Spent an enjoyable couple of hours watching and photographing this stag.
The light direction was wrong, the light was often too harsh and to say the ground was wet and boggy would be putting it mildly.
Nevertheless, the thrill of being in such close proximity to such a magnificent animal far outweighed any disadvantages.
Earlier that morning he had been involved in quite a furious fight lasting a good twenty minutes or so. Both animals were quite evenly matched and there was no clear winner.
The other stag is actually just out of sight, little more than fifty or sixty feet away. Both animals were relluctant to wander far from the immediate area and risk losing their hinds.
It's meant to be John. It's in the middle of a dense wood
Posted by John Robinson on October 4, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Justin
Exactly !
A great deal of my bird stuff is done in a forest environment and I have often been confused by the "busy background " comments.
Its a problem as to whether to go for the enviro stuff or make it look as though it was taken somewhere else. Its just that tree in line with the antlers which is a bit distractingly " busy " Not that you can do much about it apart from a major clone job and then it becomes a contrived picture.
If just the head had been up and back 40 degrees - but it wasn't .
Cheers
John
Posted by Colin Crowdey on October 4, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Hi Justin
I like this shot a lot, the framing, the expression on his face and the lighting all go towards making this shot. I personally like the "busy background"
Its a problem as to whether to go for the enviro stuff or make it look as though it was taken somewhere else.
John,
I know what you're saying but I don't see it should pose a problem, take what you're happy with, if anyone else likes it, well that's a bonus
I must admit I didn't even notice the tree behind the antlers. I took about a hundred shots of him lying down sleeping, standing and walking so I've probably got lots without a tree in that position. This just happened to be the first one I converted.
In fact thinking about it, the trees behind him hardly crossed my mind at the time, it was the blimmin' one's that kept getting in front of him that I was more pre-occupied with
I like the atmospshere in this one Justin, as it is is as it was.
the Old boy looks knackeered!!
Posted by David Taylor on October 4, 2008 at 6:59 PM
You've got the balance just right, IMHO. not over-emphasising the subject at the expense of the environment. Excellent.
Posted by Graeme Lee on October 4, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Well I love this Justin. To the purist there may be slight flaws but these things add to the image IMO. A great envo shot of a beautiful animal. Most envious! Oh, and the large version shows off your skills superbly!
Can't believe you now have the sharpest 500mm in existence as well as your 400
Posted by John Varley on October 5, 2008 at 4:22 AM
Oh I love this Justin. The light may be not as you wanted it, but it is still very effective. The dark shadowing of the stag give it a quite fitting menacing air.
Posted by Fran French on October 5, 2008 at 4:36 AM
No distractions in this for me.It is a lovely environmental image, with the detail where it counts most.
Fran
Posted by Major Gilbert on October 5, 2008 at 5:04 AM
This is a lovely image of an animal in its enviroment. The trees are part of it and are not a distraction at all . Nicely done Justin.
Lovely light and great to see more of the environment. I'd possibly consider a crop from the right to take out the blurred yellow leaves at the top but it may leave it too tight. Excellent image. Tristan
Posted by Dawn Monrose on October 5, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Wow, great shot! Really natural and shows his power very well. Great pose, and setting. The background doesn't distract me either. Larger version is awesome!
Discussion
22 repliesGitzo 1548/B1.
Raw, full frame, levels, hue/saturation.
Hi,
Spent an enjoyable couple of hours watching and photographing this stag.
The light direction was wrong, the light was often too harsh and to say the ground was wet and boggy would be putting it mildly.
Nevertheless, the thrill of being in such close proximity to such a magnificent animal far outweighed any disadvantages.
Earlier that morning he had been involved in quite a furious fight lasting a good twenty minutes or so. Both animals were quite evenly matched and there was no clear winner.
The other stag is actually just out of sight, little more than fifty or sixty feet away. Both animals were relluctant to wander far from the immediate area and risk losing their hinds.
LARGER VERSION
All comments always welcome and appreciated.
Is this a park deer ?
The background seems a little "busy" as they say but a good behavioural stance.
Cheers
JR
No
It's meant to be John. It's in the middle of a dense wood
Exactly !
A great deal of my bird stuff is done in a forest environment and I have often been confused by the "busy background " comments.
Its a problem as to whether to go for the enviro stuff or make it look as though it was taken somewhere else. Its just that tree in line with the antlers which is a bit distractingly " busy " Not that you can do much about it apart from a major clone job and then it becomes a contrived picture.
If just the head had been up and back 40 degrees - but it wasn't .
Cheers
John
I like this shot a lot, the framing, the expression on his face and the lighting all go towards making this shot. I personally like the "busy background"
Colin
John,
I know what you're saying but I don't see it should pose a problem, take what you're happy with, if anyone else likes it, well that's a bonus
I must admit I didn't even notice the tree behind the antlers. I took about a hundred shots of him lying down sleeping, standing and walking so I've probably got lots without a tree in that position. This just happened to be the first one I converted.
In fact thinking about it, the trees behind him hardly crossed my mind at the time, it was the blimmin' one's that kept getting in front of him that I was more pre-occupied with
the Old boy looks knackeered!!
Can't believe you now have the sharpest 500mm in existence as well as your 400
Fran
Major
Matt
Paul
An environment shot every time for me show it as it is. Its a true record.
Barry
Eastbourne / Kansas
Excellent image ,really atmospheric.
Cheers
Brian