Spruce Buck

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 21, 2012203 views5 comments

Hi everyone! My dad and sisters and I were looking for some mule deer bucks to photograph last month when we spotted this guy high on a hill browsing across the ridge. We hiked up in hopes of some good pictures, and he cooperated almost too well (he came too close for my dad to get any pictures with his 300mm)! Actually, he didn't cooperate much at all for standing in a good spot so I only managed a few pictures when he emerged from all the brush he was grazing in. He sure seemed to love spruce branches, and I got a few good pictures of him with spruce twigs sticking out of his mouth, but there was something about his look and pose in this picture that made it my favourite.

The light had pretty much left us when we got up to him, so I was tripod mounted and tucked into some trees for extra support. This is full frame at 200mm, but we cloned a few distracting OOF branches out of the top right corner.

Nikon D300
Nikkor AF 200-400mm f/4 ED VR @ 200mm
ISO 640
1/60sec @ f/4
tripod mounted

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on January 21, 2012 at 10:24 PM

You certainly got a good look from him. A nice environmental portrait shsowing his habitat as well as the weather they experience. Your photo also shows how well insulated they are with their winter coat as the snow hasn't melted at all. I'm amazed at how much they can turn their ears to check out most anything surrounding them. This guys, however, looks like he's signalling to make a right hand turn. My only nit is that a little more DOF might have showed the nose as sharp as the rest of his head. But that's pretty minor and I understand the conditions you were working with. Keep up the good work.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on January 21, 2012 at 11:00 PM

NIce head cock. The snow adds to the story here.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on January 22, 2012 at 7:32 AM

You managed to pull off an interesting portrait with excellent detail in what looked like very difficult shooting conditions Jenaya. The larger version is very pleasing to look at due to the good detail and that look on its face. The twig overlapping the ear is a pity though, but sure not a deal breaker.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 22, 2012 at 4:49 PM

Great job making such a pleasing portrait such a slow shutter speed Jenaya

I really enjoyed viewing all the great detail in the large version. Sweet Photo!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on January 22, 2012 at 8:40 PM

Nice focus on the eyes of the deer. Also nice head cock.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments