Deer Photographs

[jennyb]

I am lucky enough to have roe deer and muntjac visit my garden several times every day at the moment. There are hundreds of apples on my apple trees and they are coming to eat the windfalls.

I have taken hundreds of photos but none of them have that real "wow" factor. I would really appreciate some advice on how I can improve the shots.

I can get to within 30 metres of them quite comfortably with a (up to) 500mm lens but my garden slopes and I am above them which is a bit of a nuisance.

Today, I was taking some photos when my mobile phone rang They (male and female) both looked up as if to say "Answer it!". So they are quite used to me being around, but they don't let me get any closer.

I have identified several families which visit with their young, so it is really quite interesting. So, before my apples run out I would really like to get some fantastic pictures.

I should mention that I have not got a lot of time, so cannot sit for hours in a hide.

I have also thought that maybe I should sweep up the apples and dump them on my back lawn to make the deer come closer.

Anyway, here are 3 out of the hundreds that I have take. Any suggestions for getting that wow appeal would be greatly appreciated (bearing in mind that I am not an expert photographer).









Thanks,

Jenny

[Za]

I`d be more than happy to have taken pictures like that! Great pics Jenny!
Za

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by Za

I`d be more than happy to have taken pictures like that! Great pics Jenny!
Za

Thanks, Za. But the wow factor just isn't there!

Jenny

[GME]

Maybe get your camera ready, set yourself up and then phone your own mobile. When they look up at you to answer it again snap away...

Or a real expert might be able to help you

Good luck

p.s. I like the shots too

[Chris_Johnstone]

Your photos are very good but to me they lack contrast. Try getting your pictures at dawn (if they visit then) because this should produce more subtle light. A little work in Lightroom/Photoshop etc can give them more mood too.

Also, I would try and position myself lower down, if you say your garden slopes try and get a little closer or use a hide and take pictures from a lower angle. Deer have an excellent sense of smell so you might want to be downwind but then again, if they're used to you then it's no problem.

All in all just experiment with lots of things, try positioning the apples in places that might make a good shot...

Good luck,

Chris

[agrumpycow]

They are great photos. Unfortunately deer don't seem to like having their photo taken, I have spent many hours in my in-laws garden just outside Henley-on-Thames but come away with few, if any, decent shots.
Have you tried taking shots at different times of day, different lighting can make a huge difference? Or do they only come at certain times of the day?
I liked the suggestion from GME, of catching their attention and then getting a good head shot while they are looking at you.
Or using some photo editing software to crop the images to slightly more unusual angles?
Whatever you try I look forward to seeing the results.

[matt_xyz]

I think the shots would have more impact if they weren't taken against a grass background but instead had a nice clean, out of focus, background. To achieve this the deer really need to be on slightly higher ground so there is some distance between them and the nearest background clutter. This may not be possible in your garden. If not, you can at least try using a larger aperture (smaller f number) so that your depth of field is reduced.

The other tip to get greater impact is to get as low to the ground as possible so you're not looking down on them from a standing or seated position. Also, early morning or early evening light can help make a shot more atmospheric.

Have fun! It must be lovely having deer in your garden.

Matt

[Pete W]

Had a little play with one of your pics jenny....... hope you do not mind

[mh68]

Hi Jenny, you`re very fortunate to have such regular photo opportunities with these shy creatures.Most of the Roe Deer I come across are in woodland settings with very poor light.As the backgrounds in the shots you posted are mostly plain grass,and don`t add much to the images i`d be inclined to crop pretty tightly around the subject. Judging by the detail in your shots you`d be able to do this no problem.As has been mentioned, more dramatic lighting would improve them, but playing with brightness/contrast would bring a bit more out of the shots.I had a play around with 2 of the shots you posted to show what I mean, hope you don`t mind.Both are cropped, then the brightness/contrast altered to give a slightly more dramatic effect.Even as you`d posted them i`d have been very pleased with the shots though.





Mark H

[jennyb]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Pete, I think your colour saturation looks better than mine.

Matt, I agree about the grass background but at 500 I cannot get wider than f6.3.

Yes, I agree that getting lower would help but since I am uphill that is not easy. I really should get a hide and get below them but I really don't have a lot of time to sit and wait for them (I am supposed to have a full time job - albeit working from home!). However, while there are apples, they are there every half hour or so, so maybe I should bite the bullet and get a hide.

Chris, I agree that positioning the apples would give me the best chance.

Lighting - yes, early morning or in the evening (I am not a morning person!) would be best. There is one snag - they are usually under the trees so in general they are in shadow.

Unfortunately, they have a big gathering at around 9.00pm just as it is getting dark - too dark for photos. The muntjacs and roe all come out together. This evening, Mrs Roe chased Mrs Muntjac away!

The images above are all slightly cropped, but any suggestions about cropping or tweaking them with PaintShop Pro would be very welcome.

Jenny