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Thread: Migration Story

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    Default Migration Story

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    I've been fanatically photographing mule deer for nearly 35 years. They have shaped and fueled my wildlife photography career. In this image I saw a chance to tell a story of the mule deer life. It's late autumn in western Wyoming and this fine mature mule deer buck has arrived on it's winter range. He's standing in the middle of a vital food source, sagebrush, that provides the deer with a high protein food source that helps them survive the brutal winter. In the distance you can see the high peaks of the Wyoming Range which is the summer habitat of this migratory deer herd. Western Wyoming mule deer may migrate over 150 miles from summer to winter range and back making it the longest known migration of wildlife in the lower 48. So my attempt here was to show the deers summer and winter homes in one hopefully good image.

    Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
    Copyright: D. Robert & Lorri Franz
    Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
    Aperture: 5.6
    Exposure mode: Av
    Exposure compensation: +1/3
    Metering mode: Multi-segment
    ISO: 160
    Focal length: 800mm

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Dale - this works extremely well. Thanks for the detailed intro. I think you accomplished your goal. It's a very majestic image with the pose of the buck and the distant mountain. Nice light and detail. Fantastic comp but I do wonder if cropping from the bottom just above the lightest sage in the fg enhances the image. I think you still have enough room for the virtual legs. I just find that light tan bush drawing my eye slightly.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Yea it would be fine to crop a bit since this is full frame, as you know most of my images are and why.... It may indeed help!

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Dale this does look great , like the īdeadīspace to the left and top . Nice light and stunning mountain backdrop .
    I like the overall colors and tones , but think the contrast is a wee bit high in the FG , i think you can get a bit more detail from the shadowed side of the buck.
    Do not know exactly about the Mule deer , but the think the antlers are a bit sharper in shape , i guess a masking issue ?

    Well seen and executed

    TFS Andreas

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    Hi Robert, thank you for the detailed explanation. The mountain peaks in the BG looks majestic for sure. I know it is tough to get an image like this and I like it very much, but then I want to see more of the landscape. I wonder if you have anything in horizontal format with a shorter focal length? may not look as well in a small print, but could make a gorgeous large print. Loi

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    Hi Dale. This is a lovely image with a nice backdrop. Thanks for sharing the story, really helps understand the scene better. I like it as presented but would echo Loi's comments on getting a wider view.
    cheers,
    Sanjeev

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Robert,

    this indeed works very well. I as well would crop a tad from bottom. Somehow around the antlers it is a bit blurry or something. Andreas mentioned it already above!

    Have a great eve

    Ciao Anette

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I have reloaded this page a couple of times and there appears to be something wrong with the image/loading/resizing, the antlers and head are not sharp, the perimeter appears quite fuzzy.

  11. #9
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Dear Dale,

    First of all, I love the title and the story - I can see your passion for this amazing environment and it comes through so well in your images. Looking at this frame it is not difficult for me to "see" what you saw: the colours are amazing, so is the vegetation, and especially the mule deer - he so fits in this majestic landscape!

    I like the vertical crop - it gives prominence to the subject and to me there's enough space for the deer to look into. Also, it includes those lovely high peaks, so I wold not compose this otherwise:) I already mentioned the colours and I do think tonality is great, if this were mine I would take another look at the antlers (I see some kind of halo around them) and maybe consider softening the FG at the bottom of the image.

    Overall a lovely capture of this superb proud mule deer - hope one day I get to see and photograph this species, for now I am happy to take great delight in viewing your images:)

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Great use of layers, colour, light and context here Dale.
    I would consider shaving a tad off the bottom and top, removing the OOF sagebrush FG and the empty blue sky over the peak - as an alternative...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Dale, for me the image conveys space & scale, having the snow cap mountains in the BKG provides for a 'layering' depth too, glad you waited for the head turn.

    TFS
    Steve

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