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Caught by Surprise...both Subject and Photographer
Caught by Surprise...both Subject and Photographer
marcbenton


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Wildlife IV (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Location: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Date: Oct 16, 2008
Aperture: f 5.7
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Nature, Animals
Date Uploaded: Oct 19, 2008

 In late afternoon, my wife and I were hiking out of a Shenandoah National Park trail trying to get back to the car before the sun set. We suddenly heard a snort and noticed this buck about 15 feet off the trail. I was able to get a couple of quick shots off before he snorted a few more times, dropped his head then started heading our way. We decided to give him the right of way.

The shot was taken in low light conditions under tree cover just before 6:00 pm.

Statistics
Place: 142 out of 159
Avg (all users): 4.8700
Avg (commenters): 5.5714
Avg (participants): 4.7324
Avg (non-participants): 4.9457
Views since voting: 786
Views during voting: 370
Votes: 200
Comments: 8
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/26/2008 02:46:49 PM
Not bad for a surprise photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2008 02:42:21 AM
That moment of coming across an animal as large as a deer is quite magical - and that comes across in this photo. There may be motion blur from a bit of camera shake, the focus maybe off a tad, and the composition could be better, but the sense of immediacy, of stumbling upon a part of our world that we are not normally privileged to witness is all there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2008 10:13:27 AM
I'd have been thrilled to stumble upon this majestic fellow!! I'm guessing he didn't give you a chance for too many shots and he's well-camouflaged with his color and the similarities between his antlers and surrounding branches, so I'd do a bit more processing to bring him out better. Less saturation in the surroundings, clone out the OOF foreground leaves, maybe dodge him some and gently blur the background. Also dodge his eye to find a catchlight. But finding him and getting the shot was the hard part ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2008 03:21:34 PM
He's tucked nicely right into the undergrowth - blending in a treat.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2008 02:53:36 PM
good shot but looks very grainy. blurry leaves in fg detract too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2008 11:01:59 AM
Shows up a little dark on my screen but I like the setting and can see why you could be walking right up on him before you see him. Nice capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2008 12:32:53 PM
ah what a pretty buck. lucky you for getting close enough for a photo. too bad that annoying leaf is in the way
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2008 12:57:47 AM
the focus point seems to be on the leaves in the foreground...
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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