After considerable self analysis, I have determined that I am neither scary nor obsessed with popularity. Both theories get put to the test regularly while photographing skittish animals.
Wildlife may tolerate my presence from a distance but only until I’m almost close enough to take a photo. Then the place clears out like I am a skunk that raised its tail. The longer my lens, the sooner this happens. I have no idea how they do all that math so quickly!
I could dress up in camouflage and hide but since I have also determined I am a confident person, I choose regular rejection instead.
I have learned to not take this personally. I just delete many photos of blurry animal butts rapidly leaving the scene. I will confess it gets tiresome watching wildlife flee as if their life depended on it. You would think I was scary!
But every once in awhile, a wild creature will be curious about what I am doing. That’s what happened with these two deer last week. As I walked around to find an unobstructed view, they turned to watch me and struck this interesting pose. In fading light, I had to quickly fire away before the young deer quickly lost interest and turned away.
Now it’s one thing to be wrongly perceived as a threat – it’s quite another to be considered boring. I wonder if there’s a support group for that?
Krahnpix 
I like your humour. My most recent “butt”shot that I kept was a displaying Coot. Glad I found your post, thanks to Christopher Martin, whose blog I follow..
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I am always happy to find someone who enjoys my humour! Coots can be interesting birds with their big feet and awkward style. You have to keep a few butt shots … just because. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Christopher Martin has some great shots.
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Lyle – you and me both! I have plenty of butt pictures from various creatures I have come across. I guess that is what makes the hunt all that much more worthwhile – if it were easy it wouldn’t be as rewarding.
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I’m happy to have good company! The difficulty certainly makes the reward better – when it all comes together!
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Whew! I finally arrived at the end of all the comments. Your photography amazes me. Why? I take care of cats as in many, and I know the work I must do in order to photograph them. For you to be able to shoot these deer totally blows me away. And the expressions on their faces are pricelss. The little one is curious about you and the older one is saying, “What do YOU want? Who just WHO do you think you are being here?” Superb catch. And yes, I too think the word gentle is appropriate with this image. There is a definite softness to it. I will be stopping by again and soon. Your style intrigues me. As with all photographers, the essence of who is using the camera comes through to be seen in the image. I really like what I see in you. Sorry for rambling. Can you tell how impressed I am with your work? Love, Amy
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And oh one other thing. You have just inspired me to take the leap of faith to purchase a zoom lens I have wanted to buy, in order for me to shoot wildlife. Right now I am having a ball with my macro, but there shall come a day when I will be again doing wildlife and landscape. I have a dream lens, and, Lyle, you just put determination in me to make a way in order to get this lens. Thank you! xx Amy
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Yes I am definitely getting the impression you are impressed! Reading through all the comments is impressive. Inspiration is the highest praise and I thank you for that.
I have this crazy attraction to wildlife photography that keeps pulling me back despite many miles of seeing nothing or missing many shots for a ridiculous number of reasons. But then every once in a while two deer will look back at me for a few seconds like the photo above and I’m fortunate enough to capture the moment. Then I’m hooked all over again. All the best with the dream.
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Thank you, Lyle. Wildlife photography takes a lot of patience. And luck to be in the right place at the right time. Many a time I just stand there with my mouth hanging open, saying to myself, I just cannot believe I am seeing this. And then trying to figure out how to move slowly so as not to attract attention. Good luck with your dream as well. xx Amy
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Thanks
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A gorgeous shot. I love the blurred background and the perfect positioning of the deer. Who was your stylist? 🙂
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Can’t give out secrets like that:) Glad you liked the shot, it was a satisfying capture.
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exquisite
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thanks
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This is beyond gorgeous. It’s always a sight for sore eyes to see your excellent photography, especially a after a long week with nightduty. .-)
Have a lovely Sunday!
Greetings from the North
Dina
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Happy to help with night duty. Glad you liked it.
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Gosh that is just such a perfect image. I don’t think you could have asked for anything better. So beautiful!
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Thanks. I was quite pleased with the result especially considering the low light conditions and the surprising opportunity I was given.
Sent from my iPad
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Stunning
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Thank you. It was fun being there.
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thanks
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Such a sweet and lovely image… What personality. Just beautiful!
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Thanks so much. They do have great personality and they are fun to hang around with.
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Gorgeous light and gentleness in this, Lyle.
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Thanks. Gentleness is a new word for that – I like it.
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LOL! That shot is so funny but the description you had in taking it and what they may be thinking is priceless.
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It’s nice to hear from someone shares my sense of humour. Thanks for commenting.
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Fascinating shot! Very good point of view as a nature photographer.
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Thanks so much.
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Fantastic shot, amazing!!! cheers Callie
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Appreciate that.
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Congratulations on being freshly pressed. I saw your post today with your ps, and thought when did this happen. I don’t look at the freshly pressed page every day, but I did look at yours before all the comments :-).
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Thanks so much. I have noticed you are often one of the first to drop by after a new post.
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It is all in the timing. You usually post around the time that I am on-line and checking the blogs that I follow.
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I guess u must buy eyes with cam fix in thm. 🙂
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Maybe it is time for new ideas!
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THOSE DEER ARE SO CUTE I CAN’T EVEN HANDLE THIS POST
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Thanks.
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Wow, what a great shot! Mind-blowing…..
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Appreciate that. It was a fun to be there.
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Only pets let you take their picture without poofing. But then, my mom had a cat who knew the sound of the camera and would disappear when she heard it. You just got a follower.
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That’s a rather intuitive cat! Thanks for following.
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good,I like the ears.
http://www.mbeatsbydrdre.com
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Thanks – me too. They seem so large.
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Hehe, great photo, and a very well (and shortly) written post! I look forward to more. 🙂
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Thanks. it takes some effort to keep them short but I like reading them that way too.
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Another great post, and congrats on being freshly pressed!
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Thanks. It was quite a surprise.
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I’ve often wondered if they can read my mind. A wild animal can be totally at ease until I think about taking a photo, then they take off.
My dog does that sometimes too. She loves being photographed, but when I see her in a pose I can’t even move sometimes without her jumping. Does she know I am thinking about her? Really?
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
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I never thot about the mind reading angle but I have enough evidence – the shots I’ve just missed!!! Freshly Pressed was a huge surprise. Thanks for stopping by.
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Great catch. Those deer are near-mirror. Just posted a reposing elk at Rocky Mountain National, used here as a symbol for inertia in the training day:
http://m7adapt.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/use-numbers/
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That is a good symbol of inertia! Animals can be examples of so many things.
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That’s an amazing picture! Great job!
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Thanks. so much. I appreciate you commenting.
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Think we live in dangerous neighborhoods? Look at wildlife.. even drinking from a water-hole constitutes a snacking option. I love the photo of the deer’s, it’s spectacular! Their butts are facing the camera, yet they crane their necks to look at you. Animals feel threatened when they don’t know what you are doing.. maybe they think your camera is a gun? Who knows!
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Good point about the dangerous neighbourhood – it’s a tough world out there. I have often thot the animals might think my camera is a gun. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sure thing! Congrats on “Freshly Pressed!”
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Nice Capture!!!!!!!!!!! Love it :))
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I appreciate that. Thanks for commenting.
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WOW!!! what a capture, beautiful! 🙂
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I was fortunate to share the moment and get the photo.
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Lovely captured. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks. It was also nice being there to see them live.
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Awesome shot!
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Thanks for stopping by.
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love the photo! it’s super awesome!
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Glad you liked the photo – it was fun watching them and I was happy to get this one to remember it.
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Amazing capture Lylek. It is not just that the deers are showing off their butts but seems they are saying something too (lets not guess what!!) 😉
Good that you featured on Freshly pressed else I’d never found a way to your terrific photo-blog. I am an animal-lover myself and keep hoping to catch view of similar awesome captures. All the very best to your blog. Keep more of them coming. 🙂
-Asha
P.S.: I love Elephants. Could you capture some pictures of them too??
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Thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you like animals – I can never get enough, especially of the ones I like. It would definitely be fun photographing elephants but the last time I checked there aren’t too many around here.
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I will enjoy whatever you capture. Just keep bringing them on.
-Asha
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I certainly plan to do that – but I might surprise you.
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I am waiting then 😉
-Asha
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Lovely click..
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I appreciate that.
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🙂
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I notice the deer are still showing you their butts.
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It’s true! I can never seem to get away from that.
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I’ve heard smoke from a fire helps mask your smell.. Then you just need to work on your ninja silence lol
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Maybe I’ll have to try that!
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Great picture. I’m pumped about deer season opening up soon. I love this time of the year!
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Thanks. Fall is just an amazing time of year – I always wish it would last longer.
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Great blog! Great photos! Very impressive 🙂
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Thanks for the high praise! It’s been interesting and fun to keep posting.
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I look forward to future posts and great photos!
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You have great digital pictures. Maybe boring to take but wonderful to look at! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting. The boredom is usually in between sightings but when something shows up, it’s an adrenaline rush! It just struck me a little funny when the young deer turned away as if it was bored with me.
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I get a lot of fleeing deer butt photos as well:)
This is really a great shot – for me when you have a moment of eye contact with a wild animal and capture it – that’s something really special. Congrats on being FP’d.
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Thanks – it was a special moment when it happened. The FP was a shock – made for a good day.
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you may have issues. To get over my rejection and flinching from fleeing I finally went out and bought a trail cam….to get even.
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No question I have issues!! The trail cam is a great idea though you do miss the fun of being there when it happens.
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yeah but the time stamp and date feature give me a very good idea of what time they are coming around just in case I want to hunt them with something other than the camera…never know.
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That makes sense.You probably also get some unique photos.
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word got around about you… 🙂
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Apparently!
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Those are some mighty fine animal butts — what a gorgeous shot! 🙂
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Thanks so much. It helps to be a beautiful creature.
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Great shot! I’m not sure whether it’s better to be perceived as scary or boring? I’ve honestly experienced more of the latter than the former, so you’re not alone. You have 1 person in your support group! 😉
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Thanks. It’s good to have company!
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If there isn’t, you could start the first Chapter! 🙂
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Never thot of that. But then what would I do if I was the only attendee!!
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I’m guessing a few would crawl out of the woodwork – you never know… 🙂
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Terrific shot! The lighting and the setting both are perfect! Plus it’s a bonus that you got a great pose from them! 🙂
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I really appreciate that. It’s so nice when things align for a nice shot. Makes up for all the others.
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Fantastic capture and image. See you’re not that scary.
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Thanks. The scary factor has been pushed back for now!
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Yellowstone: bison not shy; Zion: deer in your campsite; Rocky Mountain in Colorado: elk grazing within 50 feet. That should cure any wildlife complex you may have!
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We might have to go back there. Though I’m sure the complex will not stray too far away.
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Great photo. I recently did a long trail run and saw 22 deer over a seven hour span of time. Over and over, by the time I got the camera out and took aim, it was too late. Not one good photo.
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That sounds typical. I sometimes feel like the proverbial fisherman describing all the ones that got away!
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