Just come back from a couple of days in the New Forest,and managed to get a few decent pictures,but having found out that the BBC had announced the location the week before,and also having seen it mentioned on this site, the place was alive with what looked like an SAS attack,I have been there the last two years and hardly ever seen a soul,so it just shows you the power of the web and the TV.....
The place has been completely ruined now by the sheer volume of photographers and day trippers with their point and shoots who think the best way to photograph deer is to wear a bright red or white jacket and walk directly towards the deer. People were even ignoring the signs to keep off the conservation areas and walking where they shouldn't.
I don't think the serious dedicated wildlife photographers are the problem as the majority of them are no doubt seeking totally natural undisturbed behavioural images,wheras the happy snappers want any old portrait even if that means disturbing and alarming the deer.
Unfortunately the volume of people has probably discouraged a lot of the deer from staying in the area and they now tend to seek the sanctuary of nearby fenced and private fields.
If this year and last year are anything to go by the place has well and truely had it's day for photographers,and IMHO the problem is only likely to get worse.
Posted by Rob Ashton on October 7, 2007 at 6:07 PM
The shot is superb but what Justin says is typical. I have spent the last 2 days at Arne in Dorset for the Sika Rut. The first day wasn't too bad but this morning was hopeless. Families of people swarming all over with their Camera Phones, kids running amuk and yelling and even throwing sticks at the deer. Pet pooches let off the lead and chasing after the deer. I spent an age just letting a stag and his harem get used to me when a bunch of kids ran up shouting and performing.....
I'm all for the wider public being introduced to the natural world but a bit of education and common sense wouldn't go amiss.
Discussion
4 repliesI don't think the serious dedicated wildlife photographers are the problem as the majority of them are no doubt seeking totally natural undisturbed behavioural images,wheras the happy snappers want any old portrait even if that means disturbing and alarming the deer.
Unfortunately the volume of people has probably discouraged a lot of the deer from staying in the area and they now tend to seek the sanctuary of nearby fenced and private fields.
If this year and last year are anything to go by the place has well and truely had it's day for photographers,and IMHO the problem is only likely to get worse.
I'm all for the wider public being introduced to the natural world but a bit of education and common sense wouldn't go amiss.
Rob
Brian