Pronking Springbok
“I was on vacation in an area of South Africa where springbok are quite common, and I had a goal of capturing this behavior, called pronking,” writes Charles Jorgensen, a member of our Your Shot community. “On a self-drive safari in Mountain Zebra National Park, we found a plateau that attracted many herds of springbok, among other animals. After a few failed attempts at getting the shot, I came across a small herd. They started running, and one of them started to pronk, jumping to amazing heights. I fired away and managed to capture this animal in its acrobatic display.”
Winter Lodgings
A solitary beaver pauses at dawn on its way home from a night of chewing off tree branches, newly within reach under the weight of freshly fallen snow. Your Shot member John Warner explains that the beaver, a mate, and two kits appeared late in the fall on Montana’s Lake Elmo and hastily built a lodge before the winter freeze.
Winter White
Among the wildlife inhabiting Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park are ibex, chamois, red foxes, and ermines such as the one shown here wearing its white winter coat (its spring and summer coat is reddish brown).
Spring Fed
“The winter season is when some manatees find sanctuary from the chilly Gulf of Mexico by migrating to the freshwater springs of Kings Bay in Crystal River, Florida,” writes Ryan Nelson, a member of our Your Shot community. “[A] colder than normal morning created a good opportunity to observe these peaceful giants seeking refuge. The ambient light was perfect for catching the rays of sunlight … [and] the fallen palm stump, natural lighting, and two animals feeding set the perfect stage.”
Sheep Family Portrait
“While I was driving through a sheep farm near Waiuku, New Zealand, these four sheep stopped grazing to watch me watch them,” writes Your Shot member Cameron Zegers. “To achieve this shot, I waited for the sheep in the back to walk into the frame. Luckily, it stopped in the perfect place, and the result looked like a well-posed family portrait.”
Snow Bird
During a milder February day in Alberta, Canada, Your Shot member P. Vaudry went for a hike along the Bow River in Fish Creek Provincial Park. “While walking through Hull’s Wood, I noticed this northern flicker in a tree. I approached, and the flicker remained still. To me, [it] was thoroughly enjoying the warmth of the sun, so much so that it didn’t seem to notice that I was there.”
(National Geographic)
