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