Columbian White-tailed Deer in Rut

Image Critiques Wildlife Critiques
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-20251109-_SA12279-untitled-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg
-20251109-_SA12279-untitled-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg2048×1462 1.75 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

This deer species in endemic to the western reaches of the Columbia river with the Black-tailed deer being the common species away from the river. It’s population is quite low and it was pretty much confined to one preserve on the shore and an island or two twenty years ago. If I recall the story correctly, one of the areas was being endangered by shifting river courses so they moved a population upstream to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. They have done well enough there that they haven’t been ear tagging them of late. I was at the refuge Sunday and saw this and another buck playing games. By the time I was able to get an angle, this one had run the other off and was pulling up grass with its antlers and throwing it around in a display of bravado.

Specific Feedback

I do wish he had turned toward me. He did when I switched to video for about 25 seconds just before he disappeared into the reeds. I’ll have to see if I can extract a still from the video clip. Does the direction he’s facing make this a non-starter?

Technical Details

Sony A1, FE200-600 + 1.4 TC @ 840 mm, beanbag, f/9, 1/2000, iso 1600. Preprocessing in DxO PureRaw 5, processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 3608x2576 before resizing for web. Taken at 9:22 a.m. on November 9th.

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I don’t think so but a nice head turn would certainly make this a much better photograph. I think this image is more about what is transpiring instead of a, 'Look at me" type of thing. Had he not just chased off another buck and had he not been displaying, then this would just be a butt shot. Cool looking tail on this guy! Thanks for the backstory too. Pretty interesting. Glad they seem to be doing much better.