Mule Deer doe close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x Tc, natural light
I haven’t posted any Mule Deer since the doe I photographed whose face was covered in spider webs and actually had a spider on her muzzle so I thought I’d post two deer I photographed last week.
Last Friday while looking for birds in the West Desert of Tooele County I saw a doe cross the road in a canyon and she stopped to look around where she was so close I couldn’t even fit all of her ears in the viewfinder. I decided to take photos of her any way and hoped to show her beauty up close. Typically I wouldn’t like to not show her entire head but I thought this image worked well.
Back lit Mule Deer buck – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x Tc, natural light
Then last Saturday I saw a buck out in grassy a field in Box Elder County with the sun behind him and while I normally don’t like to take back lit images I also don’t like getting into a photographic rut, I want to challenge my skills and try different things. I enjoy trying to work with different lighting situations and seeing the results. I’ve seen some gorgeous back lit images where the rim lighting is simply spectacular. Rim lighting is a light that typically comes from beside or behind a subject. I like the rim lighting in this Mule Deer photo but perhaps it would have been even better just a few minutes earlier when the sun was a little lower.
These two Mule Deer were photographed in different settings, different lighting situations but about the same time of the morning and I find them both appealing.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mule Deer photos plus facts and information about this species.
Masterpieces, them and your images
Saw 3 or 4 muleys on a ridge right next to the road as the morning sun was just beginning to rise…they looked like they were outlined in fire,,,backlighting can be very dramatic and beautiful…your stag is a good example…beautiful!
Beautiful things. And I love the detail that we wouldn’t normally see.
These are wonderful images! I love seeing the other things that are “out there, too. Thus os an incredible close up portrait of a beautiful animal…
These are wonderful images! I love seeing the other things that are “out there, too. Thus os an incredible close up portrait of a beautiful animal…
Simply extraordinary. The depth you captured in the doe’s eye is incredible. Thanks Mia.
I agree with Liz! I can almost reach out and touch this doe and I honestly think I can smell her too. You have such talent, Mia!
Mia, you are your own worst critic. These photos are gorgeous. The detail of the doe is absolutely wonderful. Who needs ears in a photo when you can get detail like that.