Huge Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park

A huge bull elk is a spectacular sight, especially when it is in rut mode. What if that was the view in your camera's viewfinder? I have that opportunity for you.

Join me to photograph the elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park this September (2025). I just learned that a repeat tour participant had to cancel their reservation for both weeks due to medical reasons, so I have one opening for each or both weeks of this not previously announced yet filled tour.

Special Offer: Sign up for both weeks and get two bonus days plus transportation from and to Denver.

Learn more: Elk Rut in Rocky Mountain National Park Photo Tour

Contact me for more information or to sign up.

The 1/125 sec. shutter speed used for this image is often too slow to stop the motion of wildlife. However, elk are usually relatively still when bugling.

With the camera in manual exposure mode with auto ISO selected and the top dial configured for shutter speed, a quick roll of the dial enabled fast adjustment to a slow shutter speed when the elk's motion paused. The result was the camera immediately auto selecting a considerably lower and less noisy ISO setting than was in use moments before.

Aperture is the third image brightness component of manual exposure. I photograph wildlife with a wide-open aperture unless increased depth of field is desired, such as when multiple animals are in the frame.