11/22/2010: Mule Deer
Mammals on Monday (a Twitter thing).
Twice in my few days at Bosque del Apache NWR I came across small groups of foraging Mule Deer. The deer at Bosque are fairly secure (and they are Mule Deer, who are, in my experience, much less skittish and secretive than White-tails), and both times I was able to get the car stopped, digiscoping rig out, tripod up, camera ready, and take a series of shots while they peacefully continued about their business. They were aware of me, certainly, but not unduly concerned.
The first three shots are from an early morning encounter and the last from early afternoon. In both cases the New Mexico November sun provided spectacular light. The deer were about 75 yards across the water channels which line all the Bosque roads.
Canon SD4000IS behind the 15-56x Vario eyepiece on the ZEISS DiaScope 65FL for equivalent focal lengths (fields of view) of about 1500mm (1-3) and 1000mm. First three at f5 @ 1/320th @ ISO 125, last shot f5 @ 1/640th @ ISO 125. Programmed auto.
Processed in Lightroom with a touch of Fill Light, Blackpoint slightly right, added Clarity and Sharpen narrow edges preset.
Any opportunity to see NM is welcome… ESPECIALLY great shots like these.
what amazing captures!! I love the second one!!
Steve, nice photos as always. I live in Farmington NM. If you are this direction, I have some good spots for some desert type photos, if your out this way.
Doug
[…] Deer in the water wading among the ducks is a slightly incongruous sight. As usual at Bosque del Apache, at least during the Festival of the Cranes in November, someone was already stopped and taking pictures of this group of Mule Deer crossing one of the irrigation channels. I pulled up behind and grabbed these shots with the Canon SX20IS out the window. As the deer came up on the dyke between enpondments, they showed so little concern for the gathering crowd on the road (for, of course, two stopped cars attracts a third, and three a forth, etc.) that I got out and digiscoped them (see Mule Deer). […]