<< Previous Next >>

Sunshine Stag


Sunshine Stag
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-10
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/500 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Mammals of the British Isles, Deer of the UK [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-07-14 15:44
Viewed: 1370
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A picture of am immature Fallow Dama dama stag. I thought he looked very nice in a little shaft of sunlight. I hope you like him. I've included notes about the annual cycle of Fallow Deer.

ANNUAL CYCLE

The majority of Fallow are born in May and June although births can continue up to the end of September. Usually a single fawn is born. Twins are rare, occurring in about 1% of all pregnancies.

The rut starts in late August or early September, reaching a peak in October and is indicated by a change in the behaviour of the bucks, the thickening of their necks and the setting up of rutting stands. These stands consist of scrapes in the ground and thrashed bushes and trees. The area that they will be spread over is dependant upon the local Fallow population density, with those areas of lower densities sustaining larger territories. The buck urinates into the scrapes and may also urinate upon himself or his antlers. During the rut bucks develop a very strong odour which is easily detectable even by humans. Unlike Sika or Red deer, Fallow do not appear to use the scrapes as wallows. The bucks will also thrash and fray bushes and trees, depositing scent from their sub-orbital scent glands onto the trunks of trees. When on the rutting stand the buck emits a characteristic groaning call which is similar to a deep extended belch. The does congregate around the rutting stand attracted by the activities of the buck and the audible and oflactory stimuli. The buck then moves around the assembled does testing them for sexual receptiveness by sniffing around the anal area of the does and tasting their urine to ascertain which ones are in oestrus. This sampling of the does is known as ‘Flehmen’ and is indicated by a buck rolling back his lips and raising his head. If the doe is in oestrus the buck may then chase her, sometimes a considerable distance from the rutting stand, before mating takes place. During the rut bucks will fight with each other, the fight consisting mainly of shoving competitions with antlers locked. As the bucks push they twist with their necks to try and force their opponent backwards. When the weaker animal eventually gives in, the winner will often gash the flank of the loser with its brow tines as it turns to flee. Yearlings and other young bucks will generally be tolerated by a buck on a rutting stand, but if an animal of equal size appears then a fight will usually occur.

Notes are from this excellent site on deer.
JeanMichel, elroyie, Runnerduck, Fisher, marhowie, liquidsunshine, cougrrr, Signal-Womb, Gudule, AndyB, chouette, Janice, christophe, TAZ, dew77, puffy, novaman, deud, ellis49, Comandante, red45, coasties, Luc, bedford67 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Runnerduck: Of course I don't mindPDP 2 07-14 18:59
To elroyie: Grey tonePDP 1 07-14 16:21
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

This is simply perfect, Paul. On the technical side, no nits. On the artistic side, it's a real pleasure. Looks like a painting masterpice, where the painter has gathered the best light and colors to produce the most attractive portrait. The environment, specially the delicate weeds in the foreground is outstanding. Congratulations!

Great portrait, excellent quality and excellent light, you had the light exactly on the right place.
What is the grey tone arround it?

A beautiful image, stunning pose. The colours in this shot are brilliant. I love the fg and bg. Great stuff. My only (only only) 'nit' is the 'grass' in his face. I have done a WS really hope you don't mind.
You obviously like it as you kept it in, but I've done one anyway ... ;-)
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-07-14 17:11]

Excellent shot, Paul.
Well done on the tones, composition and details.
two strands of grass are distracting, but, can't be helped, that's nature. A little tweeking might help. :) :)
Excellnet work.

Mike

Paul!
This is absolutely GREAT! Nice, vute eyes and superb portrait. Artistic shot.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-07-14 17:48]

Paul, a lovely picture with a very beautiful background.

Great sharpness and pov. I do enjoy composition too.

Another excellent job by you.

Superb shot Paul,
Well composed, good detail, colours and sharpness.
Nicely captured, Great POV and DOF. The lighting is fantastic.
Thanks for posting.

I love the warm tones to this image, like Jean mentioned the delicate weeds in the foreground are very nice and act like soft focus around the portrait. I do find the strands of grass distracting. One thing I do notice about your posts is that your composition is nearly always from full frame shots, were I tend to correct a lot of mine from cropping the image. This is something I should concentrate more on. Very well done Paul.

Beautiful lighting and BG. Great composition. The removal of the two blades of grass make it perfect. Incredible detail. I like the grass in the foreground. Well done Paul.

  • Great 
  • Gudule Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 248 W: 11 N: 288] (1204)
  • [2005-07-14 19:30]

This is quite a nice shot. You hope we will like him? Yes Paul, for sure. He has an haughty stylish. Looks like a prince.
Thank you for the excellence of your note.
Composition, presentation. A main focus on his head.
JN.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2005-07-14 19:41]

Hello Paul.
An excellent capture,
Superb lighting and great tones,perfect DOF.
Very nice indeed.

TFS

SUPERB! What a beautiful light! Composition, details and sharpness are perfect. Nice soft BG. I like it very much! TFS
Helene

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3451 W: 144 N: 5892] (17458)
  • [2005-07-14 23:03]

Wow Paul, what a beautiful up-close shot of the deer. Excellent portrait, wonderful lighting and his detals are superb. The antlers look so real and velvety. Well done.

Hi Paul
Sharpness: 5/5
Color: 5/5
DOF: 5/5
POV: 5/5
Excellent shot
TFS
In a friendly way Christophe

Lovely portrait Paul. The light is excellent and the details outstanding. Very good composition with the blurred background. Excellent quality! Very well done!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-07-15 5:16]

Hello Paul!
Nice portrait.Lighting is amazing.Clear details,sharpness and composition are perfect.
TFS...:-)

Amazing shot Paul!
Lovely colours, beautiful animal, perfect POV and composition.
The light is really special. It makes that shot by creating such great mood.
I love the photo, so stright to my favs.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-07-15 6:30]

Hello Paul,

This is a stunning portrait. The warm light is just excellent and the details are so sharp. I also like the composition a lot. I and I do not mind the grass in front of the face as it indeed looks natural. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Nice shot Paul. Great atmposhere created by this excellent light, the grass FG bordering the head and the OOF BG with the other deers silhouettes just visible..Well done.

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 314 W: 0 N: 352] (1349)
  • [2005-07-15 8:20]

What a nice looking Bambi! Great shot Paul, I like the colours, details and DOF. Good job, thanks for sharing. :)

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 500 W: 2 N: 466] (2121)
  • [2005-07-15 9:18]

great portrait! very well detailed and focused. good light. tfs

Beautiful portrait, Paul.
The colours are great, warm and soft. The light and details are very good.
Excellent work, my friend.

Hello Paul!
Lovely portrait.Colors,lighting,POV and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2829 W: 75 N: 8024] (26857)
  • [2005-07-15 15:58]

One of the best shots of deers for sure. Light and warm colours are simply amazing, same as soft mood. Perfect composition. No nits. Superb post.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-07-16 3:51]

Beautiful and interesting portrait for this superb stag ! Composition, colors, details and sharpness are very good ! the Sigma 50-500 works well... Thanks for sharing Paul.

Hello Paul

Lovely portrait. What a great looking animal. Good light. Shame about the two blades of grass, but it doesn't detract from this awesome shot. Great job. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-07-18 22:27]

Hello Paul!
Personal assessment of the photo: great close-up portrait and eye catching.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much for sharing.

Hi Paul,
Very nice portrait! I find that this composition is very great. The colors and contrast are perfect.
TFS, cordially,
Jean-Patrick

Hi Paul,
Excellent portrait, simple and nice.good colours and details, i like the difuse effect in the neck. Good DOF and BG.
regards
Hernán

Hi Paul,

Very good portrait with natural colors and great details! Excellent lighting too! I love your composition. The only thing I would have tried to remove are the two white straws in the foreground. Outstanding job!

Regards,
Eddie

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF