Autumn Colours

Cheshire - 23.10.19

After a late night attending the presentation by the renowned BBC cameraman Doug Allan up in Burnley I thought I'd have a lie in this morning, but all good plans can change. Opening the curtains it's looks like sunshine all the way today, then I reminded that the Red Deer rutting season won't last for much longer...Mmm, fifteen minuets later I'm loading the gear in the car and I'm on my way to a Red Deer site locally.

When visiting this location I always like to head out to the less busy wild end which flanks the perimeter of the Park, here the ground is rough long grass and woodland, but it's a bit of a slog getting there.

Work in progress....

Red Deer - stag

Day Out At Tatton

Tatton Park, Cheshire - 17.10.18

Work in progress.....

Red Deer Stag

I'm sat down amongst the grass with a group of about twenty five hinds guarded by a dominant stage no more than thirty meters away that seem at ease with my presence, I'm watching to see if a unusual shot materialises but eventually have to settle for some head shots of the hinds with some comical expressions as they chew the cud

Quite often you will see Jackdaws clambering all over the backs and head of the deer looking for ticks, beneficial to both parties the Jackdaws get a free meal the deer get a cleaning service. I hoping for that shot where the Jackdaw is perched on the stags antler...but no such luck.

It's not quite cold enough today to consistently get that classic shot where you can see the stags breath as it condenses in the cold air but I was lucky with this shot, may be another visit in a couple of weeks when the temperature and the weather gets a little colder.

It got a bit foggy at one point in the afternoon.

Bradgate Deer Rut

Its 6.30 am and its still dark, I’m at Bradgate Park for a deer photographic workshop organised by Danny Green a Canon Ambassador, Danny has recently returned from Finland photographing Brown Bears so I’m hoping to learn a few tips and tricks

As always I forget something, this time a head torch. I tag along the back of the group trying not to stumble as we make our way into the darkness, after what maybe a kilometre we stop and wait for it to get light, maybe we could have started a little latter ?

Red and Roe Deer can be heard bellowing out their rutting calls and Tawny Owls are still calling in the now twilight. Soon it’s light enough to start looking suitable subjects, unfortunately it’s not cold enough for those classic shots where the deers breath can be seen in the cold morning air as the sun light is breaking through, maybe on another occasion. 

Through out the day we have the opportunity to photograph deer in natural undulating countryside albeit the light wasn't at it best but thankful the forecast of rain didn't materialise 

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Red Deer Stag & Hind's

Fallow Deer

Red Deer Hind & Sub Adult