Approach: With lots of good stuff coming out of Bradgate Park last autumn I wanted to go for something different. I wanted to strip out everything that got in the way of the simple essence of the fight - that included colour (we all know what colour they are).
I knew a slow shutter speed would convey the energy of the tussle, but to produce movement in the ground I also panned with the animals.
With the head being the business end, I used a x2 converter to crop in camera.
So thats where you were hiding. I am getting worried about you chris hiding in bushes and looking at windows in the dead of the night. This is a fantastic shot right up my street.
Danny
Posted by Mark Hamblin on June 25, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Terrific shot Chris. Captures the essence and atmosphere of the fight superbly well and the antlers are distinct enough to hold the image together. Well thought out and executed.
Love it. You've pulled off a difficult one with this shot - the symmetery you've achieved is superb, but the sense of movement (in both directions!) is remarkable.
Posted by Dawn Monrose on June 25, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Excellent, really artistic and full of action. Great work!
Posted by Mike Andrews on June 25, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Having visited Bradgate last year during the rut I didn't even see this. If I had, I would have no doubt spent all my time for the crisp record shot. Thanks for giving another perspective, and doing it so well.
Posted by Andy Astbury on June 25, 2009 at 8:29 PM
I love the sense of movement enhanced by the mono - top drawer image
Superb! This has my eyes dancing around the image because of the sense of movement throughout and that's why it works. I think the Mono is the only option for this type of work and it's a great example of how to pull it out of the bag. Good work Chris.
Beautifully done,very appealing image Chris,with the slow shutter speed+BW it looks stunning, you get agreat sense of the force/impact generated by this photo
Thanks very much for your comments - I'm genuinely thrilled that this different approach has found favour amongst peers. I really believe in this type of work, it is good to know I'm not alone.
I've come back to this image several times in the last day or so, and the more I look at it the more its impressing me - theres something redolent of cave painting going on in this that is really affecting, presumably the same stuff that our ancestors felt and which urged them to daub on cave walls such as at Lascaux. Theres certainly something of the archetype going on with it for me (in the Jungian sense). I love the whole absurd notion of cutting edge digital photography reminding me of Paleolithic cave paintings!
Posted by eric weight on June 26, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I haven't commented much lately, but I just had to take time to say how good this one is. Brilliant IMO.
The sharp antlers in the centre of the image add something extra to this, and the one pointing in the opposite direction seems to hold the centre stage still while everything around is full of life and movement. This shot works for me however I look at it and the more I return to it the more I see in it and the more I like it. For God's sake enter it in something. Eric
Discussion
19 repliesI knew a slow shutter speed would convey the energy of the tussle, but to produce movement in the ground I also panned with the animals.
With the head being the business end, I used a x2 converter to crop in camera.
All thoughts relevant.
Canon 1 Ds3
500 mm + x2
1/15@f8
ISO 100
Tripod
It's all I can say
Amazing.
Edwin Kats
Brilliand shot
Danny
Cheers, Mark
Very inspiring indeed.
Tim
Brett
Lovely job
Cheers,
Chris
Dave
The sharp antlers in the centre of the image add something extra to this, and the one pointing in the opposite direction seems to hold the centre stage still while everything around is full of life and movement. This shot works for me however I look at it and the more I return to it the more I see in it and the more I like it. For God's sake enter it in something.