The charge
Eric Pierre, France
2011
Pierre had been tracking wolves when his guide spotted a herd of muskoxen. Approaching, he could see that the herd was nervous, probably because wolves were also on their trail, so he stopped about half-a-mile (0.8 kilometers) away upwind. Suddenly, the herd, oblivious to their presence, was now running towards them. “I’ve seen muskoxen run away,” Pierre said. “I’ve seen them react to a threat by forming a circle, and I’ve even seen a male charge. But I’ve never seen a herd spread out into a charging line like this. I could hear the thundering of their hooves. It was one of those situations where it really mattered that I made the right choice between technical accuracy, aesthetics and security.”
Technical specification: Nikon D700 + 500mm f4 lens; 1/2000 sec at f8; ISO 400; Gitzo carbon fibre tripod + EKI head
