File:Northern Elephant Seals (M. angustirostris) at sunrise early light at Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, CA.jpg

English: Northern Elephant Seals (M. angustirostris) at sunrise early light at Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, CA 03 Feb 2012.

Massive Alpha Males were most active today, breeding, and engaging in battles in between to defend their territories and harems. There was much posturing, grunting, bellowing, chasing, crashing into each other, biting and thrashing until the dominant male was established.

At Piedras Blancas light is everything. The beach was crowded with a mass of elephant seals, a must-see exhibition. The main goal this morning was to capture a battle of the Alpha Males as they defend their territory during the height of the mating season and before the females head back out to sea. Photo © 2012 “Mike” Michael L. Baird, mike {at] mikebaird d o t com, flickr.bairdphotos.com, Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera with Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras, without Circular Polarizer until about an hour after sunrise, then after with the polarizer on, at least partially engaged, on a Wimberley Head II from tripodhead.com on a Gitzo GZGT5540LS Gitzo Series 5 tripod, Systematic Tele Studex 6 X Carbon Fiber 4 Section Tripod Legs with G-Lock, Maximum Load 55.0 lbs. Maximum Height 59.4, Leveling base, RAW, IS was off with this massive tripod and no wind. Autofocus using single-center focus point (almost always focusing in the eye first and then recomposing) , one-shot (not AI Servo) mode, burst mode.

This was a photomorrobay.com Yahoo! Group event tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/photomorrobay/surveys?id=2712771

The call said “Photograph Elephant Seals Battling at Twilight/Sunrise. Fri., Feb. 3, 2012. A Photomorrobay Meet-up. Shooting starts at 6:40 AM. Optional carpools to the San Simeon Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Overlook 34 miles north. We leave the Morro Bay Azure Street Morro Strand State Beach parking lot at 5:59 AM sharp arriving by 6:40 AM when the best shooters start. A high-tide at 6:15 AM brings the Alpha Male battles close to the boardwalk for a 7:00 AM Sunrise. If you can't get up so early, the best shots I've saved came from between 7:40-9:00 AM, but don't be later than that or you may be disappointed. We had great light and action on Feb. 2, 2008 as you can see at www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/sets/72157603842878843/ and on Jan. 22 and 28, 2011 at www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/sets/72157625885509136/ and www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/sets/72157625803343179/ I'd suggest an SLR digital camera with a long 200 - 400mm lens and tripod. There is a railing for handheld brace-shooting. Beginners to Experts welcome. There will be no instruction. When the light and action are right everyone is shooting and not talking. See Friends of the Elephant Seal's www.elephantseal.org/ for more information. No restrooms are available at the site. Lunch usually happens on the return (Cambria Main Street Grill?) Post three of your best photos at the "Photomorrobay" www.flickr.com/groups/photomorrobay/ Flickr Group, and as many as you like at the "Elephant Seals, Northern, of Piedras Blancas" www.flickr.com/groups/elephantseals/ Flickr Group. Vote the attendance poll tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/photomorrobay/surveys?id=2712771 to indicate your attendance or carpool offer or carpool need plans. If your plans change, please re-vote. Rain cancels. Re-check the poll Friday 10PM and Sat. by 4AM. Called by Mike Baird mike [at} mikebaird d o t com 805-704-2064”