Nibbler on the roof (Large View Option)

I saw this Red Deer from the roadside and pulled over. It was

nibbling a patch of new spring grass on a small hill. I approached

very slowly taking a few shots, until I was within arms reach and I

took this one. (This is the size I took it at, it hasn't been cropped at

all)

The Deer looked up a couple of times, but didn't seem prepared to

leave the sweet new grass. Usually they are a lot more shy.

 

Your thoughts and comments are always welcome. Thank You.

A great shot, Alf.  Amazed that you could so close to this deer.  Your composition, colours, and exposure are spot-on.  

Well, it's a beautiful shot and feels almost as if we were viewing a diorama. The accompanying story is just as interesting. It's amazing that you were able to approach so closely to an animal in the wild; a rare experience and I'm sure one that you treasure.

it's something about the high contrast. it makes everything look so clean. best, j

 

p.s.:  i swear i didn't get that idea from Jack!  i'm glad to see i'm not SO far off base, though

A lovely capture, Alf -- I actually like seeing the nibbling deer, as opposed to a 'free standing one'.

(= more stereotypical perhaps) 
Its shape somehow relates well to the mountains beyond... The capture feels natural, and it has quite an endearing effect as well...
Amazing that you were able to come so close. I like your low angle of shooting.

& Yes, it reminds me of one of those dioramas of The Museum of Natural History in New York,

a place we actually will visit again this summer :-)

Best to you, Marjolein

 

This is a  beautiful image for sure,  with wonderful colours and fine detail. Congratulations!

A very nicely composed beautiful result, Alf!

 

When I first saw the thumbnail I thought this Alf has a mighty tele lens! I'm now surprised, especially by the information that there wasn't any cropping! Mighty well done Alf!

 

Best

 

PDE

Hi Alf,

A fine full image capture my friend.

The coarse hair of the "Nibbler" provides enough detail to satisfy the perception of sharpness, although at F/8 there is some compromise to what the Nikkor zoom can accomplish

Aesthetically, a framed wall hanging for sure..

Best Regards, Mike

 

Alf = "The Deer Whisperer"...  Extraordinary opportunity and you made the most of it.  Perfectly captured...  Mike

Alf,

  Beautiful image with wonderful colors & details.  Take care, Patsy

An excellent capture Alf, where you filled your 'view' with the image. (have you ever read 'Welcome To Oz2 by Versace'??? Opportune POV with beautiful results!!! The detail when viewed larger is breathtaking.

 

such nice work Alf, thank you for this little 'Monday Gift'!!

Gail

I am still amazed I could get that close myself, but maybe after eating old bracken all winter, the deer wasn't about to give up its little patch of new grass for a photographer : - )

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

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JACK

 

I was that close, I could hear it breathing, and feel its heart pounding,  well thats what I thought initially.........until I realised it was mine : - )

It was a great experience, and I would have been very happy just to have been there and seen it, but I was very fortunate to come away with a few nice shots too.

The "diorama" analogy is spot on, I clicked on the link that Marjolein kindly provided and I can see exactly what you mean. I hasten to add that this one wasn't stuffed of course : - )

Sincere Thanks Jack!

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

I think it may have been the very close proximity that nailed it, though in another sense it didn't help with the dof and clarity of the background.

Great Minds thin alike Jamie : - )

 

My Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MARJOLEIN

 

I'm amazed that this one didn't simply run away.  I usually don't like "nibblers" when photographing deer or indeed any grazing animal, not because they don't look good, indeed as you say the pose looks more natural. No, the reason being that I don't usually like photographing them this way, is because they normally obscure at least part of thier head in the grass. On this occasion I got very lucky and encountered the small hill (that I think may have previously been cleared of scrub by burning) with the very short new grass growing. (The very thing that attracted the deer too).

The low angle of shooting was again very fortunate, as I had to climb the quite steep hill, as well as being a good camera angle I think it might have made me look relatively small and less threatening to the deer.

Many Thanks for the link Marjolein, the diorama does illustrate exactly what you mean. Although I do hasten to add, the deer in the photograph here wasn't stuffed honest : - )

 

Sincere Thanks for your observations and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

GARRY

 

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

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Thanks you so much!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PIERRE

 

Interesting thoughts Pierre and indeed I did have a much longer lens in my bag, but thought to myself  "by the time I fiddle about changing lenses, the deer will have skipped away"  So I started clicking and moving ever closer with the lens I had on a AS-F Nikkor 24 - 70 mm F 2.8 G ED, I didn't expect to get anywhere near as close as I did.  After taking the shots, I just slowly backed away, and left the deer in peace to enjoy the grass and the sunshine.

Sincere Thanks Pierre!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE P

 

As you rightly guessed, the F8 was hastily chosen with thoughts relating to DOF and clarity of the background. Now as you can see the background is very much out of focus due to the close proximity of the deer, and even in the other shots, it isn't ideal.  My problem being that as I was at the foot of a hill the only focus points were either the hill itself, the deer or the mountains beyond. I chose the deer as a focus point for obvious reasons.  But my many thanks to you for your message relating to the above.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE M

 

I think after the amount of miles I'd travelled, both me and the deer had the same kind of scent : - )

Cheers Mike!

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

GAIL

 

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

 

I never have read that book, but maybe you think I need to eh : - )

In fact with the exception of a book dedicated to HDR photography, I haven't read a single photography book. I have however read many tutorials and watched demonstrations.

The book you mentioned does look very interesting I think it might be worth putting on my list for the future.

Cheers Gail!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Alf,

It's not that I think you NEED to read the book, I thought you may find it interesting, and when I saw this image, and how you have not cropped the image at all, the book came to mind.

Vincent Versace wrote this book, "A Cinematic Approach To Digital Still Photography With Photoshop". I have not read it all, but he talks about " A still photograph is called a still photograph because the picture does not move, not because the objects in the picture are not in motion. This is the single most important consideration when taking a photograph. What occurs in a properly executed still photograph is that motion is captured with stillness.>..."If something you see moves you, take a picture of it. Do not hesitate. If you hesitate, the moment is lost. The moments of life happen, they do not re-happen.>Compose your images, do not crop them. Cinematographers do not have the luxury of cropping an image  in the darkroom or computer. What they see in the viewfinder is the canvas on which they have to paint. You are responsible for every millimeter of every image frame you create. Fill it!" There is so much more Alf but the book is so interesting, he talks about "being taken by a photograph; to be so completely committed to the moment, that you do not take the image, the image takes you. Those are the images that took your breath from you. It was that moment that made you want to convey that feeling to others. This book is about starting that journey." I think this is one of those images Alf!

Forgive my tongue in cheek response to your original comment, my humour can overshadow everything, even my photographs at times.

But even though I left a teasing response, I do take your thoughts and considerations very seriously!

 

I did in actual fact google the book after your mention and read some of the reviews. I have to say it sounds like a really good read, and I'm sure I will find it interesting!

Thank you so much for the quotations from the book, the aspect of "filling the frame" is something I do consider when composing images, and somethng I have studied. 

There is a whole lot of consideration to be given to foreground, background, and placement of key elements, horizons, proportions, and angles. I could write a book myself on aspects of composition, but I still have a lot to learn also.

I really like the quotation "You are responsible for every millimeter of every image frame you create. Fill it"  It sounds like it is relayed with great passion and conviction! And also "The moments of life happen, they do not re-happen" There are some great truths spoken here, and ones I fully concur with. It is a fact that I have never ever returned to a scene and captured the same light. Its a great subject I could discuss it for hours!

 

I can now understand more fully the aspects of the image that have moved you to communicate this information to me, and I Thank You Sincerely for doing so.

 

Cheers Gail!

 

Alf

 

 

background included. j

 

p.s.: i admire your restraint. a mere f/8. wonderful.

Hi Alf,

It must have been a very special moment for you to bond with this wild animal at such a close encounter. Looks like a wide angle picture (well it is 45mm) and this gives a special flavor to the picture with everything in focus. Best regards Per.

Excellent!

Many Thanks!

I mostly do restrain myself to F8, or wider apertures where possible. It seems to me that optimum quality is compromised somewhat after F8.

If I do use smaller apertures, it is usually with the purpose of achieving a longer exposure.

Cheers Jamie!

 

Alf

 

PER

 

It was quite an experience. I couldn't believe my luck! First the deer is standing right on the summit of the little hill,  and then it actually stays there to be photographed while I get within a few feet of it.  The deer was still there munching away as I drove off.

Sincere Thanks Per!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TONY

 

That one word from such an accomplished photographer, is very gratifying to read.

Thank You!

 

Alf

 

 

Excellent shot Alf! A picture taken out of a fairy tale!  That resolution of the D800 and your technique produces killer shots! :))

The D800 does indeed capture some very fine detail, on the large file that it produces I can actually count the eyelashes on the deer.

It was a pure stroke of luck to get this close though!

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

Hi Alf

WOW! ... I clicked on view large and this image sprung to life!..... The detail in this image is breathtaking, I actually felt I could reach out and touch this beautiful creature.... I think its very apparent, that not only are you at one with your camera, you are also at one with nature.  An exquisitely, gracefully and entrancingly composed image Alf, very well done indeed!  Another for my favorites!  Thank you for sharing!

warm regards

Jacqueline

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and most encouraging words!

 

Sometimes when I am out taking photographs, I just stand very still and take it all in, and every sense seems to be more alert, its a great feeling, but very difficult to describe.

In this case though with every step closer to the deer, I was sure it was going to bolt, and I was probably more nervous than the deer.

Its so good to read that experienced those close up sensations from my photograph. And I'm very honoured that you consider it a favourite.

 

Warm Regards

 

Alf

 

 

it looks dreadful, though!  back at Lumb Falls.  best, j

He's posing for you, and indeed you were able to get the entire face with the mountain peeking through in front of his legs.  An amazing shot, even if it weren't 'caught on the quick'.  I love close crops.  However, by cropping this way, you would be hard pressed to put a mat or frame around this because there is no 'wiggle' room on the left side.  I learned that I had the problem of placing the subject too close in the frame when I started submitting images to my photo club contest.  They required a mat around the image, and the mat encroached too much on my image.  I'm sure you're already aware of this possibility and you possibly never intend to mount this on the wall.....although it's certainly photo worthy enough for doing so.