Through The Grass

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 13, 2017588 views5 comments

I was photographing with my brother in Waterton this past fall during the Mule Deer rut. This was one of the bigger bucks we encountered. My brother and I hunkered down in the tall grass and watched this guy rub his antlers on a nearby tree before he started walking towards me. I got a few photos and was about to move out of the way when he stopped and looked to his right at a buck that had been following him around. Soon enough he made his way over to the buck.

This shot definitely taught me some patience. During the rut the bucks like to hang out in the townsite and campground, making it near impossible to get a photo without something man made in there. Luckily, after photographing this guy around the campground, he decided to rub his antlers on the trees so headed to a wooded area. The angles were hard to work out, as most included a picnic table in the background or the gravel road. I am happy with the way this one turned out, though.

Thank you for lookin'! crying

Nikon D600
Nikkor 300mm f/4 IF-ED lens with a 1.4TC
ISO 4500
1/1250sec @ f/5.6
Handheld

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on April 14, 2017 at 9:14 AM

Must have been a thrill, as this is a big buck. I do wish for a liittle less grass, but it's not a deal breaker. Well done. Your patience paid off.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 14, 2017 at 9:11 PM

I really like the concept of this shot, but feel it is only partly successful. If the eyes and maybe bit more of face were clear of foreground vegetation, I feel it would be much stronger.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on April 16, 2017 at 11:37 AM

Jenaya: I would like to more clearly see the face and eyes of the buck. I would also be tempted to tone down the large, bright mass of the oof grasses in the foreground. Good idea, but tough to execute given that the buck's head wasn't a few inches higher. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 27, 2017 at 4:36 PM

Jenaya, this one reminds me very much of a painting, I think with what you had to work with here, it probably was the best decision to shoot it wide open as you did and create an artistic image. devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on December 17, 2017 at 3:38 AM

I love the intimacy and 'hidden' feeling of this shot. Patience is the main quality a wildlife photographer should have - it's the condition for that special shot, just like this one. devil

Grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments