03 Dec 2009. Featured photo in Quote Snack Blog about Nature.
** Harsh critique welcomed **
Northern Elephant Seals fighting for territory and mates, Piedras
Blancas, San Simeon, CA 02feb2008 - photo by Michael "Mike"
L. Baird bairdphotos.com Canon 1D Mark III w/ 600mm f/4 IS lens on tripod.
Note: time of photo was 07:51 AM - Camera EXIF reflects incorrect time
setting due to incorrect daylight savings adjustment.
27 Sept. 2008 National Geographic submission caption: Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris) - two males fighting for territory and mates. Taken in early morning light at Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, CA 02 Feb 2008. Elephant Seals are of the Phocidae ("true seals") family, and derive their name from their great size and from the male's large proboscis, which is used in making loud roaring noises, especially during the mating competition shown here. Impressive as they look in their mass and ferocity, these two males are not fully mature. My NG Gallery.
Creative Commons use note: This is a Featured Picture on the English Wikipedia and has been selected to appear as Picture of the Day on August 22, 2008. Congratulations! This image was selected as picture of the day on the English Wikipedia for August 22, 2008.
06sept2008 CC license use at www.blurtit.com/groups/Wikipedian_On_Blurtit
17 May 2009 submitted to photocontest.smithsonianmag.com 7th Annual Contest smithsonianmag [at} mikebaird d o t com
Creative Commons use note in Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elephant_seals_fighting.jpg says
This file was a candidate in Picture of the Year 2008.
This is a featured picture on Wikimedia Commons (Featured pictures)
and is considered one of the finest images.
This is a featured picture on the English language Wikipedia (Featured
pictures) and is considered one of the finest images.
This photo was posted to Wikipedia. It is one of two of my Elephant Seal photos that appears on the
related Wikipedia pages at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_seal and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Elephant_Seal
to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mating_scene_with_elevated_Alp...
and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elephant_seals_fighting.jpg and
File:Elephant_seals_fighting.jpg from www.flickr.com/photos/72825507@N00/2238575400/
keywords: elephant seal, Northern Elephant Seal, M.
angustirostris,Mammal,piedras blancas,blancas,san simeon
10 June 2012 submitted to www.dcppcalendarcontest.com/
Photo contest op. San Luis Obispo County Emergency Preparedness
Calendar.
12 Nov 2012 signed release for use in "Nature's Greatest
Battles" National Geographic Show. Ref.100_Daniel Bostock_Runner
– Arrow Media_@ArrowIntMedia
02 MAy 2012 My fighting Elephant Seals image www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2238575400/ is expected to appear on the National Geographic Wild channel soon channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/
patmans, rogerale, Pat Ulrich, and 24 other people added this photo to their favorites.

View 16 more comments
Max Waugh Photography 65 months ago | reply
Interesting action, and in the water no less!
The Nature Group
alje 65 months ago | reply
This is an Astounding Image!!
Coyotos [deleted] 65 months ago | reply
Impressive capture !!
--
Seen in Canon Super Telephoto (?)
jurassic john 65 months ago | reply
This is an Astounding Image!!
roblind.com 65 months ago | reply
Great shot! Thanks for putting it into my group 'wildlife @ canon 600mm f4'
Pablo Rosenthall 62 months ago | reply
You must have got dangerously close to get a picture of this!!! Its just amazing how impressive it looks!
mikebaird 62 months ago | reply
pablopele Not dangerous or disturbing the animals fortunately - Taken from the sanctioned wood walkway observation area, but I used a long 600mm lens. The morning light made the image.
re: the Elephant Seal battle at flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2238575400/
howcheng 59 months ago | reply
This is a Featured Picture on the English Wikipedia and has been selected to appear as Picture of the Day on August 22, 2008. Congratulations!
mikebaird 59 months ago | reply
howcheng Thanks for the heads up! re: This is a Featured Picture on the English Wikipedia and has been selected to appear as Picture of the Day on August 22, 2008. Congratulations!
grandmasandy+chuck 56 months ago | reply
Wonderful to have caught the action so well. They are really going at it. Congratulations.
stammberger13 55 months ago | reply
amazing capture!!
simashin 53 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called tele zoom lenses photo, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
GwG photography 47 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called photograph around the world, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Michael.Doering 45 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Seals - all kinds, and we'd love to have this and all others of your seal pictures added to the group!
mikebaird 45 months ago | reply
Michael.Doering I can't add this Elephant Seal to more Groups due to Flickr limits, but if you configure your invitation to show "OK Add It" I can click that and it will take - thanks.
cotta201 40 months ago | reply
Amazing!
The_Circumference 39 months ago | reply
Hello!
Just wanted to let you know that your photo has been featured in a travel article on The Circumference with a link back.
You can view the article here:
www.thecircumference.org/experiences/piedras-blancas-elep...
Thanks for sharing your fantastic photo!
- The Circumference
mikebaird 39 months ago | reply
Thanks for the Creative Commons use and use note - great article and visuals!
The_Circumference wrote
mikebaird 7 months ago | reply
Commercial Use note:
12 Nov 2012 signed release for use in "Nature's Greatest Battles" National Geographic Show. Ref.100_Daniel Bostock_Runner – Arrow Media_@ArrowIntMedia
mikebaird 5 months ago | reply
28 Jan 1013 CC use approved:
Robyn, yes I'd be pleased for you to use that photo.
I think it tells the story.
Attribution to
Michael L. Baird
by way of a faint side mark or other means would be appreciated if practicable.
I wish you the very best success in your project!
Only if you have questions, you can refer to my boilerplate below:
Thanks for asking to use this image. www.flickr.com/people/mikebaird/#credit answers every question ever asked about using my photos under Creative Commons (CC) Attribution: How to attribute ("Mike" Michael L. Baird, flickr.bairdphotos.com), access full-resolution versions (view all-sizes), how to please link back to the image page, and how to please comment on the image used, linking to your use in a comment
Q: Hello,
My name is Robyn, and I am the Park Interpretive Specialist for the Northern San Luis Obispo Coast District, California State Parks. I am working on a sign that will redirect visitors to the authorized elephant seal viewing areas north of Hearst Castle. I am wondering if you would allow me to use your photo of the two bulls sprawling in the water? I have attached a draft of the sign for you to review my plans. I think your photo captures the excitement and drama among the animals during this special time of year. I look forward to your response.
Photo Link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elephant_seals_fighting.jpg
Thank you,
Robyn Chase
Park Interpretive Specialist (Seasonal), California State Parks
San Luis Obispo Coast District
750 Hearst Castle Road
San Simeon, CA 93452