Young Buck

You don't have to go far to photograph deer here in Peel Forest. We've moved from a predominantly sheep and beef farming area on Banks Peninsula to one where most of the paddocks contain these shy but noble beasts.

1098 here is in the large mob that are currently grazing at the end of the our road. They're full of voice at present, the 'roar', or rutting season, meaning that these two and three year olds are making themselves known at any opportunity.

I took this shot from the car with a long lens (ignore the metadata on the page - I forgot to select 400mm on the menu on my fuji for non CPU lense, in this case a Pentax mount 400mm f/5.6 with adapter). Deer are incredibly difficult to photograph close up - they're skittish beasts and as soon as you make eye contact they'll take flight. I've found the best way to get their portraits is with a long lens from the shelter of a car.