Winter's End

With spring coming on fast I figured I'd post an image I took last March. On this day I had just climbed a hill scouting for future sunset shots.After about 30 minutes of looking around, to my pleasant suprise these deer came out for a drink. What shocked me about these deer is if you look out in front of the one drinking you will see her hoof prints on the ice. She elected to walk across the ice to get to the water instead of around it. At the time I could not believe my eyes and was thinking that I was about to capture a tragic moment in nature instead of my best deer image to date. The ice held up though she got a little wet trying to jump to land since hooves do not afford much traction on ice she did slip. Of course I had on my 28-70 lens at the time I first noticed these two and as most would do I frantically switched over to the 400 and fired off about 10 shots before it was over.

I have another image like this with three deer in them. If you look above my name you will see her prints in the ice as well,only she elected to hop in the water and walk to towards the other two.I didn't do the light of this evening justice here,but I tried.

The ice really was this blue,but I have not idea why. This area is old mine ground that was either turned back over to the state, or was purchased by the state. The water has a green tint to it throughout the year and a bluish one when there is ice on it.

Canon EOS 35mm
400 5.6 @ F8
Bogen tripod
1/15 shutter
MLU and release
Velvia or Astia I'd have to look