Whitetail: Mother & Child

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 7, 20081,429 views19 comments

Taken this morning, July 7. I managed a series of this fawn nursing, but the eye contact of this image won out as my choice for sharing. Crop for compositon, D200, 200-400 @ 330, ISO 200, f6.3, 1/60. Critiques are appreciated.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on July 7, 2008 at 2:04 PM

You have captured this well. I would be proud to have one like it in my files. I like the DOF that has the plants in focus, and I am surprised it is so at 6.3. A great catch.

Ralph Kerr

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Leann Greene on July 7, 2008 at 2:17 PM

They must have been very calm to be still for your exposure. It looks so different then the fawns/does in this area. Her summer coat is changing already. It makes me wonder what the doe is looking at because the fawn's attention is on you.The vegetation adds to the rich color and texture of the photo. Nicely done.

Registered on January 25, 2006, 223 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Yip on July 7, 2008 at 2:51 PM

Nice capture Lon. I like the soft light and the eye contact with the catch-light in the eyes. I also agree with Ralph that it's nice to have the background in focus here. Depending on what's available in the original image, I'd like to see a different crop with even more space on the left side...the mother's head is leading my eyes that way.

Registered on May 7, 2008, 130 Posts, 679 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on July 7, 2008 at 2:54 PM

Please offer some opinions on which option works best. I am adding the almost full frame version (ends reduced to make 4x5 ration) for comparison. As I study this I believe the real picture is the lush landscape with the doe and fawn as focal points, but I tend to fall for wanting to make the subject as big as possible, especially when viewing at a smaller size. I am already thinking the second version is the one I should have posted, but still find myself wavering. Ralph, I think the vegetation is this good for f6.3 because this image is taken across a ravine and the animals on standing on a fairly steep slope, keeping more of the vegetation in the vertical plane.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Yip on July 7, 2008 at 4:46 PM

Lon, I definitely prefer the second version, for all the reasons we talked about.

Registered on May 7, 2008, 130 Posts, 679 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Yip on July 7, 2008 at 5:00 PM

Lon, I definitely prefer the second version, for all the reasons we talked about.

Registered on May 7, 2008, 130 Posts, 679 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on July 7, 2008 at 5:37 PM

Great capture, Lon. I definitely prefer the second post better. Love the colors and the way the fawn is focused on the viewer.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Leann Greene on July 7, 2008 at 6:10 PM

The partial pine tree in the 2nd is bothersome to me-how about a crop without it.

Registered on January 25, 2006, 223 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Sentipal on July 7, 2008 at 6:23 PM

Lon,

I like both but the second is my favorite. I like shots showing some of the environment around the bird or animal.

Andrew

Registered on February 16, 2008, 200 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Larry McFerrin on July 8, 2008 at 12:30 AM

Great capture Lon. After really looking at both crops I'll have to agree the second is better. I'm like you I tend to go for the larger subject or portrait images. I like this a lot!!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 34 Posts, 272 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on July 8, 2008 at 3:29 AM

The second version - no doubt about it. Beautiful shot, the color palette just couldn't be nicer. I'd crop off the pine though, which also gives you the original aspect ratio back, which I prefer.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on July 8, 2008 at 8:29 AM

Lon,

very nice, also the rich colors look great. Well done.

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Atkinson on July 8, 2008 at 11:39 AM

I'll also vote for the second with some open space for the doe to look into. Great shot!

Ken

Registered on July 22, 2005, 20 Posts, 171 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Johnson on July 15, 2008 at 3:16 PM

I like the second shot. The pine is OK with me.

Registered on May 17, 2007, 3 Posts, 25 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on July 15, 2008 at 4:03 PM

What beautiful animals these deers are! Great capture and congrats on the pick!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 16, 2008 at 12:53 AM

Holy cow, this is just plain nice!!! Fantastic detail and accurate color. Great stuff! Think I prefer the original post.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on July 16, 2008 at 1:57 AM

Wow! What a beautiful photograph! Very endearing poses of the deer in relationship to each other and to the viewer. Love the background. So well deserving of the EP. Many bravos!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 16, 2008 at 2:00 AM

Congrats on the pick Lon, lovely image.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM

Congratulations, Lon! I'll weigh in on #2.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments