Tom Reichner wrote in post #18621627
.Now that there is the way to do it!
That's a really fine image, Stu, and I bet it wouldn't have been nearly as nice if you had been standing or kneeling.
. Way to go!
. A job very nicely done.
I am surprised by how much the Roe Deer's face looks like our Whitetail Deer.
. Facial hair coloration is darn near identical.
.You are located somewhere in the UK, aren't you?
I am very surprised that, being in the Northern Hemisphere, this buck would have already grown his antlers and shed the velvet.
. I wouldn't have thought that he would be in this condition until sometime in early September.
. Thank you tom means the world mate from you,I know how passionate you are on your deer, image making,I meant what I said about you inspiring me. It's a frame(or similar) I have craved for a good while Tom,I have so so much to learn about photography,but I know these guys will come and check me out,if I do my bit correctly. SadlyI've not measured up previously,but had some chances. This was special though for me, a wonderful encounter,he gave me a goodly few frames. I'm incredibly thrilled with this set and THIS experience
Tom you are an artist try hard for the best you can do image wise,always feel(this goes to anyone really) you can crit my work),I want to be better and am extremely driven. No one will ever hurt me I've always felt Ss to be a wonderful learning tool for me ,not someone being nasty.I want to be better simple as that !!
I really like being low Tom,I don't find it easy tracking down there off my elbows hence my little hi hat tripod,but I can't always use that in these situations. I find the pov brings me into their world,especially the hares. It conveys an intimacy Tom,for me. I had no options here as the cover was no more than 8/10incres high,the last part (75yards ish) of my approach being made in full view of him.
He's molting, the face will change a bit yet,he'll be a real warm red orange soon cheers on the notes on your whitetail
Yes Tom, UK, pretty much smack bang in the middle
I'll point out that this is a true native, so absolutely adapted to here life cycle wise. So yes it's life cycle is different to our other northern hemisphere deer,our red/ fallow rut as you expect. early Autumn But this species adopts a different strategy the rut will be over by sept. The young will be born very very soon if not the first ones right now. Tom we still have the odd buck in velvet, but they are shedding now and conceivably might be a bit late,as this year spring has been somewhat slow in coming. It's been incredibly cold here until last week or so,when It's suddenly gone silly hot,an unusual year.
Tom i'm no expert on deer,but I think this species rut around july/ Aug . Their lives are little seen: i've watched a young buck play sparring with an oldermore mature male once in my life,sadly the light had gone ,so the images are not great
. I've seen courtship once got a few frame but I couldn't access them ,every thing is fenced and private here,well most places. One need to seek permissions etc,sadly)
I'd almost lay a bet that this deer's life cycle is so unseen,that Roe rutting images have barely ever been posted here ,even in a forum of this scale. Maybe i'm wrong ,I'd love to see them, if I am. This little solitary deer no herds,......maybe twos and threes together(once I've seen 7,but that's exceptional) keeps itself to it's self. They aren't semi domesticated but live thorought most of the UK
For me this species represent an incredible challenge,I'd love to document the whole life cycle in images Tom,but being realistic it might take my life time to do so.(Especially while I'm so time pressed) They are habitual it seems,I know where I can regularly see them but when one comes to the nitty gritty of their lives the details ,catching those magic special moments,cor buddy, that will not be easy.
Tom I have a site with full access,where this above image was made,I am seeing them regularly and learning hard I'm about a year in with access.,so don't yet know the in's and outs of their behaviours there well enough, or even if they have rutting stands,where they might be. We'll see what comes my way,this summer. I'm hoping for a mum with young fawn image,the girls are fit to burst, right now, but beyond that there will be copious amounts of luck and no mistakes by me,what so ever.
I know already from the antlers already in recent images the boys i'm photographing are not just one individual,so who knows ,there is always hope. I have all the right ingredients to be very fortunate bar that one key element I crave so so much......TIME !!
Sorry for the long winded reply Tom,I just share your love of deer and felt you would be interested to know a bit more about them. and how I feel about them Always with that caviat I am me,a simple humble man not an expert, but I love 'em dude. Stunning animals and I seriously want to know more and make images of more of their lives.
take care kiddo cheers for the words very very kind
stu
he was so cool I could barely breath afterwards lay on me back like a blummin zombie a complete wreck. So funny !! I guess I get affected because I love 'em so much I dunno mate. I'm also stoked you like him,what a blast 
I have seen it in people many times. like in front of 5 or 6 fox kits lol. I must admit I get a huge chuckle out of it. I end up shooting the people not the critters.. But I do wish I could feel it again. I guess I need something out of this country to shoot.
,ya know in many ways I don't want to loose that side of me even though it don't help much with keeping the camera still,or my IQ.
