Snow Storm Muley
A mature mule deer buck endures a typical Montana snow storm, and a persistent photographer.
A mature mule deer buck endures a typical Montana snow storm, and a persistent photographer.
Read less
Read less
Feb, 2015Views
406
Likes
Awards
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Peer Award
Top Ranks
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 3Top 30 rank week 2
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank
Categories
PRO+
nlhammondphotography
February 02, 2015
Beautiful shot! Only suggestion I would have is to not have him in the center of the frame :) Rule of thirds and all that! lol
PRO
travismorhardt
February 08, 2015
Thanks Don! I was pretty nervous about the snowfall that day actually, as I wasn't sure how the photos were going to turn out. But I ended up very pleased with the result :)
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on U.S. Forest Service land in the mountains of western Montana, along highway 200.Time
I remember the instance in which I took this photo very well. I was driving back to my home in north Idaho after the holidays when a snow storm hit much of western Montana. The driving was slow and treacherous. I had stopped along the highway to take a break from driving when I noticed a herd of mule deer on a hillside above the highway. I carefully stalked them in the white-out conditions until I was within range with my camera. It was 15:15 on January 4, 2015.Lighting
The lighting conditions for this photo were very difficult, as it was taken during a snow storm. It was also later in the afternoon so light was fading rather quickly. I did, however, have the bright white snow on my side, as it helped to bring some natural brightness and good contrast to the photo, as well as give a semi-light background against the main subject of the deer.Equipment
This photo was shot with my Nikon D3300 and a 55-300mm lense. I did not use a tripod, nor did I use a flash, as I did not want to spook the deer. The flash would not have been a good choice either with the heavy falling snow.Inspiration
I love shooting wildlife. Wild animals in their natural habitat are by far my favorite subjects, especially large mammals! I also love shooting in fresh snow. So when I saw the mule deer on the hillside, I just had to try and get close enough for a shot.Editing
I had to brighten this photo up a bit and pull the shadows out to help show the contrast between the deer and the snow. Other than that, I try not to process my photos to keep them as natural as possible.In my camera bag
Usually, I don't carry very much with me - a micro-fiber cloth, a duster and a few lens filters. I don't like having the extra baggage with me when I hike. I shoot with a Nikon d3300 and have an 18-55 mm kit lens and a 55-300 mm Nikor that I use for most of my wildlife shots.Feedback
For this kind of shot, you really just have to be in the right place at the right time. You must also have a great deal of patience if, whether you are stalking your subjects or waiting for them to come to you. Presetting your camera for the right conditions is also helpful (i.e. iso, white balance, focal length, shutter speed) as you may only have a second or two to capture your subject once it shows.
