Articles
Fallow Deer Photograph
A cold wet and foggy September morning tested my steel last year but I was not found wanting! Besides I had taken the morning off work and wasn’t going to waste it.
From previous visits to my local woodlands (I’m lucky enough to have Ashridge, Herts only 10 miles away) I knew the rutting Fallow Deer tended to congregate in a small field over night before dispersing in the morning. Having got in to position before dawn and sat for 3+ hours in my bag hide getting cold and wet, the fog so thick that visibility was only 15 or 20 meters. I could hear the deer rutting right in front of me but not see them, very frustrating!
By 9am I had found my limits and my stiff and cold body needed a stretch. Moving from the field to the edge of the woodland I decided to skirt the edge just inside the tree line and wait for the deer to move into the wood.
The fog was slowly lifting, showing up shafts of light let in by the leaves. It was magical. I was determined to use such wonderful conditions, so I listened out for buck calls and then made my way toward them. There are several thoroughfares, lanes and footpaths that run parallel to the field and so I concentrated on finding a Fallow Deer rather than sticking to one place and hope. It is always pays to know your location.
Keeping to the trees between the lanes and the field, looking to both to find my Deer. A slow and cautious approach revealed a wonderful stag coming towards the woods across the field. This was going to be the best opportunity. The fog was lifting quickly now and was reaching optimal conditions. I now had just enough light to photograph with but even so it was going to be tricky. Luckily I had a couple of tricks up my sleeve!
Walking away from the Stag to find a clear line of sight on a broad thoroughfare. Walking along briskly, I judged where I thought he would cross, picked a large tree to conceal my silhouette and got ready. I wanted to get an atmospheric photograph and so I didn’t need to be too close. I had my 10D and 100-400mm zoom and so I could worry about precise framing when he came into view. It was all attached to my tripod so I wasn’t worried about camera shake even though the shutter speed was only going to be 1/60 sec (I didn’t tend to push the 10D past 400 ISO due to noise).
However no technique in the world no matter how good will prevent motion blur and this wasn’t going to be a panning shot either.
In that situation knowledge of the animal is the only thing to rely. A friend had been playing around trying to imitate a Fallow Deer call and came up with a loud burp (yes, a burp, but a short one not a deep throaty one!) it gets a Fallow Deer’s attention every time! Well if you have had a misspent childhood you would know that by swallowing a gulp of air you can quickly bring it up again in a short burp, cup your hands together for effect and you can shame your mum and have evil dagger eyes from any adult in hearing distance or you can now sound like a Fallow deer during rutting season!
As the Stag walked into the middle of the lane I released a resounding burp (hands cupped, the lot) and the deer stopped dead and looked in my direction. Slap went the mirror, I had the photograph in the bag. I was pleased as punch!
Using an imitation call is much better and much less stressful to the animal than shouting for instance. In fact instead of running off he stayed for a few seconds before continuing on his way unperturbed.
Photographically I am pleased with the outcome although there are a few niggles such as the Stag being slightly too central and the messy brambles to the right of the Stag.
However it is my best selling photograph to date being used in BBC Wildlife magazine as well as a cover for County Life and adorning several walls, so I shouldn’t complain too much!
If you wish to join me in Ashridge for one or more days photography then please contact me via email (contact page)