Come on, Spring! Bring it on!  by vera365

Come on, Spring! Bring it on!

You can always count on the goats/rams in the nearby park. Although there are no spring flowers there, but the goats ARE ready for spring. There was some head butting going on too, but hard to photograph because of the trees.
As usually, thank you all for stopping by, leaving a reaction, comment of for critiquing my pictures. I appreciate any kind of input. Thank you.
Wow, that would be something to see!
March 2nd, 2015  
Oh, it's quite thrilling, especially because there are no fences between people and animals, they are just roaming free. And when their heads crash with each other, it's VERY loud, as if someone is breaking big trees. @danette
March 2nd, 2015  
Wow!!! That would be crazy to see!!!! Great shot!
March 2nd, 2015  
Awesome shot! I'd be chicken to stand too close to those horns with all that butting going on!
March 2nd, 2015  
Thanks, Amanda and Montez! Montez, I was kind of worried - I was alone in the park, as during the week, people only sometimes use it to cut through the town on their way to/from work. I was thinking - I've been standing and following those (male) rams for a while now, what if they would think I was the competition? There would be no one to help me. So, I kept eyeing the next tree or bench to hind behind just to be on the safe side. But luckily, they are used to people, and too busy with their "spring business". Poor females, I can tell you that!!!!!!!
@froggie0628 @monty147
March 2nd, 2015  
Awesome capture he looks like he's ready to but heads.
March 2nd, 2015  
@franklein Thank you! He was the main perpetrator, he would come up to others, touch them with the front "paw", and then back up to take approach with the hope that the other one takes up the challenge. And if the challenge was accepted, then they crashed. But I think they need a little warmer day than today to really get into the mood. I will try to catch them later :)
March 2nd, 2015  
:D
March 2nd, 2015  
Great capture, he does look ready to go.
March 2nd, 2015  
stretchies!
March 2nd, 2015  
Love the pose! Great shot!
March 2nd, 2015  
Wow, that stance! Absolutely gorgeous animal - so powerful. And I can't get over those horns. Astounding that these rams are just there in the park with you. As a city girl, I simply can't imagine :)
March 2nd, 2015  
A ram doing upward facing dog? Wonderful capture!
March 2nd, 2015  
lovely pose
March 2nd, 2015  
He is a handsome ram though. Good photo.
March 2nd, 2015  
Kim
You are too brave! Wonderful shot of this impressive ram.
March 2nd, 2015  
Great capture.
March 2nd, 2015  
lol he is doing streching ;0)
March 2nd, 2015  
Stunning horns
March 2nd, 2015  
Great action shot, focus, dof
March 2nd, 2015  
Thank you so much for your kind comments and favs!

Sophia, I didn't even think about yoga, but now that you mention....!!!!

Judith, believe it or not, these are part of the "city" of Ludwigsburg, they live in the park just opposite from the main palace! There are also two types of gorgeous deer in the park, but those are much more shy and hardly ever come so close to tie people. The rams (and their ladies) are the most feisty ones, even eating carrots or chestnuts off your hands if you bring some.

@lynbonn @blueberry1222 @kwind @judithaltman @sophiaz @sm61ffy @flowerfairyann @kimdavis @lindacarol @sgianettoni @neatz @seattlite @shepherdmanswife @jeremyduncan @lianal
March 2nd, 2015  
good pose. he is a lovely colour
March 2nd, 2015  
Fabulous. He could do somebody a serious injury with those horns.
March 2nd, 2015  
What a superb animal - well caught.
That's you next challenge then - the headbutting shot. We're all waiting on you now... no pressure.

March 2nd, 2015  
Thanks, Jennifer, Babs and Rob!

Rob, I got one today, but I was not ready - wrong settings on the camera turned out a blurry image of two rams smudged in the midair. Plus, I was too far, and once I had the right settings, and got close enough, they worked down their testosterone (or whatever they have) and became buddies again. But... I WILL be back there. I just have to ask them to do it in the open, give me a warning, and keep their butting trajectory in the plain view of the camera! Piece of cake! ;)
@jennyjustfeet @onewing @isimo
March 2nd, 2015  
I know what you mean. My shot today was a grab shot and it's not razor sharp. Sometimes you just have to run with it and shoot anyway, just to get the shot.

Here's an idea... If you put your rams in a perspex tunnel, they'll always be on the right plain of focus - see, easy when you know how!!!!!!!
March 2nd, 2015  
What a magnificent Stag A Fav
March 2nd, 2015  
Ok, I had to go and pull the picture I meant out of the trash :) One of the rams is partially behind a tree and overall, I don't think they are salvageable. But if you want me to, I could put them into my "other" folder or email it to you - you can feel free to apply all kinds of perspex tunnels to them :) I am not kidding when I am saying that I am basically only about 70 days into my adventure with photography that is meant for the audience beyond the family on Facebook. So, my knowledge and skills with post-processing are equally "deep". :) I've just downloaded AffinityPhoto Beta version and am still gasping for air trying to make sense of all the buttons and brushes :)

@isimo
March 2nd, 2015  
@777margo Thank you, Margo!!!!
March 2nd, 2015  
this guy is awesome, love him
March 3rd, 2015  
Magnificent! I love its horns.
March 3rd, 2015  
He is marvellous, such great horns. Fav
March 3rd, 2015  
Great shot! He is really bursting with speed there!
March 3rd, 2015  
Such a great photo- you were brave to get that close!
March 3rd, 2015  
What an amazing capture!!
March 3rd, 2015  
And the ram is the astrological symbol for Aries in March! A cool capture.
March 3rd, 2015  
Magnificent animal and great capture!
March 3rd, 2015  
Love the colouring. Fav.
March 3rd, 2015  
Strange creature caught in unusual pose. sort of running and standing still.
March 3rd, 2015  
Thank you all so much for viewing and commenting on my spring-ready ram. I went through the park again today, and - a completely different picture - all of them were calm and quiet having a grass-chewing siesta as if there was nothing in the air the day before. So, I am happy I caught him in his feisty mood the day before. Thanks a lot!

@phil_howcroft @cejaanderson @888rachel @olivetreeann @btwebb @taffy @vstap @marymacaroni @snoopybooboo @jack4john
March 3rd, 2015  
Such a strong looking animal. The processing is good. :)
March 12th, 2015  
@mhuntphotography Thanks! They never seize to amaze one. On the one hand, they are so gentle just coming up and eating carrots out of your hand. On the other, they are scary if they try to sort out some of their own conflicts: strong and determined.
March 16th, 2015  
Great shot, what a handsome animal he is!
May 23rd, 2015  
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