Deer in the Narrows

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 3, 2009137 views8 comments

This is not a very good picture technically, but I wanted to share the experience. While hiking in the Zion Narrows, I came across this large buck. It was ironic because a couple days earlier while hiking in the Narrows, I thought what would it be like to run into some deer in the Narrows. I immediately dismissed the idea, thinking that no deer would be caught in a slot canyon where there’s only 1 of 2 ways out. I imagined that if I was a prey animal, I’d want as many escape routes as possible. Still, here he was.

As I came around a bend, he was about 150 yards away, foraging on a river bank. He immediately noticed me, but didn’t run away. I quickly removed my pack and unpacked the camera. After switching all the settings for landscape pictures (thank you, Canon

), I slowly started to approach him. Having done this before, I got a sense that I was just going to scare him away, so I decided to back off and sit on a rock. This really bugged him, and he slowly started to approach me. He crossed the river and came up on the bank about 35 yards away just to figure out what I was.

Now, some self critique: this was taken at 1/1000 sec at f/4 & 400 ISO. This was overkill, but I was too afraid of missing this opportunity. Looking back, I should have stopped down to add some depth of field. I cropped some from the bottom where it’s blurry, and little from the left. Perhaps it could use a little more, especially from the right.

Canon 5D2
Canon 24-105 f/4 @ 105mm
1/1000 sec
f/4
ISO 400
Handheld
Larger version available.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Ron Richins on December 3, 2009 at 10:15 AM

In order to disguise some of the blurred areas, I applied a blur vignette to the image. I don’t know if it works—just experimenting.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by Andrea Hadley on December 3, 2009 at 11:46 AM

I would've been a little nervous if I were you, he doesn't look too frightened, where I live we have White Tails, one night last winter during rut, I was driving my jeep down a road when a large buck came out of nowhere, he had his head low thinking about charging my vehicle, I just blared my horn until he changed his mind and took off. Even in my vehicle I was nervous, here I would've been ready to climb a tree. Great shot in my opinion, the memory and the feeling shows, some might not like the composition or want a close up on him, but here it shows where you were and where he is, so there's no question to the story or what was going on at that time. Oh and Congrats on your bravery

Registered on July 3, 2009, 8 Posts, 51 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Richins on December 3, 2009 at 12:09 PM

Andrea, come to think of it, the rut was going on at the time. That was another reason I was surprised to find him here. He was all alone, and I thought he would be off with the other deer. I too was alone in the upper portion of the Narrows, and I remember thinking this guy was pretty bold to come toward me. After a few minutes I guess he figured out what I was and he turned and ran upstream. Never saw him again that day.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on December 3, 2009 at 2:43 PM

So what if this photo is not technically perfect! You had a great nature experience, got a pretty good photo out of it, responded well to a unique situation. And have a good story to tell. All adds up to a good day in the field.

IMHO you could crop more all around taking care not to loose the elements which show the environment the deer was in.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 3, 2009 at 8:22 PM

This is wildly busy, but it gives a terrific sense of place. Also this is a story picture about an unusual location, so I feel the image does covey that sense. I agree you might crop some all around, but I do find myself pulled in and liking the image.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM

Hi Ron,

This is a great wildlife in its habitat illustration. The buck blends in, but also stands out. I would be tempted to crop about a 1/4 of the frame from the left side.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on December 3, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Hello Ron,
Typical mule deer behavior if they cannot make out the human form. Sitting down kicked his curiosity in as to what you were. Getting to your knees or sitting down is the key. I've seen them come in closer, bound off, sneak around and re-approach from a different angle or from behind. Great fun when they do. If at any time they make you out, or scent you, Game over!
Thanks for sharing the experience!
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM

Hi Ron,

I've run into deer in the narrows before, but never bucks and never during the rut - so from my very limited experience I would agree that this is a very unique experience. I think you're self-critique is spot on and my thoughts on the image tend to parallel Lon's, i.e, that while very "busy" the image gives you a very good sense of the unusual place and habitat the buck was in and is somehow compelling.

Cheers...thanks for sharing the experience...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments