Posted by Mark Sisson on October 24, 2007 at 9:54 AM
I'm pretty certain this is the stag referred to in a previous post by PhilH - still bellowing but a horrible looking hole under his eye.
Tricky backlighting here and I know some of the antlers are cropped, but I wanted a really up close and personal feel of the bellowing when/if it came.
Mark
1DS Mk2
500mm f4
ISO 200 f8
Full frame - only cropped to A4 proportions
Posted by Nigel Blake on October 24, 2007 at 10:03 AM
That hole is the pre-orbital scent gland, there is one in front of each eye and will be enlarged and often "weeping" during the rut.
Similar glands are present on many other species of Deer and Antelope.
Oh and its a nice shot too.
Posted by David Kjaer on October 24, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Hi Mark
Very nice - my first thought was that you had spoiled the image by cutting off the top of the antlers. However the image still looks quite well balanced!
David
Posted by jack chapman on October 24, 2007 at 10:25 AM
I'm thinking that it is not... when was this taken? and whereabouts in the Park?
The Injury to the stag I photographed was to the eye not the gland, and also appeared to have a cataract in the other eye and was on the Hill at the back of White Lodge...
Nice shot BTW the backlighting has been well controlled.
Posted by Andy Astbury on October 24, 2007 at 11:51 AM
I like it - a well balanced comp and good image all round
The pre-orbital glands in this beast look of pretty average size - take a look at a muntjac buck, they look as if they've got 4 eyes as the glands are so big and pronounced
Posted by Mark Sisson on October 26, 2007 at 4:30 AM
Thanks for the feedback guys - when I said hole I should have said gland: it doesn't show up so well on this sized image (better when you zoom into the detail) but the gland has obviously been grazed along the top side as you look at it and is really sore looking.
In terms of location Phil it's about three quarters of the way from the Penn Ponds car park up towards the car park nearest to Richmond Gate (the one with the toilets!) about 300m short of the road and by a pond/small enclosed building. I'm guessing it's not your one
Discussion
7 repliesTricky backlighting here and I know some of the antlers are cropped, but I wanted a really up close and personal feel of the bellowing when/if it came.
Mark
1DS Mk2
500mm f4
ISO 200 f8
Full frame - only cropped to A4 proportions
Similar glands are present on many other species of Deer and Antelope.
Oh and its a nice shot too.
Very nice - my first thought was that you had spoiled the image by cutting off the top of the antlers. However the image still looks quite well balanced!
David
The Injury to the stag I photographed was to the eye not the gland, and also appeared to have a cataract in the other eye and was on the Hill at the back of White Lodge...
Nice shot BTW the backlighting has been well controlled.
The pre-orbital glands in this beast look of pretty average size - take a look at a muntjac buck, they look as if they've got 4 eyes as the glands are so big and pronounced
In terms of location Phil it's about three quarters of the way from the Penn Ponds car park up towards the car park nearest to Richmond Gate (the one with the toilets!) about 300m short of the road and by a pond/small enclosed building. I'm guessing it's not your one
Mark