Since I live close to a deer park, in the UK, I try to share at least one set of deer photos each year; primarily taken during the autumn deer rut season. However, time flies, and I didn't get around to sharing them before the end of the year, so I'm playing catch-up now; sharing photos I took in autumn 2024. To be honest, with my track-record in sharing new photos, a five month lag isn't that unusual.
Actually last autumn wasn't a vintage haul for me. Due to illness and other commitments, I didn't make it out for deer very much, which was a shame, but it can't be helped. I did get some photos I like though, so I hope you enjoy them too.
Sunrise
I only made it out for one sunrise, and although this light was amazing, it didn't last long and the red deer proved evasive. Fortunately, two passing fallow deer did stop to check me out.
Silhouettes
I do like a silhouette, especially of such a recognisable animal. It simplifies things, which I always enjoy, and creates a kind of two-dimensional tapestry of patterns, especially here with the trees adding to that effect.
I think this one's my favourite. I like the calmness and simplicity of it.
Believe it or not, these are all colour photos. I've often tried to catch deer silhouettes in this spot, against a stunning sunset sky, but they never seem to pose in those conditions. On this occasion the light wasn't great for portraits, so I tried the silhouettes and they duly obliged.
The colour is evident in this one, but still relatively subtle, as the stag bellows loudly, just a couple of feet from the doe.
Fight!
From quiet silhouettes to the heat of the action. I was just on my way home and I saw these two pacing side-by-side, which is the stags last form of non-violent competition. Evidently neither chose to back down, and they launched into either other with surprising vigour.
Deer are such elegant creatures; they can seem almost dainty, but when they fight, they really fight. It's amazing the power they have, and the strength in their neck and shoulders. After the initial impact they locked antlers for a while; each trying to twist and contort the other.
Photo-wise, the sky was far from helpful; being completely grey and featureless. It favours a relatively high-key approach, which I used for all three of these, but after a minute or so, and I had some pictures in the bag, I got more experimental with the framing, and I really like the effect of this. Put simply, I've chosen to exclude the sky, because it holds no interest, and to put the lens right down into the grass to create a natural vignette. It also makes more of a feature of the angle of the hill, and it places the core interest of the image in one corner, which creates a visual tension between the subject and the negative space. It won't be for everyone, but it's my favourite of the set.
So there we go. Fewer deer than usual last autumn, but some different kinds of images. I also spent a day photographing birds of prey in between these deer days, so I'll share those soon too.
For more deer photos, check out my deer blog posts from previous years, and my Deer print gallery.
-
George
