One from last summer, I went with the pano to try and portray the wide open spaces these guys roam. Also liked the layers of different colored grasses and how the colors on the buck mimic the grasses. 40D, 400DO + 1.4xTC, f7.1, 1/1000s, ISO 400, handheld, cropped from left, top, and bottom.
I like the presentation and the habitat idea. I like it very much but for the shadows created by head and belly.
I have this thing about defined shadows, it may not bother anyone else :)
I get what Fabs says about the shadows, and in cases like this the only thing that would really negate the shadows is an overcast sky, which would rob you of certain light qualities.
I love the pic for the reasons you mention. Great study.
Would be interesting if we had a comparison between this image and one with overcast skies, I tend to go for the overcast except very early and late in the day.... but bright skies will not keep me from shooting !!!