Saturday, July 14, 2012

Chasing Deer or "The Look"





I got up to hazy skies this morning from the fires to the east of us. The lighting was soft and good so I decided to go look for two bucks that I spotted yesterday near my house. Blacktail Deer are territorial so if you find them in an area chances are that the following day you can find them somewhere nearby the following day.This was indeed the case as I found them less than a hundred yards from where I spotted them yesterday.There were two three pointers. For eastern United States readers that would be a six point buck.



Sadly the area I found them was in the shade with no great lighting or other features to really make them stand out. That meant I would have to wait for "the look". In photographing deer you really need a few things to make them look good. It's typically best to have them uphill from you as this makes them look bigger. Secondly there needs to be good eye contact or the look where they are staring at you. It also helps if they are standing broadside to you with there head turned towards you or their body is facing away from you and they are looking back at you over their shoulder. Obviously these are just some general rules and many times they should probably be broken if you have a really nice image of a deer is staring at you through the viewfinder of the camera.

I photographed them for about a half an hour before I was about to pack it in.I had some good images but I wanted something better. Suddenly the larger three pointer stood stock still and looked down the hill at me.Not only that but he had some feed in his mouth I had the image I was "looking" for.

God's precious love and blessings to all,

chris

34 comments:

  1. Hi Chris, I started following your blog a couple weeks ago, I am an artist and the inspiration for my paintings comes from nature too. You have a awesome blog and I feel right at home here, its always interesting to see what you are up to next.

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    1. Thank you very much,Pat. I do try and vary what I show which can be a challenge sometimes as I don't travel very often. where can I see your artwork?

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    2. Chris, my blog is http://PatsPaintings.blogspot.com
      http://PatsPaintings.etsy.com

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  2. Hi, I am new as well as of yesterday. I use the same blog site as you do and saw the Blogs of Note, so glad as I am always looking for good photo sites. I dabble myself but not at your level. The bees in the flowers really got my attention, never seen that many bees in one flower!! Love your final deer picture, the grass dresses the shot up very well. I have you bookmarked now and look forward to viewing all your work.

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    1. Rambling Retiree thank you very much for such a nice compliment!

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  3. I've just started following your blog. Your deer photos are stunning, and your tips are really interesting. I'm going to check your other posts now :)

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    1. Agnes, thank you very much. i'm glad to hear you are going exploring some of the other posts. Enjoy!

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  4. Hey Chris super-duper images, as you said leaving the lighting part. http://picsonia.blogspot.com

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  5. Hey Chris. Funny coincidence today. A friend of mine just posted a photo of a fawn giving him "the look". Thanks to your post today I was able to compliment him on his good fortune.

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    1. Glad to hear it, Brian. Deer can be challenging to get a good photograph of.I did finally manage to purchase a new macro lens to replace my broken one.

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    1. The girl with the burned tutu thank you very much for stopping in for a look and leaving your comment. I'm glad to hear that you were amazed. I love the name that you go by!

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  7. nice pictures i wish i had deer near my house

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    1. Thank you very much sportsdude! I'm very blessed to live where I live.

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  8. Aww! Deer are just so darn cute! I think it's great that you know that you need to have eye contact, etc. I'm afraid that when it comes to big animals with sharp things coming out of their heads (no matter how cute they may be), I would run the other way rather than take a picture. So, I'm very glad that there are people like you to take deer pictures for the rest of us to admire.

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    1. Thank you very much Amy Wolfe. I always try and keep my distance and leave myself a way out.Elk are the ones that really scare me. I had one trot after me once and that was scary.

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    1. Thnak you Louise. I am lucky to live in such a wonderful place.

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    1. Thank you very much Gail Peck. I'm glad that you stopped by for a look.

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  11. I grew up in western kansas where the deer would hop over the barbed wired fences across the road in our neighbors pasture or on my way home or leaving early in the morning I was greeted by a whole family of deer. It was 30 miles from where the author of the song lyrics "where the deers and the antelope play" was written...You made me feel homesick.

    The blogs of note told me about you and glad they did...You have awesome photography..It is a gift..keep using it... I dabble in photography and writing.

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    1. Thank you very much for your comments Katherine. I love to share my images of nature and I'm glad mine brought out some good memories for you.

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  12. Hello Chris! I am delighted with your photographs, but indulge your passion for photography. :) I see that you are a traveler? We are happy to invite such a great photographer like you on the blog 10-year-old with a big dream of becoming a pro at taking pictures: http://graphiconex.blogspot.com/ ;) Graphicon

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    1. thank you very much. I'm glad to hear it Graphicon. I'll drop in for a look.

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    2. You have some nice images of the country side.

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  13. Hi Chris ! Love Nature Pics. One of my nephews has some work @ http://olhares.sapo.pt/a33180
    I write about my early life and other trivia on my blog ( http://acontarvindodoceu.blogspot.pt/ )
    I'll follow your photos. Thank you for posting them.

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    1. Maria, Your nephew does some very fine work. I loved reading of your trip to the sea. You have some beautiful imagery in your words as well.

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  14. Great photography Chris! I enjoyed your posts and my visit here so much that I've put a link to your blog in my post this morning. Hope thats ok...=) Maggie Ann

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    1. That's wonderful Maggie Ann. Thank you very much for doing that.

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  15. I love your article and please on others version LK

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  16. I love all of your snapshot. I am a beginner in photograph and your blog is my inspiration, thank you for sharing

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    1. thank you very much Nur Wulan. I'm glad to hear that my photoblog is an inspiration for you.

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