Deer photography in Shropshire

[Veldranian]

I am located in Shropshire. I really want to get some photographs of deer this auturm. I dont really want to go to far out of Shropshire. Herefordshire is ok. I have got a Canon EOS 20d, and a 90-300mm. Would the lens have long enough focal length to get the deer?

[The Woodman]

Do you want photo's of wild or emparked deer?

NT's Attingham Park has a good herd to practice on.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Veldranian

Would the lens have long enough focal length to get the deer?

For emparked deer, 300mm should be more than adequate. I'm a Nikon user and have the 80-400mm lens. When I was in Richmond Park last year I did use the 400mm end for a few shots but must of the time I was around 200mm or below.

300mm might be okay for wild deer too, but your fieldcraft becomes much more important.

Dave P.

[Veldranian]

In attingham park is it woodland? I want the deer in natural settings Im thinking of buying the 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L USM. Would that be a good idea?

[The Woodman]

The deer at Attingham are in open parkland with large open grown trees.

I'm not the person you want with your lens question, I afraid. There're plenty on here who might comment on that.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I'm not the person you want with your lens question, I afraid.

Nor I, I'll leave it to the Canon users to comment on that.

Dave P.

[operanut1972]

As a canon user, I would say ordinarily for bird photography it would be suitable, as for Deer, I can only go from when I used to hunt and that you need to use good stalking methods and then you could get away with it. Although you will notice the extra weight from your current 90-300mm lens. I've been playing around with Canon lenses, I've still not come to a decision as I have to watch how heavy the glass is. But a lot of people have recommended the 100-400. Best advice, if you know anyone who has one and is willing to lend you one try it out, or failing that try hiring one!

Hope this helps and good luck with the rut.

[andrewinpompey]

Not being patronising, but maybe stick to park deer to start with, especially if you go during the rut (for red deer, in a few weeks time). Having done a bit (to a modest level) I know that trying to photograph wild deer can be very trying! For wild deer, fieldcraft/stalking is much more important than focal length, and unless you rely on getting lucky you are talking about spending several weeks working out which places the deer frequent etc.

For park deer, up to 300mm would be fine. Even if you don't have quite as much focal length as you wish, it can allow you to show the deer in their environment (i.e. try and get a shot that looks fairly wild - which is a challenge in itself). However you may not get close enough for a 'head and horns' type portrait. But work with what you have got, and that will develop your skills as a photographer (that's a case of thinking positive!).

Example of wild deer (a case of getting lucky - but many times I've just drawn a blank when trying to 'get lucky'):


Example of park deer:

[pressld2]

Sorry Andrew, but WAB does not allow the inclusion of externally hosted images in forum posts.

Dave P.