Backyard Bucks

PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
edited December 4, 2010 in Wildlife
We had these three bucks in our backyard off and on through the Thanksgiving week. Great looking deer, but I think my photography was a little off. I think I needed a bit more depth of field, since the grass under their feet was OOF inches from where they stood. Please let me know if you have other suggestions for how I can improve. :scratch

Many thanks, Pam

1) Largest buck

1111739305_hUTAm-L.jpg

2) Medium buck--throw away shot, I think, because of OOF grass--please excuse the clumsy cloning!

1111738228_WHWWH-L.jpg

3) Medium size and baby buck--also a throw away because of OOF foreground. Not sure this one could be helped, but the smaller buck is cute.

1111738840_68gVn-L.jpg

Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 1, 2010
    These are ver good, Pamthumb.gifthumb
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    That must be some backyard you have. Nice job Pam.
    Mike McCarthy

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    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • IntrepidBerkeleyExplorerIntrepidBerkeleyExplorer Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    Your deer are lovely. They also visit backyards in Berkeley, California, were I live. But I have a better chance of seeing them on hiking trails in regional parks, not a photographic opportunity.

    It was in Banff, Canada where I took my best photos of mule deer.
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    I wouldn't be throwing these images away, Pam. :)
    I particularly like the second image - and to my eyes at least, the OOF grass doesn't detract.
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    Thank you Dan, Mike and David. David, I would have a heart attack if I saw a deer as large as your mule deer in our backyard--our deer are a smaller subspecies of white tail deer. We do see quite a few deer because there is a feed plot for them just on the other side of the gulley from our yard, which is unfenced. Fun to watch! Best, Pam
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited December 2, 2010
    What awesome creatures to have in your backyard, Pam. #2 is my favorite. thumb.gif

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
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  • IntrepidBerkeleyExplorerIntrepidBerkeleyExplorer Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    PGM wrote: »
    Thank you Dan, Mike and David. David, I would have a heart attack if I saw a deer as large as your mule deer in our backyard--our deer are a smaller subspecies of white tail deer. We do see quite a few deer because there is a feed plot for them just on the other side of the gulley from our yard, which is unfenced. Fun to watch! Best, Pam


    I was unaware that mule deer could produce anything besides enjoyment,
    since they consent to being photographed and show little fear. I have earlier video of mule deer up close in both Yellowstone and Arches National Parks. They seem adapted to humans with cameras.

    Among my problems are Pronghorn Antelope, who flee from photography.
    At least I finally understand the classic American song, Home on the Range, which refers to "where the deer and the antelope play". In Africa there were antelope who didn't mind video, unlike their distant American relatives. Eventually I hope some Pronghorns will play for my camcorder.
  • Brian_SBrian_S Registered Users Posts: 188 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    these are all great pics Pam!
    got another vote here for #2, great pic, shouldn't be worried about the grass, no one is looking at that :), the subject of interest is in focus, #1 seems to of been just a bit off
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    Thank you all so much for the comments and suggestions--#2 survives!--it is so helpful to see your photos through someone else's eyes. And I love participating in this forum, where I get the best education from studying all of your exceptional photos. Question: How do you respond to several comments at once, where all the previous comments are included in your post? I see you all do it all the time, and I can't figure out how!

    Many thanks, Pam

    PS: David, I don't know that the mule deer are scary exactly, but that one sure looks GIANT (especially the antlers) compared to our little deer.
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2010
    On the bottom right hand side of every post there are three buttons. Click on the centre button (with the big quotation mark) for every post you want to quote. Then click on 'reply' on the far left hand side below the thread itself. That will bring up a reply window with all of your selected quotes in it.

    Hope that explanation wasn't too confusing :)
    I asked the exact same question in another forum just a few weeks ago.
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2010
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    On the bottom right hand side of every post there are three buttons. Click on the centre button (with the big quotation mark) for every post you want to quote. Then click on 'reply' on the far left hand side below the thread itself. That will bring up a reply window with all of your selected quotes in it.

    Hope that explanation wasn't too confusing :)
    I asked the exact same question in another forum just a few weeks ago.


    Got it! Thanks! Pam
  • Grand Slam PhotographyGrand Slam Photography Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited December 3, 2010
    The first two photos are absolutely stunning! I am heading out to the country in a couple weeks to try to get some great deer and turkey photos...I just hope that mine can turn out as nice as these!

    clap.gif Great job! clap.gif
    Grand Slam Photography
    Louisville, KY

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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2010
    I like them all! thumb.gif I'd love to see your backyard mwink.gif

    The third one, you could maybe crop a bit of the oof foreground to make it less obvious.
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  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2010
    Grand Slam Photography wrote: »
    The first two photos are absolutely stunning! I am heading out to the country in a couple weeks to try to get some great deer and turkey photos...I just hope that mine can turn out as nice as these!

    clap.gif Great job! clap.gif
    BigAl wrote: »
    I like them all! thumb.gif I'd love to see your backyard mwink.gif

    The third one, you could maybe crop a bit of the oof foreground to make it less obvious.

    Thank you both! Good idea on cropping the oof foreground in #3. Here is a question, though: How much "fixing" is okay in Photoshop? For example, in this #3 photo, the oof foreground included a forked branch that extended up over the resting buck. In Photoshop Elements 9, I used the content aware healing brush, and made it mostly go away, though you can still see a slight dark green tint in places. I didn't try too hard because I thought it was a throw away. So, my question is, how much photoshop type work do most wildlife photographers think is acceptable?

    Many thanks, Pam
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