Calm Before the Storm

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 6, 2014215 views8 comments

Well, maybe that title is pushing it a little bit, but recognizing we're just a few weeks and/or a couple of snows away from the onset of the annual rut, the peaceful look to this mule deer buck struck me in contrast to the activity to come.

Josiah and I spotted this guy browsing his way across a hillside immediately below the Rockies last month, and I can never resist the chance for a portrait of a mule deer buck in velvet, especially in such complementary light, so I had to see if he would cooperate. It took a while and several painful changes of camera angle (I was suffering from a torn calf muscle at the time), but I really like this capture as he quietly nibbled his way through this stand of brush.

I have cloned several flies off his face...in this case they weren't part of the "story" I was wanting to tell (i.e. they weren't really THE story and he was ignoring them anyway) so I found them a trifle distracting.

I know it's "just" a mule deer, but I hope you enjoy the image!

LARGER version provided and definitely the better view.

Field Notes:
Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4 IF-ED
ISO 200
1/250sec @ f/5
-1EV
tripod mounted

Processing Notes:
Converted from RAW using Phase One Capture One Pro 7 with adjustments to colour temperature and SLIGHT adjustment to levels
Tweaks to tone and contrast using Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Viveza 2 in PS5
Full frame

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on September 6, 2014 at 9:56 PM

I like the straight ahead position of the buck. Good detail in his face, get the impression he will be a force to reckon with when the rut starts. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on September 6, 2014 at 10:57 PM

Nice one John. He's giving you a rather stern look. Perhaps suggesting you make this shot a good one. And I think you did. He'd be happy and I know I'd be happy to have it in my portfolio. Nice colors and a good job getting the antlers to stand out from a busy BG. Very nice lighting. Only thing that bugs me is that patch of fur from his forehead down to his nose. It looks like bare skin but when you look at it really closely it looks like really fine hairs. Wondering if there is any adjustment you could make that would lessen this oddity. I'd like to see him when his antlers are fully grown and nicely polished.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on September 6, 2014 at 11:34 PM

verry nice John. I like the way the light highlights the antlers.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on September 7, 2014 at 9:07 AM

Hey John,

I really like this one. Love the soft light and how it illuminates the "fuzzy" antlers and lets the facial detail really come through (unlike Peter I have no issue at all with the shorter hair on the rostrum). Softed, muted (almost pastel) colours work well for me here.

In terms of the DoF on the subject - I think you nailed that. It is a bit unfortunate that the bare background bush is there - it's a LITTLE distracting for me (but certainly no deal-breaker). Assuming there's nothing really distracting below, I think I'd prefer a crop that shows a little more on the bottom and a little less at the top of the image (functionally moving the subject up in the frame) - but that's clearly just a personal preference.

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 7, 2014 at 10:47 AM

Very, very nice, John. I think you nailed exposure with -1ev...and the framing of the vegetation on the sides enhances the buck well. He is a super specimen of the species, too! The "somewhat bare" patch on his nose is not a negative, IMO, because it is just evidence of time of year, the changing from summer coat to winter. By the time he is in his more gray winter coat he will have lost that wonderful velvet which provides such great back lighting glow. As it is, you caught him in full growth, but still velvet covered. The background dark trunks are slightly distracting, but not at all in a major way...just in a perfect world sense! This will look great matted and framed!

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on September 7, 2014 at 2:05 PM

Love it. The soft light really works here. The antlers show nicely against what could have been a busy background. I always have a difficult time composing portraits of deer without an awkward crop, but this feels right. Thanks for posting, Dave

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on September 13, 2014 at 11:58 AM

Hey John,
This is one of your better images IMO, the mood you captured here is really impressive. The elements of the head-on pose, vertical framing, beautiful environment and soft color pallet all combine perfectly. The best element however is the back lighting you managed that shows off the contours and velvet of the antlers so very well.
Congratulations on the WP . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 13, 2014 at 1:38 PM

Gorgeous take on this beautiful deer, John.......congrats on this image being selected as the WP in the Wildlife Gallery also.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments