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If I Stand Very Still...He Won't See Me


If I Stand Very Still...He Won't See Me
Photo Information
Copyright: Billy C Banks (K9madtex) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 122 W: 67 N: 278] (1022)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-20
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon 70 - 200 f2.8L IS USM, Canon 72mm UV Haze
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): gondox's favorites - animals [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-01-26 11:18
Viewed: 5900
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I got this photo the same day as my previous deer post. I was driving through this park where many deer where grazing out in the open. As I made the loop very slowly I was shooting out the window (with the camera). My truck has a diesel engine so it's loud. The deer were confused. some ran, some froze. This beauty froze and just stood there posing, hoping I couldn't see her I guess. Either way it made for a good shot IMHO.

Whitetail Deer


The white-tailed deer is named for its most distinctive feature, the large white tail or "flag" that is often all you see as the animal bounds away through tall grass. The color of the deer's upper body and sides changes with the season, from a generally reddish-brown in summer to buff in winter. Its belly and the underside of its tail are completely white, and it has a white patch on the throat. The deer sheds its hair twice a year, its heavy winter coat giving way to a lighter one in spring which is replaced again in early fall. A fawn's coat is similar to the adult's but has several hundred white spots which gradually disappear when the deer is three to four months old.

Fawns are born in late spring and summer and by early November a male fawn weighs about 85 pounds and a female about 80 pounds. Yearling bucks average 150 pounds, while does of the same age average about 20 percent less, or about 120 pounds. Some older bucks weigh 200 pounds or more when field dressed (about 250 pounds live weight) and the heaviest Nebraska whitetail on record was 287 pounds field dressed (about 355 pounds live weight).

A buck fawn has bumps on his skull where antlers will grow when he is older. Yearling bucks may have one to six points on each antler, and, based on over 2,000 deer checked in 1990, average a total of almost six points on both antlers. Studies show that 20 percent of the yearling bucks have four points on each antler; 19 percent have three points on each antler; while about six percent have only spikes instead of fully-developed antlers. Antler development is dependant on nutrition.

Large "typical" bucks can have seven or more points on a side, and the largest Nebraska "non-typical" whitetail, taken by a hunter near Shelton in 1962, had a total of 39 points one inch or more in length. The typical white-tailed buck's antler has a main beam that sweeps forward and each of the points rise from it. Most buck fawns develop "buttons" by the fall of their first year, which are generally not visible above the hairline. These are hardened antlers which are shed. Subsequent antlers are also shed each year. Antler growth begins normally in April to early May. The new antlers are tender and velvet covered, with the velvet shed in early September on almost all bucks. An occasional male, possible one-half of one percent, does not shed the velvet at all.

The time of antler shedding varies among individual deer and somewhat by area. Most bucks drop their racks in January and February, but rarely may carry them into early May. Contrary to some opinions, numbers of points are no indication of age, but are of some value in judging the animal's condition.

From:
http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/whitetai.htm
eqshannon, Jamesp, nglen, angela926, rcrick, wahclella, Adanac, cataclysta, angybone, Alex99, marhowie, horia, mattadunn has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • gondox Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 356 W: 65 N: 342] (1585)
  • [2008-01-26 11:58]

Hi Billy!
Superb lighting, and a very fine pose of the deer, nice catchlight and very fine fur details! Beautiful animal captured with perfection. TFS!

Best regards,
Andor

Hello Billy
The title sums up the half a look from the eye perfectly..youve got great details on her and the lights lovely with the shadows running across the grass.
Great Note as well..Thanks for this one
Paul

Very nice..a soft glow about it billy...Very nice...you have quite the eye for the natural elements...which is why you do what you do I reckon!
Bob

Hi Billy,
This is a beautiful capture and composition. Tones of colors are exquisite with superb catch light in its eye! Lovely!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 485 W: 0 N: 772] (3395)
  • [2008-01-26 13:11]

Hello Billy
Very nice picture, naturel color and good saharp
well done

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2008-01-26 13:12]

Hi Billy

Really good colours and POV here. Well composed shot.

TFS

James

Billy,

Great shot and I think you read her mind well.
Very nice and I love the catch light you captured, also.
Thanks,
fototab

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-01-26 13:41]

Hi Got called back to work tonight just got back so a quick note to say good pictures.
well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Billy,
Nice shot,
very good sharpness and depth of field,good colors and light.
Angela

Hello Billy,
you greatly captured and presented this lovely faced cute deer. Eye contact and focus very nice. Composition and POV/DOF, lighting also great. thanks for sharing. best wishes
Ahmet

Hey Billy.
Awesome shot mate, the lighting is amazing, excellent detail and d.o.f, beautiful eye catch, just a great pic :) all the best Cheers Rick....

Hello Billy,
The lighting really softens this doe-fawn and makes for an exceptional post. I remember all too well when I was walking through the woods and a herd of does just stood up and looked at me as if they had nothing to fear, it was on a refuge near here where I was a nest surveyor. An excellent capture with excellent detail in and around her eyes.
Well Captured...
Steve

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-01-27 1:45]

Hi Billy,
Looks like she's at attention, great image with nice light. The details and colors in this image are spot on, great job Billy.
Rick

Hi Billy
Funny title ;-)
Beautiful light, nice warm colors. Great summer shot
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Perfect capture - - - great work here...motionless model, great light - beautiful!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-27 19:58]

Hello Billy

A wonderful capture of this frozen statue.You describe a scene I have witnessed many times.
A lovely POV and DOF.
The focus is sharp with very good sharpness.
This is well illuminated ,actually glowing in a warm light.
Great job.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2008-01-28 10:33]

Hi Billy.
I like the picture of the cute deer a lot. Great scene and perfect POV. You managed to represent this animal excellently. Its pose and glance, reproduction of all other attractive details are wonderful. My best wishes and TFS.
Alexei.

Clear sharp detail and great DOF Billy.
I like the warm color and light casting the long shadows here :)
Well done,
Howard

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer [C: 207 W: 0 N: 605] (2855)
  • [2008-01-29 16:57]

Hi Billy,


What an amazing light you got of this very elegant deer. Beautiful natural colours and an excellent capture of the eye. Very well done!

Lise

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2008-01-30 4:17]

Hi Billy

It definitely made a very good shot :)
I guess some animals may have that "strategy" - freezing and the good photographer must always be on the lookout for such great opportunities.
You did a great job here and caught her in a splendid pose.
The colors are magnificent - glowing in that low light - which also great those beautiful long shadows (a great addition to the composition).
Very good DOF choice here and spot-on exposure.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

she's a pretty one for sure. good job on the capture.

  • Great 
  • sray Silver Star Critiquer [C: 22 W: 0 N: 0] (242)
  • [2008-03-08 6:30]

Hi Billy
Nice job . Sharp, good focus and light, lot of details . TFS
Serge

This is a beautiful capture and composition.

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