Forest Fables (Click for larger view)

I made a special journey to the spooky looking house in the woods that I have

photographed previously, with the hope of getting a few more spooky looking shots.

But on the way back, I noticed this little group, very well hidden by bracken and trees. I

think out of 10 attempts this was the only clear shot I got of them. Your thoughts and

comments are always appreciated! Thank You!

Outstanding.  Beautifully soft colors with the expressions and poses perfectly captured.  This would make an excellent "Get Well Soon" card because it evokes a feeling of peace and harmony... Mike

Beautiful photo - as the scenery would be from a fairytale book:) - Just love it larger-Great poster:)! 

Thank You for sharing! best Hannu

Alf,

l really like the way the lighting is so different, left side vs. right side, it helps to focus the viewers attention.  Deer have such innocent faces, and you have captured that very well.

Jim

Great shot Alf. Right out of some fairy tale. I like the blur around the subjects and the fact that they are all looking back at you. Great timing.

Best Regards, Holger

Very nicely done Alf, the soft feel of this image is attractive, the blurred out foliage in the fore ground is a nice lead in. Gathering their attention is great, all eyes are fixed on you.

I recall your 'spooky' house!! What a delightful group of young ones!! I really like your title and it suits this lovely group so well. The soft blur of the leaves in the foreground adds to a bit of an 'fantasy' mood. I really am interested in the colouring of these 4 beautiful babes. The darker ones on the right in particular!! Lovely, peaceful image that soothes the soul :)!

Alf,

these are beautiful fawns.  A great capture.

Lovely scene, setting and capture, nice work.

Very nice "portrait". I like the blurred framing.

This is truly a beautiful shot. Congratulations on such fine work!

Hi Alf,

  Wow.....beautiful image with wonderful colors & perfect timing on your part.  Take care, Patsy

Sincere Thanks! ......Now I shall get busy making someone ill so I can send them this card

: - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf 

HANNU 

I am really pleased you like it thank you for stopping by! 

Best Regards

Alf 

JIM 

Yes, you are right they always do manage to look so innocent. 

The 2 on the right and 2 on the left are different types of deer too, which I thought made it quite interesting as well as your acute observation of shadow and light.

Many Thanks Jim! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

HOLGER 

I quite like the "fairy tale" analogy, I think the soft light lends itself to that kind of scenario. 

Many Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

TONY 

Thank you for your thoughts and kind words.

The long distance shot paid off in terms of the blurred background and foreground. I used the lens wide open in order to get as fast a shutter speed as possible

Best Regards 

Alf 

GAIL

Always good to hear from you and read your comments Thank You.

The darker ones on the right are a different species than the ones on the left which I think are called "fallow deer" but I am no expert so don't take my word for it : - ) 

As for the colouring of the ones on the right, I think it may be because they are "Sika Deer"  and that is their colouring.  There are over 100 different types of Deer worldwide, but apparently only 6 species in the UK. Red deer being our native species. The Red Deer are the ones I usually encounter in Scotland. 

Thanks again Gail.

Best Regards 

Alf 

BILL 

If only I could get them in my back garden like you do : - ) 

Many Thanks 

Alf 

CHRIS 

Many Thanks for your positive feedback! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

EYSTEIN 

Thank you so much!  I have to admit that the blurred framing was just a consequence of the wide open aperture, but it does seem to work.

Best Regards 

Alf 

GARRY 

Many Thanks for your thoughtful comments! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

PATSY 

Glad you like it, and thank you for your heart warming comments! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

Great stuff indeed! It has a value as a good capture, that's for sure, but also as an artistic work!

Cheers

PDE

A very nice result, beautifully composed too, Alf!

Your talents know no bounds!  A great reward for your efforts.  The serendipity factor at work again.  Reminds me of my recent experience with the spawning rainbow trout.  I didn't set out to photograph fish, birds being my intended target.  This one goes in your 'keeper' file, I'm sure.  Love the fine details your choice of equipment and your finely tuned technique provides.  Best, Len.

They all seem to be looking at you.  Not scared though.  Always heard about dogs that if they show their bottoms to you, they trust you. They look lovely, and this shot is lovely.  I passed three dead dear on the roads yesterday.  It is horrible to drive by.  I like the detail on the thick, hairy undersides.  This photograph radiates peace and calm and ... like you write... magic.  

Thank you so much, they were very good models for me this time : - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf 

RUUD

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

Best Regards 

Alf 

LEN 

Humble Apologies for my late response! I have been away to the Isle of Skye for a week. 

A beautiful place, but prone to extreme weather conditions. I now know how it feels to have my face ex-foliated by just rain : - ) 

My Sincere Thanks for your kind words, but as usual being in the right place at the right time played a big part in capturing this scene.  I did also manage to capture two young stags that seemed to be having a "time out" from their battle, one of them had a broken antler and the other had several scars.  No malice though, they just seemd to be having a break between bouts : - ) 

Always good to hear from you Len! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

DONNA 

I think they were all looking at me. and yeah not scared at all, probably just thinking "Oh another one of those idiots with a camera" : - ) 

I do hate it when I see animals killed on the road, it always makes me wonder about the necessity of it all. 

I have just got back from a holiday on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, what a magical place. The roads are very quiet there, and the scenery is breathtaking. Unfortunately I chose a week when the weather was extremely volatile, with high winds and rain that came down so hard it hit the floor and bounced by up again by about 1 foot!

Still I really enjoyed it and will return at some point in the future.

Thank you so much for looking in and for your very kind comments! 

I will write soon! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

Fantastic! But where are you from? From Wonderland? Good work Gianni!

Again, you have shown the knack for framing your subjects by means of ambient elements already present, in this case the vegetation in the foreground.  This almost compels a viewer's eyes to concentrate on the four deer.  It also is interesting that, from left to right, the heads of the 1st 3 deer are in almost exactly the same position, while the 4th deer is the only nonconformist.  The image also has a delicate feel to it.  Although there is plenty of detail in the deers' appearance, it is given to us gently.  And, last but not least, the "earth tones" are extraordinary.

My best always,

michael

Many Thanks for your most positive feedback.  The UK is not quite wonderland, but it does have some wonderful scenery and wildlife. : - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf 

MICHAEL 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback and observations. 

It is always interesting to read your comments, you have a knack of seeing a pattern or form in an image which would otherwise go unnoticed by myself. In this case the levels and positions of the heads of the deer.  The undergrowth and bracken was very thick and almost impenetrable, but this allowed a nice frame for the image leaving it nicely out of focus when shooting at 500 mm.

All my very best 

Alf 

Two light and two dark - dear we say no playing  here. (groan). (*_*)

By the way, great shot!

If I cut it in half and put it up for sale would that make it "too dear" : - ) 

As usual very little in the way of PP

Thanks for looking in Tony

Best Regards 

Alf 

Hi Alf, this is lovely and what perfect timing! I really like the soft treatment of this also - suits this capture. Best wishes. Sarah.

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, much appreciated!

It was a nice bonus to get this, when I initially went to photograph an old house inn the park : - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf