Mule Deer Buck in Velvet

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 3, 2013115 views5 comments

Hi Everyone! It's been a while since my family and I have been posting here! We took an amazing 5 week road trip this spring and had a very busy summer. But we haven't been away from our cameras!

I think this is the first picture I have posted taken with my Nikon V1 that my parents bought me for my 13th birthday last year. I also got the adapter to use our regular lenses on it, and this was taken with my favourite lens, the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4, on one of our regular outings looking for wildlife around our home.

I was really happy to find four nice mule deer bucks just as the sun began to set. I did get some of the full group but this was my favourite picture. I like the light on his antlers and the way the tall grass looks around him. I also like all the round bales of hay showing in the background because that's where all the big bucks live out here!

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment!

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Nikon V1 Mirrorless
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4 IF-ED with FT-1 adapter
ISO 125
1/250sec @ f/4
+0.7EV to compensate for backlighting
on beanbag from truck window

Dad's processing notes:
Converted from RAW using Phase One Capture One Pro 7
MINOR use of Nik Viveza and selective toning in PS5 (although I tried opening up the buck's face and body for more detail, it just didn't have the natural, subtle look Marlise captured, so I went with the "less is more" adage on this one!)
Cropped slightly from full-frame width
(NOTE: I think this one's worth viewing the larger version on!)

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 3, 2013 at 11:48 AM

Excellent use of a pano to keep size in the frame. Interesting background, but I wonder how many folks would recognize it as a hayfield? My first thought was cows in a pasture. My second thought, confirmed by your explanation, was rolls of hay. I guess sometimes a bit of explaining is necessary.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 3, 2013 at 2:54 PM

I like this Marlise, regardless of what the dots are in the BG, they do add an artistic touch. The pano crop really suits this well, although personally I would leave a bit more room on top, depending on what is beyond the top frame edge of course, to give the buck and its bug rack a bit more room. But that is really just personal preference.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on September 3, 2013 at 8:18 PM

The composition really works well here and the dof makes the deer pop.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on September 4, 2013 at 12:10 AM

Well taken, of the two your family has posted I like this best. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on September 4, 2013 at 10:31 PM

Your family certainly has a knack for finding excellent subjects for photography. I first thought this was the same buck your sister posted but I see the rack is different. I do like the comp you chose as it does make him standout quite well. And I think you did well to break the "rule" of placement in the composition. Nice palette of colors and I like how the sun is backlighting the antlers and how it makes them pop. Well done.

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