Battle Weary

I watched the stags rutting in the long grass, but couldn't get a good

shot. I could hear the crash of antlers and occaisionly see them

when they raised thier heads. All the bellowing and thrashing about

attracted a lot of other photographers, so I wandered off to a more

isolated location and came across this poor old guy sitting alone and

looking very much the worse for wear. His face was marked, his

breathing very laboured and one of antlers had the tip broken off (

top left you might be able to make it out in the larger

view) ...........Well, making love all morning and fighting all afternoon

can be very tiring................so I've heard : - ) I wasn't sure if B & W

would better convey his condition? Your thoughts and comments

are always appreciated. Thank You.

Wonderfully sharp image and perfect DOF, Alf, this old warrior really stands out from his surroudings. You seem to have good luck in finding these types of shots but good photographers usually do.

Yeah, you old stags know where to hang out! :-) Excellent control of that bright lighting, perfect DOF, and well composed.  Maybe this guy will find himself an old doe to lay in the sun with...  Mike

Alf,

I really like the title, . . . considering all he's been through from your description, . . . and, I wouldn't know either!

 

Um, back to the photograph.

 

Obviously the lighting contributes to showing all the fine details and battle scars, and I really like the composition with the resting Bull Elk in its natural environment, the blurred foreground makes one think that the camera position is peeping over a small mound of cover to get a view of the Elk.

Quite an experience I'm certain, and I'm envious, but glad you shared with us.

Regards always,

Jim j.

 

 

 

 

Wonderful story, Alf! And I think it is better in colour as it would have been lost in grey around him. Good catch! All the best, Tamara

Hi Alf,

Technically spot on. The sharpness and color development show up well at F/5.6.

I am very pleased to see your success with hand holding the lens, too.

Best Regards,  Mike

 

A very nicely composed beautiful shot, Alf!

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

Good Morning Alf, I think color was the right choice personally as it supports the overall scene and conditions. Tack sharp subject and beautiful DOF, he looks isolated. Very good capture and write-up Alf. Take care.

Best,

Holger

Hi Alf,

  Wow...beautiful capture with wonderful sharpness, colors & pose.  Looks like every hunter's dream.  Take care, Patsy

Crisp and perfect bokeh!   Great title, and he really looks tired.  

Maybe old and worn out but still majestic. I like this shot very much as it is in color. In a BW version it will be difficult to keep that nice demarcation between the yellow in the background and the brownish grass. The way I see it, the composition relies for balance on both the horizontal line of in-focus grass created by the shallow DOF and the rising (left to right) diagonal I mentioned above.

Regards, Tibi

Very detailed and nicely focused shot. Technically speaking, its almost flawless, with respect to camera setting and composition. A little vignette did really work here and pops the subject . The capture is really speaking the story you mentioned. I think bw version might be as good as color version, but with a little more contrast and and darker lighting ( or using more dodge/burn manipulation ). Very impressive shot. Bravo.

Hamid.

Outstanding image!  Large view is a must.....the detail is extraordinary.  You've managed the bright light really well, and IMHO this is better in color.  Just curious....where was this shot?

I shall borrow a quotation that I read on PN somewhere : - 

 

"The more I practice, the luckier I get"   : - )

 

But seriously, I did get lucky by wandering away from the gathering crowd and encoountering this old veteran. I let him get used to my presence and then moved slowly closer until I was partially shrouded by a raise in the ground. The fact that he was looking away to the side illustrates to some degree that he didn't percieve me as any threat.

Sincere Thanks for your very complimentary words Jack

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE (MLM)

 

He looked exactly how I felt too : - )

You have to be careful with phrases like "Old Doe" .....these girls have feelings !

Many Thanks for the comments and the smiles my friend!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JIM

 

It's just a distant memory for me too Jim : - )

 

It is interesting that you refer to the animal as an Elk, and although Elk are a member of the Deer family there are some differences ( Not that I would have known if I didn't look it up)  I think the differences relate to size and behaviour, Elks being much larger than Deer, and also the matriarchal role of the dominant leading female Elk (Similar to elephants) which I don't think is common with the Red Deer.

You were quite right in your observation to my position of cover behind a mound of higher ground, and yeah it was quite an experience, being close enough to hear his ragged breathing and feel the vibrancy of such a majestic animal so close up, I felt very priviledged.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Jim!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TAMARA

 

I'm getting hooked on B & W .......I was very reluctant to post this one in colour but I thought I'd "ask the audience" on this one, and contemplate the feedback. I am glad I did, because on reflection I think you are right, there would have been some loss of definition in the B & W.

Many Thanks  & Best Regards

Alf  

 

MIKE P

I have learned some valuable lessons from your write ups, one tip that came in handy when taking photo's hand held, is to compose the image then look away as I take the shot, this seems to almost eliminate any camera shake.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Thank you so much for your interest and thoughtful comments, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

HOLGER

 

Good Evening : - )

Yes I think you are right, after reading the feedback and contemplating it further colour was the right choice.  I guess he was isolated by choice, you could say he'd had a hard day at the office : - )

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Holger,

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

I couldn't shoot this guy with anything other than a camera, but then I have long debates with myself relating to the ethics of swatting flys!

Sincere Thanks for your kind words and posiitve feedback!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DOMINICK

Yeah he looked exactly how I felt, in fact if I had antlers we could have been twins : - )

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TIBI

 

Yes, a bit like our own dear monarch, still retaining that regal presence despite the many years she has reigned.

Yes I think your analogy of the B & W and Colour is well observed. I'm not at all sure if that demarcation that you have mentioned would be feasible to retain using channels to process the B & W but I'm curious now, and maybe it's something I'll try just out of curiosity.

Sincere Thanks for your helpful feedback Tibi, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

HAMID

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated!

I suppose what I should have done is posted a B & W for comparison, and maybe I will if I can manage to process one to my liking.  I'm glad you noticed the small amount of vignetting, its somethng I add in Lightroom from time to time, and it can make a difference to the finished image.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

CHRISTAL

 

Like most of my images on PN this is optimised for the larger view, sometimes I wonder if I should just optimise the image and leave it at the normal size............but I always enjoy viewing other peoples work in a larger format, and so do likewise.

This was shot in a huge National Trust park Estate in Cheshire UK known as Tatton Park you can google it and get details, there are hundreds of Deer in the park and its a beautiful place to spend a day.

Yeah I'm convinced now too, colour was the best option......I think : - )

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Christal.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree....about the fighting and the other thing. I'm beat right now. Think I'll just lay on the couch for a while. Now to the photo. I like it very much. He looks worn out and as though he's seen better days. Focus and DOF are top notch as well as the out of focus elements which add to the overall story of another rutting season in his harsh life. Also color works very well here. The colors of the grasses and background are important in this image. Very well done Alf. It sounds like you worked hard for this and in my opinion you were rewarded with a great shot. Speaking of shot........ you know it is hunting season here in Montana now. Not that I would... but he better keep his head down.

A magnificent stag, superbly captured, Alf! This old veteran seems to have seen better days alright. Excellent work Alf.

All the best,
Neil

This is a very nice image ! The composition following the rules of third.

Well Done,

Ben

Absolutely remarkable shot with wonderful colours, composing, lightning, everything that needs to get a great photo! I love your story about this noble stag, the athmosphere can be sensed. Great great work Alf, congr!!!Take care.Anne

As the fall colors are so pleasing, I think that your choice for color here was a good one, Alf...  Lovely clarity and placement of the stag in the frame...

I hope you felt suitably revigorated after your lay down : - )

Yeah I could definately empathise with his condition, if not the reasons for getting into it. He looked totally wiped out!  I'm glad the colours work fo r you and thanks for your feedback on that I wasn't too sure,  I think I'm starting to see everything in B & W.

As for the hunting thing.........well I know theres arguments for and against......but I just couldn't do it, I mean...who could..ths guy doen't even look capable of running away.

Many Thanks for your feedback Fred its been very helpful!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

NEIL

 

Yeah, him and me both Neil : - )

It was an absolute priviledge to get close enough to hear him breathing  and sense his life force.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

BEN

I do try for the most part to follow the "rules" but I prefer to think of them as guidelines, it allows a bit more felixibility in my thinking .

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

ANNE

 

I'm really pleased you could sense the atmosphere, It was a special moment being that close, and hearing that great beast breath. We were aware of each others presence, and I kept a healthy distance away. But he didn't seem disturbed by my activities. I just did everything slowly and carefully and he obliged by keeping still : - )

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and very positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MARJOLEIN

He was a very good model, which is more that could be said of the others I tried to photograph that day, that were sneaking about, hiding in the grass, then moving whenever I got in a posiiton to take a shot!  Thanks for the feedback on the colours, and your very positive comments,  its very helpful.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

The large version is actually spectacular. The bokeh is just delicious.

Excellent detail with superb dof to concentrate the eye on the animal. Very well composed.

Regards....John

He looking for another battle, you are looking for great shot... You are successful on your field!

 

Really a little-big masterpiece!

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated.

Where possible I try to follow the advice of Mike Palermiti and shoot with the lens wide open.  Of course it isn't always possible, a lot depends on the subject and the effect I am trying to achieve.  But this was an example of where it was possible.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JOHN

 

He was a very patient and tired subject and therefore made a good model, the others I left charging about in the deep grass with half a dozen photographers getting increasingly frustrated at not being able to get a clear view of them : - )

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

GRIGORY

 

I'm glad he wasn't looking at me for another battle, I don't think I could have run very fast with all my camera gear : - )

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MAURIZIO

 

You are very kind!

 

Thank You & Best Regards

 

Alf