Fancy tackle not necessary

[Blackbrook Eye]

If you don’t have the wherewithal for expensive large aperture lenses, Bradgate Park is the place to be for the Red deer rut. It is one of my regular haunts for wildlife pix. And I was there again yesterday hoping for that once in a lifetime shot. As is to be expected at this time of year, the ‘ got it all ‘ Brigade were there, hoping for the same thing. Living only ten minutes drive away and being master of my own destiny at last, I am fortunate enough to be able to pick and choose the times I visit, so what doesn’t work one day can be changed for the next time.
The point I wish to make is that even if you have limited equipment, it is still easily possible to get some cracking pictures at Bradgate.
As things had gone a bit quiet regarding the deer rampaging around, I decided to set myself a challenge to pass the rest of a pleasant, if cool, afternoon by restricting my kit to max. 300mm and f5.6 which is well within the reach of most DSLR owners and a good many compacts these days.
I had no difficulty in getting close enough to the deer in the park to produce some quite acceptable results, by my standards anyway. So if you are looking for a pleasant days photography you could do a lot worse than do as I did.


226mm f7.1


191mm f7.1



191mm f7.1



226mm f5.6





All the above were taken with the 40d and bigma within the restrictions as set by myself above. they have not been cropped.

Keith

[Gill Catton]

They're lovely, I'd be thrilled with shots like those!!

[Keith Talbot]

lovely pics keith,

as the old saying says ' its not how big it is...... '



(another) keith

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by Keith Talbot

lovely pics keith,

as the old saying says ' its not how big it is...... '



(another) keith

Very true Keith, in fact some of the kit that was being humped around on Thursday must have been a positive embarassment to the poor devils who could not get far enough away from the deer to take anything other than dental records, some had lenses the size of oil drums, total overkill.

Keith

[derelict]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

Very true Keith, in fact some of the kit that was being humped around on Thursday must have been a positive embarassment to the poor devils who could not get far enough away from the deer to take anything other than dental records, some had lenses the size of oil drums, total overkill.

Keith

I love that bit about dental records! I call these situations "NATO exercises" - men in camouflage gear with RPGs on manoeuvres over open parkland. But I don't doubt for a moment that it all has its place elsewhere like mudflats in the Wash. The biggest kit I saw this year was being lugged around by a bod from Poland. Frankly, it was more of a telescope and from the size of the thing he needn't have bothered crossing the Channel...

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

Did you enter this in to the caption thread, I wonder?

This is one of the funniest shots I've seen.

[derelict]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Did you enter this in to the caption thread, I wonder?

This is one of the funniest shots I've seen.

It's no "accident". He knows what he's dojng. During the rut these beasts go out of their way to smell evil. The fallow bucks do too. They may look cute but they can smell like warm pig slurry. The downside of being downwind and certainly not for those with delicate sensibilities!

[Hedge Witch]

Well I never did! LOL.

Int Nature brilliant!

[pammosley]

Brilliant shots. So clear. I prefer to travel light & see what I get . I have a nikon D40x with a 200mm lens. Husband has a bigger lens with his, 300mm. I do wish sometimes for a closer shot at subjects at a distance though, but I do not want to carry loads of heavy gear around. Maybe I will get a teleconverter.
Pam

[Greenwytch]

Great Pictures,and one of my favorite places to visit may I add