White-Tailed Buck in the Snowy Fog

[terrib]

I spent a few days at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver, Colorado. One of the things I love about this place is the variety of grasses that provide interesting colors, differing at various times of the year. They provide nice surroundings for photographing the deer. There are both White-tailed and Mule Deer to be found.

A buck and a doe ran out of the woods in front of me, followed shortly by this buck. In the first shot, he is watching them. In the second shot, he had moved to the top of the ridge in front of a small lake. The conditions are what I would describe as a snowy fog. It was very cold and you couldn't see anything past the ridge and I quite like the high key effect that resulted.

#1 1/1000, F5.6, ISO 2000 at 329mm with Tamron 150-600 on Canon 7d


#2 1/1600, f6.3, ISO 2000 at 483mm

[Shadowman]

Nicely exposed.

[Nicks Pics]

I really like these. As you say the grasses make excellent surroundings for the buck in these shots, I like it how there are really only two colors here, orange and white, and shades in between. You have an interesting, and bold subject, some complimentary, but not distracting surroundings, and a plain white background so the image is not too busy. These have an artistic look, so they are not just a wildlife capture, I think more wildlife images should be like that. It's nice that you got two somewhat different shots of this buck, were you on foot? Anyway, these are very well done!

[Brownbear]

Hi Terri,

These are especially beautiful, and one of my favourite images of yours (that I've seen), along with those moose shots. For the capture of the deer but also the beautiful surroundings... The snow with that grass is magical!

Thanks for sharing.

[botspur]

Hi Terri,
Very good and I really like #2. Exposure and composition work for me. I also like the way the background fades away to white through the grass. I'm a bit torn between the grass in the left foreground, I like it one moment (colour and texture) and not the next, but the stag is strong enough to keep my attention.

[Stagecoach]

Both great but No 2 and the balance with the grass and it's simplicity is my fave Terri.

[deetheturk]

Lovely captures Terri

[bnnrcn]

+1 to Grahame's comment

[terrib]

thanks EVERYONE. #2 is also my favorite with the small issue of being a little close at the bottom. Almost cut off his hooves!

Nick, I was in my car using a window bean bag to steady the shot.

[Texas Dave]

Trying to get shots like these on a whitetail buck of this caliber are the dreams of many, many hunters and photographers alike. Beautifully done indeed and hats off to you on all aspects of your photo.

I'd frame the second photo in a heartbeat to put on my den wall!

By the way, was he chasing?

[kap55]

Both very nice shots but the second is really special.

[Downrigger]

Terrific, Terri. Wonderfully captured, must have been an interesting exposure problem/histogram. I'm guessing some positive exposure comp but do not see it in EXIF. These show why one is never done capturing wildlife - always a chance to try to measure up to something exceptional, as you did here.

[terrib]

Thanks for the nice comments.

Dave, He was chasing, although a distance behind. Both bucks seemed to be breathing heavily so I don't know if they had just been sparring or just running for a distance. It didn't seem to be a Flehmen response. Due to the rut, I was seeing many more buck than I'd ever seen at this location before but did not witness any sparring. Being a wildlife refuge, they are not as skittish as in the National Forest.

Mark, Even though I was spot metering I was using +1 2/3 exposure comp. The first image was perfectly exposed that way. The second I had to bring up .4 stop in processing. I must have metered on his white neck.

[Teton Chuck]

Number 2 has my vote. Very nice.

[NorthernFocus]

Awesome stuff, Terri. I also like the second shot. Good techs and the fog isolates the animal while the foreground grass and snow provide info on habitat. Really a nice image.

[GBO25]

I think the second shot is the better one.
In the first image the stag's stance is not quite right mainly because its front and hind legs send different messages. The front legs as if it's quite relaxed and the hind legs as if it's about to cut and run.
The second image has better eye contact, better angle to show off the antlers and it's better balanced with the grass on the left balancing the stag on the right.
Both images are classic dark on light exposures which grab your attention but again the second shot is a better example of this.
It looks decidedly cold

[terrib]

Thanks, Chuck, Dan and Graham for your nice comments and feedback.

Graham, I also really like the second image better. And I like your observations on the first image and why you like the second better. Just for the sake of a different point of view on the first image, I would suggest that the "shortcomings" you list are what makes the story. The legs show indecision, which there was. The eyes are completely focused and concentrating on the deer he was following. In that photo, it's not so much about him but what we can't see. But still, the second photo is then one I might put on my wall.

Yes, it was cold. I think about 6 degrees Fahrenheit.