Lip curling

[Steve S]

Scent checking for does in heat..........................

[Donald]

Steve

This one reminds me of my young days growing up on the farm. Why?

Well, at the agricultural shows when the competition for rosettes and trophies was keen but good-humoured, the winners would never allow their cattle to be photographed on a downward slop. The front of the animal always had to be just slightly higher than the rear. They believed (maybe with some justification) that it showed the bull, cow etc, off to best advantage.

Now, I'm not suggesting that this is the case here, but it did remind me of that particular thing amongst farmers.

[Steve S]

I really can't say it's the best of angles, but a different one. I liked the fact that he was lip curling/looking back at me/and had a great angle to capture the mass of his rack. Not to mention i don't have control over the angle after the deer has arrived. I can only go along with what he offers me.

[GeorgeM]

Looks good, Steve. Looks bluish, but it could be my monitor.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Steve,

I went to a local large park with a herd of some 350 red and 300 fallow deer recently, so expect some shots soon, but I already know that mine are merely opportunistic shots; I need to return (several times) to get to know their behaviour as you do to pick up on these points and get better backgrounds. Even being able to tell them apart at a distance would help

I think George may have a point about the bluish look, but if it is in shadow under a clear blue sky, it may not be as simple fix as if just 'a bit blue' under an overcast sky.

I do take your point, as does Donald, about only being able to work with what you're given for wildlife, but you 'set the bar high', so what are we to say (constructively) to help you eek the last few percent improvement?

Cheers,

[Steve S]

Hi Steve,

I went to a local large park with a herd of some 350 red and 300 fallow deer recently, so expect some shots soon, but I already know that mine are merely opportunistic shots; I need to return (several times) to get to know their behaviour as you do to pick up on these points and get better backgrounds. Even being able to tell them apart at a distance would help

I think George may have a point about the bluish look, but if it is in shadow under a clear blue sky, it may not be as simple fix as if just 'a bit blue' under an overcast sky.

I do take your point, as does Donald, about only being able to work with what you're given for wildlife, but you 'set the bar high', so what are we to say (constructively) to help you eek the last few percent improvement?

Cheers,

Hi dave, good luck with your red and fallow deer. Can't wait to see them. Sounds like a fun shoot.

As i said before , i'm not shure what the deal is, with the colors on this shoot. (something i need to figure out). The day was a very bright overcast day.(very low cloud cover ) The deer was on very bright green grass and the light was pouring through a bright green pine tree. (hence the green tint) And the background was grey trees giving a very cool (blue ) tint. The deer itself looks very good to me. The right sides of the histograms are all about even, so these colors must have been for real.

The lip curling scene, i only had one chance at and it is what it is, as far as angle, but i did cover my bases on alot of other shots. I do agree , having the animal facing you is a much better composition. Having eye contact is very important as well.(just think of a portrait when the person doesn't look towards the lens).

Thanks everyone, i appreciate all the constructive criticism.