Sika Deer

Photo Information

(9219)

Genre: Animals

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2009-09-17

Categories: Mammals

Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II USM

Photo Version: Original Version

Travelogue: Six days in the French Alps

Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite wild animal photos 2 [view contributor(s)]

Date Submitted: 2009-10-03 4:27

Viewed: 6468

Favorites: 1 [view]

Points: 74

[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note

Today, I post a picture of an animal I have met during my holiday in the French Alps, but it is NOT a species native from there. It is a Sika Deer (Cervus sika), a Cervidae coming from East Asia - not very tall (only 1 meter high) but still very impressive when they stand in front of you.

We have met him in the Parc de Merlet, a vast park where they show people the local species like Ibex, Marmot, Chamois, Roe Deers... But they also have several species coming from other parts of the world, like a pair of alpagas and a dozen of these beautiful Sika Deers.

The animals live in complete freedom within the borders of the park, there are no cages at all (except one cage where they put animals that need to be isolated from the others). There are paths for people to walk on, and it is forbidden to go away from the path, so the animals can still have some quiet and won't be chased around by curious tourists.

Even though the animals can go wherever they want, it is very interesting to see how each species has its own favourite place. And the good thing was, as they are used to see people, they didn't run away, so it was easy to go close enough to take pictures.

This particualr picture was very difficult - first because it was taken on the extreme border of the park, and there was an ugly fence just behind the Deer, so I had to struggle to find a POV where the fence won't be visible. Second, it was a cloudy day, with no sun, and moreover the Deer was laying in a pine wood, it was very dark. Another difficulty was to make him stand out, even though had has exactly the same color than the trees. I needed almost 10 mn to get one decent picture, but at least my model was patient and didn't move !

The result is far from perfect - I know there is noise - but I'm still quite happy with the result, and I wanted to know what you think about it...

PeterZ, xTauruSx, roges, ferranjlloret, Argus, maurydv, jcoowanitwong, marianas, nazirbadar, chudy, oanaotilia, nglen, nasokoun, boreocypriensis, siggi, sandpiper2, zulfu, Noisette, anemone, CeltickRanger, sranjan, amanengone, Alex99, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
Thread	Thread Starter	Messages	Updated
To marmottelolo: Etiquettes	valy67	1	10-06 15:59
To zulfu: Hello Mehmet !	valy67	1	10-04 23:26
To xTauruSx: Hello Deniz	valy67	1	10-03 22:17
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Critiques [Translate]

PeterZ (49139)
[2009-10-03 4:36]

Hello Valerie,
Wow.. this is beautiful!!! The frontal meeting with this Sika Deer is very impressive. The result is fantastic, I don't see any disturbing noise. And if there was, you can reduce it in photoshop. The Autumn colours are so beautiful. The sharpness is very good and the composition excellent. Great DOF. For me this is a masterpiece!
Regards,
Peter

xTauruSx (788)
[2009-10-03 4:42]
[+]

Hello Valerie,
Beautiful image of this resting cute deer. Great eye contact.
TFS and greetings,
Deniz

roges (6264)
[2009-10-03 4:43]

Bonjour Valerie,

A splendid image. Splendid "portrait". I think no matter photo perfection. SRIM is important that all is not so easy to photograph wild animals also.
This is an invitation for me to visit Chamonix and summer. Maybe Am I gonna be so lucky to capture it.
Have a nice weekend,
Adrian

rommel (3628)
[2009-10-03 4:51]

Hi Valerie,
A brilliant portrait captured of this sika deer,which seems to be staring straight down your lens, with the element of surprise.The deer and environment are one in all.Excellent details of the deers face.Great shot.
erwin...

ferranjlloret (10340)
[2009-10-03 5:36]

Hello Valerie,
Guau, guau, guau, superb portrait!!!! You have had much luck to be able to see this one image. Very well done.
TFS. Ferran

euroblinkie (64279)
[2009-10-03 6:19]

hello Valerie
I CAN SEE YOU!!
super sharpness composition very good details of the deer
great shot
greeting lou

foozi (25839)
[2009-10-03 7:05]

Hi Valerie,
wow...what a shot. Look so interesting and the stare is excellent. the colour of mosses is very useful in depicting the beauty of nature.
Excellent light givving a sharp shot.

Regards,
Foozi

Argus (50626)
[2009-10-03 7:10]

Hello Val�rie,
A superb 'head-on' capture of a Sika Deer stag taken from a great POV toshow just the head and antlers with fine sharpness and lighting in a very nice composition with the OOF forest BG.
This species has become feral in several parts of Europe.
Thanks and have great weekend,
Ivan

nagraj (15166)
[2009-10-03 7:30]

Hi,
Very interesting and effective viewpoint to portray this beautiful deer, I like the background very much. tfs.
nagraj.v

maurydv (36428)
[2009-10-03 8:14]

Ciao Valerie,
quelle �motion etre face � face, superbe image de Cervus sika, bonne nettet�, tr�s belles et naturelles couleurs, magnifique composition avec une agr�able atmosph�re de sous-bois.
Merci et f�licitations
Bonne soir�e
Amicalement
Maurizio

goldyrs (11497)
[2009-10-03 8:24]

A superb portrait, Val�rie!
Simply love it!
Goldy

jcoowanitwong (13754)
[2009-10-03 8:33]

Hello Valerie,
I like the natural setting of this picture. The deer is well in focus. The fact expression of this deer is wonderful. Very well done and tfs.
JC

lousat (65489)
[2009-10-03 8:36]

Salut Valerie,tu as eu beaucoup de chance! Mais quelle tres belle capture et quelle fantastique composition,le visage curieu du cerf est vraiment imressionante.Qualite' excellente des couleurs et nettete',pas facile avec la faible lumiere de la foret.Mes compliments et bon fin de semaine,Luciano

Silvio2006 (102073)
[2009-10-03 8:50]

Ciao Valerie, superb creature in wonderful pose, beautiful portrait with fantastic colors and splendid sharpness, very well done my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

marianas (6739)
[2009-10-03 8:54]

Valery
What a great capture!
Lovely colors, wonderful details, beautiful deer1
Mariana

chudy (899)
[2009-10-03 10:28]

Siemanko Valerie!
Excellent snapshot, super colours, portrait first class. You rarely have staying recently on TN, I must look to your account, because I could miss something.
I am greeting and I wish the nice evening.
Slawek

nglen (36145)
[2009-10-03 11:59]

Hi Valerie . We have some Sika Deer living on some wood/heathland not far from where i live . This is a first class close up of the male . Looking very healty with its large antlers . You have taken this deer with fine detail and rich colours. I loe the pose looking over the moss lined tree. well done TFS.
Nick..

cjcampbell (308)
[2009-10-03 12:06]

Oh, this one was definitely worth the work. Yes, it was!

jignasi (27917)
[2009-10-03 15:07]

Una fotograf�a de muchos quilates Valerie !
Bonita y expresiva captura de la pose y mirada del ciervo desde su escondite. Valoro especialmente tambi�n los colores del conjunto, con una lograda saturaci�n. El segudo plano da buena sensaci�n de profundidad. Una toma muy especial.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi.

nasokoun (62)
[2009-10-03 22:42]

hello Valerie
exceptional scene and a extraordinarily beautiful portrait,great moment and great photo output!bravo!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

boreocypriensis (9571)
[2009-10-04 0:41]

Hi and Good Morning MF Val,

What an impressive moment and beautiful animal whilke resting near the root of a tree:) Lovely and cute expression on his face. Great shot in all around MF!
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

siggi (52850)
[2009-10-04 1:12]

Hello Valerie.
such a beautiful capture this is. Out of focus foreground & background compliments your main subject very well, excellent job, thanks
Best regards Siggi

sandpiper2 (16757)
[2009-10-04 4:11]

Hi Valerie

Great shot of this forest dweller. DEspite teh noise you mentin, I think it is a fine shot, I do like the POV and teh composition. I too would be very happy with a shot like this.

Chris

zulfu (43)
[2009-10-04 6:42]
[+]

Hello Valerie, beautiful shot of cute sika deer.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

Noisette (7821)
[2009-10-04 12:14]

Salut Val
Quelle superbe face-�-face avec cet impressionnant animal, tu as r�ussie � capturer ce cerf sika dans un bel environnement naturel et avec beaucoup de beaux details
j'aime bien ces grand bois, son regard intensif et les belles couleurs bruns et verts de l!image
Fz�licitations
Jacqueline

anemone (651)
[2009-10-05 0:53]

Hello Valerie.
Stunning capture of this cute deer. Beautiful colours and nice composition..
TFS.
Kind regards,
�zg�r

CeltickRanger (37400)
[2009-10-05 17:35]

bonjour Val�rie

une superbe photo du Cerf Sika, excellent POV frontal,
j'aime de la fa�on dont il est cadr� avec un c�t� l'arbre,
superbe focus nettet� et d�tails, et quelle beau regard du cerf,

TFS

Asbed

marmottelolo (14697)
[2009-10-06 10:49]
[+]

salut valerie
un joli portrait bien qu'un peu satur� a mon gout!
le parc de merlet et un bel endroit pour ce promener en famille,il me semblais que les animaux portaient des tiquettes aux zoreilles!!!!tu les a fait disparaitre?

pivoinerouge (39)
[2009-10-09 3:06]

Bonjour Val�rie,
Tu en as eu de la chance de faire cette magnifique rencontre. C'est une tr�s belle image et je trouve que ses yeux sont tr�s expressifs.
Quel talent !
Bravo Val�rie.
Bonne journ�e.
C�cile

ingridshaul (0)
[2009-10-09 7:40]

Dear Valerie,
You had to make a decision, whether to show the animal in it's environment or create a photo "pleasing to the viewer". I guess, it is a bit like the portrait of a human: to touch-up the wrinkles or not.
This animal is not living in it's natural environment (it is originally from Japan), where it's natural camouflage would hide it from enemies. Therefore it is fair to assume, it was amongst thick trees (in the dark), because that's where it feels comfortable.

Changes of exposure and contrast in order to highlight the animal is one thing, changing colours/hue is quite different...

If you speak to 10 photographers - 5 will opt for the "natural" option and 5 for the "beautifying".

Having said all that - the details of the deer's head are quite amazing - and I wonder, what the two little white "bits" on the chin are?
Further, it is interesting to see the little bits of skin still remaining at the end of one horn (second from the right), not yet rubbed off.

I personally feel, that the colour of the moss in the foreground is rather green. However - I have only been in Chamonix /surrounding in winter - and therefore cannot really judge this.

I admire your tenacy and patience for creating a good photo and wish, I could give you an additional point for hard work.
Warm Regards
Ingrid

sranjan (5784)
[2009-10-11 9:57]

Hello Valerie,
There it makes this Sika grand total of 60 points. I appreciate the way you have composed it. Very well done & TFS.
Regards-Subhash

briGG (1823)
[2009-10-11 11:39]

Whahhh! Val�rie!
C'est superbe. Pas facile et je trouve le r�sultat fantastique! Bravo pour cette capture... aller, malgr� la difficult� du lieu et du camouflage, tu a eu un sp�cimen bien "compr�hensif" (si j'ai bien compris!)
Encore Bravo!!!

Brigitte

Mello (2419)
[2009-10-15 18:02]

Valerie,
The composition with a lot of curves was perfect and tones as well. TFS,
Francisco

abettine (1027)
[2009-10-16 13:02]

Bonsoir Val�rie
Le fait que cette photo soit faite en parc animalier la rendait peut �tre un peu plus facile � faire, mais �a n'enl�ve rien � sa qualit�. J'aime beaucoup l'attitude de ce ceerf, et la lumi�re de la photo.
Cordialement,
Antoine.

amanengone (2113)
[2009-11-01 16:27]

Bonsoir Val�rie.

Merci de nous offrir l'occasion de contempler ce magnifique animal. Tr�s belle photographie avec une excellente nettet� et de belles couleurs. Belle composition et point de vue attractif. La photographie donne l'impression que notre ami est juste en train de surgir de derri�re son arbre. Qui est le plus �tonn� : lui ou la photographe ?

Bonne soir�e.

A bient�t.

Philippe.

Alex99 (23735)
[2009-11-04 8:37]

Hi Valerie.
Fantastic picture. Simply fairy-tale subject. Bravo. Eye-contact with this majestic animal is tremendous. Colours are also unreal and magical. My congratulations and TFS.
Alexei.

jusninasirun (14660)
[2010-02-14 3:02]

Hi Val�rie.

This is a very nice mugshot. The light is just perfect. The peep above the trunk with green lichen making it even more interesting.

Very well taken with superb lenswork. Love the muted colors of the background and thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Jusni

pablominto (14563)
[2011-01-26 9:27]

Hello Val�rie,

Wonderful interaction between photographer and model, and the result is an utmost original image!
The mossy trunk makes a fine frame for the proud animal, that is captured with super details...
The colours in the old forest is amazing and makes a perfect setting for the deer!

Greetings,
Pablo -

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