Creekside Mule Deer Doe

Creekside Mule Deer doe portrait – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This creekside Mule Deer doe portrait was one of my favorite photos from my trip high into the Wasatch Mountains yesterday morning. I like this image for its simplicity, the vibrant green of the willows surrounding the doe and because of the head on eye contact I had with the Mule Deer. I appreciated being able to get a catch light in both eyes of the doe.

While driving slowly along the edge of the creek I spotted the Mule Deer doe heading into a willow thicket close to the road. I knew I only had a few seconds to get to the deer so I drove a little faster until I had a good light angle on her. I shut off my Jeep and I was able to get just seven images of the Mule Deer doe before she stepped into the thicket and out of my sight.

Over the years I have learned that when I spot birds or wildlife in the field getting to them in time is crucial. If I don’t get to my subject before they take off I can’t photograph them.

Yesterday I had a reminder about that very thing when I spotted a Yellow-breasted Chat earlier in the morning. The chat was perched on a stump in beautiful morning light about 30 feet directly in front of me.

The problem?

A woman and her dog were jogging past my Jeep and towards the chat at that precise moment in time. I needed to move forward and to the right side of the road in order to photograph the chat and couldn’t until the woman and her dog were in front of my vehicle. The chat flew off when the woman and her dog came within 20 feet of it.

I couldn’t get to the Yellow-breasted Chat in time to photograph it but I did get to this Mule Deer doe with a second or two to spare. Timing can be everything in the field.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Mule Deer photos plus facts and information about this species.