and cross bread them with German Shepherds. Even several generations of this mix breeds later and you could still see the Wild Animal in them.

All those words really come to this... excellent shot! Thanks for posting it.

2 Aug 2007 5:09pm

@Rob: Thank you very much for your kind words; and your thoughts and experiences shared here add a lot to this image. I agree, I love all canines, and wolves have always been a fascination for me. It was such a RUSH to actually see this magnificent animal so relatively close and no bars or chains on him. I was so excited to get this one shot.

Johnny from San Mateo, United States

is it allowed to have wolf as a pet? :)

2 Aug 2007 6:18pm

@Johnny: It must be, at least in Florida. I'm told there's an island near here where some wolves are rehabilitated and re-fitted for life in the wild, later to be released out West somewhere.

bronzebilly u.k. from cardiff, United Kingdom

hey Viewfinder--what a story--what a result--great slice of life--billy

2 Aug 2007 11:31pm

@bronzebilly u.k.: A big thank you, Billy...
=)

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

A 450mm? That must have set you back some. I have one of those cheap Nikon 70-300mm lens. It's a good deal for the money but it's essentially unusable at any aperture wider than about f8, and even f8 is marginal for sharpness. But as I remember, just about anything bigger was pretty expensive.

4 Aug 2007 2:58pm

@Twelvebit: 450mm? Noticed it in the picture info details; I was wondering about that, too. Actually, I think this 450mm must have come from some cropping I did; mine is a cheap 70-300 lens, too. Can't afford a larger lens, or won't part with the money is probably closer to the truth.

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

By the way, I put my cheapo 70-300mm to use for essentially the first time over the weekend and got some great shots with it. I set the aperture to f11, and left it there, and had to crank the ISO up to 400. Some shots at 300mm weren't as sharp as I'd like but at that focal length I felt like I couldn't hold the camera steady, so camera shake may be the problem. I'm going to have to make some objective tests to see for sure.

6 Aug 2007 2:23pm

@Twelvebit: I was looking at a couple of camera mags today and found a previously known but then forgotten technique for camera shake. Use your camera bag to steady your camera if a tripod isn't convenient or available. One guy talked about getting a bag of beans and duct taping it into a camera/lens support device. Creative ideas, easy and cheap. I like cheap and easy.

Michael from Wuppertal, Germany

Yep. You did it. Great image, great story.

7 Aug 2007 8:44pm

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Nikon D50
1/640 second
F/6.0
450 mm (35mm equiv.)