The Rainy Day Woods

All the leaves, long ago fallen, were now dampeded and softened by the rain. This made the walking much more silent as I slowly made my way into the little patch of woods behind where I live. Dark gray skies hovered overhead releasing in spurts their residue of moisture sometimes in a vigorous manner, other times just a trickle. At the moment the rain fell somewhere between the two extremes. I could hear the drops as they filtered through the trees some splashing across the back and hood of my dark gray rain jacket, most reaching the ground to be absorbed by what had already fallen. Thus began my walk through the rainy day woods.

I hoped the deer I had been following the past couple of months might be feeding in the cornfield stubble again. I had noticed on other rainy days some of the deer would make an earlier arrival into the fields. As I slowly moved through the woods, I kept one eye open for any signs of the deer and one eye open for whatever might catch my photographic attention. 

All through the woods cedar trees are scattered here and there, some small ones only a foot or so tall and others big and brawny reaching well into the canopy overhead. My eye almost always is vectored to those cedar trees as drops of rain filter through their aromatic green coverings to dance like small crystals attached to the ends. I stop a few times to capture a quick photo of this marvelous rainy display.

As I approached the end of the woods, I normally slow down so as not to spook any deer that might be feeding in the fields. I didn't see anything as I approached so I carelessly stepped into the open. In an instant, I saw five or six flashes of white dash across the center of the field as a small group of deer detected my clumsy entrance and lifted their tails high as a warning flash to other deer. Into the far woods they trotted. I retreated back into the woods to leave them alone.

On the way back I simply enjoyed the sights and sounds of the rainy day woods. A picture here, then another one there, slowed my progress and I noticed the rain had now stopped. I was about 2/3rds of the way back to the entrance of the woods, when I noticed what appeared to be a deer standing in the field. A quick view through my telephoto lense confirmed it was. I carefully move closer to the edge of the woods keeping some cover between me and the deer. By the time I reached the edge, five or six more deer appeared near the other one. 

They made their way into what I call the center field, a smaller field that connects with the main one creating a sort of T. The small saplings I stood behind provided some effective profile absorbing natural cover. The deer moved somewhat closer and afforded an opportunity to capture a few environmental wildlife photos. Before they caught wind of me and spooked again, I backed away deeper into the woods and left them alone for a second time.

A simple walk through a rainy day woods can offer a wonderful reprieve from your daily routine. Everytime I do so, I discover something new, something refreshing, and leave inside the woods a small part of myself, but more importantly, I take a small part of what a rainy day woods has to offer with me.

Behind The Scenes: How the Photo Was Made

For the new year 2023, a new Behind the Scenes series will be included for Beyond the Campfire called How the Photo Was Made. We'll mostly look at what it took to capture a particular photo, things like the concept idea, the set up, the physical and technical difficulties, and other pertinent revelations that apply to any particular photo. The story of how a photo was made is sometimes filled with drama, circumstance, knowledge, skill, and plain ole luck. Not all photos just happen. Sometimes it takes planning and perseverance to capture the natural world, and we will explore the making of a few photos that have a story behind them that led to the capture.

The first photo is one I captured late on New Years Day 2023. All through the fall and into the winter of 2022 I followed a herd of deer that ranged in the woods and fields behind where I live. Upwards to 30 deer in multiple groups I've seen scattered across the corn and soybean fields. They have been fun to watch and to photograph, however it's not as easy as it might seem. To capture an image of a wild whitetail deer like this one of the young buck requires an element of stealth, camouflage, persistence, observation, following the weather and wind direction, and overall planning the shoot. 

Whitetail deer are one of the most wary of natures wildlife. They have good to excellent eyesight and hearing, but most of all their keen sense of smell is what they rely on more than anything to avoid danger. Having been hunted for hundreds of years, these guys have developed an instinct for survival second to no other critter in the wild. Human smell causes them a great deal of stress and caution, and will almost always result in a flight out of harm's way. So, getting close requires all the same elements a skillful hunter would use.

The photo above didn't just happen. He did not simply walk out in front of me and I took his portrait. In fact, I almost never saw the guy not to mention capture his photo. The week before Christmas 2022, the weather took a deep dive into frigid territory with temperatures dropping to below zero-f. Snow followed the cold and covered the ground with an icy mix. I wanted to capture some photos of the deer in the snow so I braved the cold and managed to get a few images none of which were all that good. In the process I began to recognize a pattern of one group of deer. Eight to ten, along with a couple of young bucks would, about an hour and half before sundown, leave the woods at the east end of the corn field near a pond and venture into the field to feed. 

For several days, as the snow melted, I set up in my usual location at the west end of the cornfield, about 250 yards or so from that pond. It was a good location as it afforded me a commanding view of both the corn and soybean fields and I was able to capture some decent environmental images of the deer from long range.

 Several times, the sun would set behind me and cast a wonderful warm glow across the fields. I began to realize I was missing a great opportunity to capture some backlight images of these deer. Doing so required that I set up near that pond. Doing that created a myriad of potential problems.

In order to get the photos I wanted would mean I would literally be located in the midst of that same group as they meandered into the field if they followed the same pattern. The conditions would have to be almost perfect, especially the wind. If it were moving in the wrong direction, they would pick up my scent and be gone. If it was cloudy, there would be no warm light. If I were not completely camouflaged, I risked they would catch my movement and be gone. Everything had to fall into place. 

Jan 1, 2023...New Years Day...the conditions were close to being right. The wind was out of the south by southwest, a gentle breeze really, but enough to cause some concern by its direction. By mid-afternoon the sky was clearing and there would be some warm light late in the day. I packed my gear and headed out.

Next to the pond a cluster of cedar trees offered a dark background to setup against. I prefer setting up with a dark background behind me as it offers a better blending of camouflage. In front of me a few yards stood some tall little bluestem grasses which provided another layer of cover. I nestled close to the cedar trees and broke out the camouflaged burlap and extended it across in a slight arch connecting the center of it to my camera tripod and using two stout sticks to prop up each end. It made an effective, quick and easy, hide/blind to sit behind.

I was fully camouflaged top to bottom, with a facemask and wearing a 3-D leafy top cover to break up my profile. The camera lense was even camouflaged. I felt confident as long as the deer entered the field from my left as had been their pattern. If they did, then the wind would be in my favor. If not, odds fell off for a successful photoshoot. 

About twenty minutes passed and the woods around me settled down. Lots of birds were feeding in the field and I made a couple of photos. I noticed some movement to my right. In the woods a young doe was inching toward the field. I froze and knew she would pick up my scent any moment. Behind her another doe, a bigger one followed. They both entered the field. The young one seemed calm, however the momma doe was alerted. She had indeed picked up my scent but could not see me. The breeze was shifting at once from my left, then from behind, then from my front. This must have confused them. The momma doe pranced around and moved toward me coming to within maybe ten yards. I dared not move or try to take a photo. Eventually, she calmed down and moved a bit further into the field.

I was able to snap a few photos of them. After maybe ten minutes, she took a hard look toward the woods to my right. That is a sure sign something caught her attention. Several more deer were moving toward the field. My position was not good as they would come very close to me and the breeze would drift my scent directly into them. It was a worse case scenario for they did, and it did. One of the older does stepped out of the woods almost next to me, maybe five yards away. The human scent even with no breeze emits an aura that radiates out in a cone shape gradually dissipating with distance. That older doe picked up my scent and stopped instantly looking in my direction. I froze. In a few seconds, she turned and ran back into the woods followed by the others. The first two stayed in the field but were alerted.

I figured my shoot was over, but decided to stay until sundown to see if they might come back. As the sun inched toward the tree lined horizon, I heard movement behind me along with a snort or two. I simply waited. Another snort, then silence. The sun was very low by now but still a ways from setting. Then I saw movement to my left. They had indeed returned about 40 yards away. I watched them move into the field, snapped a few photos. The light was pretty good, but not great as my angle was off. 

They kept looking in my direction sensing something wasn't quite right. As they moved across the field in front of me maybe fifty yards out they sort of split up. There were five of them with the last one being a young fork horn buck I had seen before. Two moved off the left, two scurried across the field and the little buck drifted closer to the treeline to my right. He was bathed in beautiful soft warm light. 

Usually I just start shooting and forget to think about the exposure. On this occasion, I thought first, and purposely underexposed the image to generate a more dramatic look to the image, allowing the soft highlights to dominate the exposure. He stopped, turned his head to look behind him and I snapped two images...one of them...the image we are reviewing.

I managed a few more photos. What I hoped for did not materialize, but I did manage to capture a few nice backlit shots. When you plan your shoot you must learn to adapt to changing situations...then capture what nature gives you. 

Eventually, all the deer moved off and I was able to breath again. 

Every photo has a story tied to it. This one evolved into a memorable photo moment...a good moment to start a new year and new season of photography. Hope to see you out there Beyond the Campfire.

Reflections: On New Fallen Snow

Standing near the end of the patch of woods overlooking the corn stubble field behind our home, I paused for a few moments and just listened. All was quiet until I listened more closely. The slight winter breeze made the falling snow whisper against my exposed face and brush against the nylon fabric of the green anorak I was wearing. As the flakes touched the fabric they skidded off with a slight wisp creating a kind of soft click as they fell. Behind me a gentle hushing joined the chorus of winter sounds as some snow fell from the branches of a cedar tree. With camera in hand, I snapped a few photos.

To my left a group of assorted birds flittered between the ground cover stopping long enough to pluck a seed from the tall grasses. The air was cold but not so nearly cold as the previous few days when a frigid winter storm blasted through the countryside depositing a frozen layer of snow across the land. Lots of folks complained. Personally, I loved it as it provided something somewhat rare in these parts; a White Christmas. 

I continued to work my way around the point and followed a fence row to the edge of another wooded area. Inside the fence several goats grazed on the giant roll of hay, stopping only briefly to look over in my direction as I passed by. The snow seemed to not bother them, nor the rooster as he strutted around.

Along the edge of the woods I continued to walk. With each step the snow crunched under foot and gathered across the tops of my boots. Turning the corner I cover the few dozen or so yards more to the pond, its surface frozen now and covered in a layer of fresh snow. Deer tracks crisscrossed the area but were beginning to lose their sharpness as the new snow filled in their outlines. 

Within a few moments the snow started falling with a lot more vigor and again I stopped, loosening my jacket to vent some of the heat I generated during the hike. That hush across the woods seemed broken by the whispering snow as it floated and curved through the trees and across the fields and slid off my jacket. The treeline maybe a hundred yards away looked diffused and gray through the falling snow. 

Working my way around the pond, more tracks appeared, squirrel I think, and then some rabbit tracks as well. Another set of tracks cut across the field and disappeared. Pretty sure they belonged to a coyote. Eventually, I worked my way back to the end of that first set of woods. A good hour or more had slipped by during my hike, and the snow continued to fall. I worked through the woods following the trail we cut through it the previous fall, which made for easier access. As I entered the backend of my yard, I noticed once again how the old swing, campfire, and firewood stacked in one corner looked like something out of a rustic Americana painting. As I neared home, dozens of birds, Cardinals, Titmice, Juncos, Blue Jays, and various sparrow-like birds, were swarming around the feeders. They seemed almost tame as they barely broke away as I approached, but they offered several good photo-ops.

Inside, the fireplace was burning casting a warming glow into the room. and I sat down to off load some photos and to write this reflection. The Christmas season is now behind us with the New Year approaching. The past year was a good year over all, and the new year looks promising in spite of all the nonsensical stuff being pushed out in the world. I feel blessed beyond all measure and peace of mind is worth a great deal. 

A simple walk through the woods during a snowfall opens the heart to hearing the true message of the Christmas season; Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Men. It's the kind of message we too often say without really pausing long enough to reflect upon what it really means...that a little child 2000 years ago came into this world to bring peace and joy to all the world. And through that child all the transgressions of mankind were placed so we could find forgiveness and a life everlasting. The light of that child was a brilliant, radiant white, not unlike New Fallen Snow, but even more pure. 

Photographing Sandhill Cranes: The Challenges and Rewards - Part 2

 The alarm set for 2:00 AM went off right on que and by 2:30 or so, I was on the road heading up to Seymour, Indiana, about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive. Over the past 10 years or so, I had made a good number of trips up there during the winter months and had always found good numbers of Sandhill Cranes in the Ewing area upwards to 30,000 or more of them. I had similar visions as the road miles rolled under my Jeep. What transpired completely caught me off guard.

My intent was to hopefully capture one of those early morning rises of Sandhills coming off their roost. A couple years previous I had stumbled into such a rising and caught it on video which was made rather spur of the moment so suffered somewhat in quality.

I arrived well ahead of first light and got my camera gear ready for the anticipated moment. This location had always produced amazing numbers of Sandhills and was a logical choice to set up. The horizon grew brighter...and brighter...and my anticipation grew accordingly. By the time of full sunup, which was mostly hidden behind early morning clouds, I felt a deep disappointment for there were absolutely no Sandhills to be seen. Zero, zilch, nothing.

I was utterly amazed at the situation. Reports I read and social media reports indicated the Sandhills were there in abundant numbers. But there were none. I waited around for a time hoping a few might meander through, but it was absolutely devoid of these amazing birds. What to do?

Clearly my plans had been weighlaid, and I had no clue as to where I could find some of the birds, having always found them in this one area. There were none even flying off in the distance so I began driving around and saw nothing at first. As I was heading back toward Seymour I noticed a good number of Sandhills flying way off, so I turned down a side road and followed my instincts, turning here and there down this road and then another, getting completely turned around. But, I did find a location where there were several thousand Sandhills feeding in the surrounding corn and soybean fields. A few here, some there, to eventually finding a corner field a good number of them were using. So it was here my shoot finally began.

It was not a good location for shooting as the corner of the field was bracketed by a busy intersection where a lot of traffic crisscrossed. Trucks, cars, SUV's, and other types interfered with my attempts at videoing these amazing birds. 

Eventually, in frustration, I drove a ways down the road to another place where I still had sight of the birds, but the traffic was less congested.

While there two different fellows stopped by for a chat. One of them was a farmer who owned the field spread out in front of us where the Sandhills were now congregating. He indicated that up until the day before there had been huge numbers of them in the area, but many of them had left and speculated they were sensing the coming storm and frigid weather due to arrive in a few days. 

Adapting to the situation is often the plight of the wildlife photographer. On this day, I had made plans based on previous experiences in that area. As it turned out, the Sandhills made other plans. But, I was able to gather some good footage and a few photographs by adjusting to the situation. I spent most of the rest of the day there, but the Sandhills in small groups would get up and fly off and through slow attrition, by close to sundown, there were very few birds left.

 I was hoping for at least a few of them to fly into the setting sun, but they were intent on going someplace else. The ancient migration of Sandhills is a natural phenomena worth following and photographing. As with all wildlife, they have their own agenda and sometimes they do not cooperate.  Learning to adapt to their whims can help you avoid a busted outing. 

They present challenges that often are difficult to overcome, but the rewards for persevering through the difficult attempts far outweigh the challenges. On this trip, I learned a valuable lesson about not counting on wildlife to do what you expect them to do, but to adjust your plans to what they actually will do. Turned out to be a good day and well worth the challenges they presented.

The Natural World: Working on Some Environmental Wildlife Portraits

 I'm making a strong effort for 2023 to do more wildlife photography. Being more of a general nature photographer (among other types) I find myself looking for a way to blend the two forms of photography into a single style. I love seeing the details of a close up wildlife image. They can be truly amazing and the skill required to obtain such photo's takes time and effort to accomplish. However there is something to be said about the environmental wildlife portrait for capturing that kind of image requires a special skill all its own. 

 An environmental wildlife portrait simple means capturing a wild animal within its natural habitat and emphasizing the interactions between that habitat and the animal. Sometimes the wildlife can be relatively close in but most times the most effective way to showcase this type of image is for the wildlife to be at some distance away, yet close enough to be able to identify detail about the animal.

 Composition and light as always are the keys to a successful capture. Keeping close tabs on the weather, wind direction, sunrise or sunset times, all play a part in determining how to go about attempting to capture the combination of environment and wildness.

Witnessing wildlife in a natural setting is what being an amature naturalist photographer is all about. Not only must you be able to effectively use your camera to capture the image, in order to do that, you must have some semblance of knowledge about the wildlife you are attempting to photograph. It's important to understand their natural habits and how to apply that knowledge to your photography. Luck plays a roll, however, being knowledgeable is far more productive and rewarding. 

Patience is a virtue no wildlife photographer can do without. Sometimes wildlife simply do not cooperate. Being patient and perseverate eventually pays dividends in a capture that sets the standards of your photographic attempts. 

Depending on the situation, when I attempt to photograph wildlife I almost always wear darker and/or dull colored clothing and most times I will be dressed in full camouflage. When photographing deer, as with most wildlife, I make a strong effort to conceal myself and blend into the background as much as possible. How I do this is straightforward. In addition to the camo clothing, I will wear a face mask to hide my face which can be a bright spot in the middle of your concealment attempts. Moving your uncovered head back and forth will attract deer's attention pretty quickly. I also will wear dark or camouflaged gloves for the same reason.  

Hand movements can easily give away your position. I have several pair I use, all of them made with the fingertips exposed which makes it easier to work the camera controls. On really cold days, I have a pair of regular gloves with a small slit cut into the thumb and index finger so I can work the camera but also tuck the exposed fingertip back inside to protect it from the cold. With deer, I also use a compact piece of camouflaged burlap. I simply drape it around the front of the camera tripod and extend it to either side sometimes propping the ends up with a couple of small sticks I may find. This provides a easily transportable, quick, and effect blind I sit behind. When the wind is in my favor, and sitting behind this quick setup, I've had deer come within a few yards of me and never know I was there

Photographing wildlife requires you to be able to find wildlife to photograph. Backyard birds are an easy place to begin. They readily come to feeders and usually require only minor concealment to be able to get close to them. Placing feeders near trees or shrubs provide the birds a place to perch before and after they visit the feeder. A more elaborate setup if you have the space for it would be to setup your own perching locations. Vertically planting a couple of larger limbs in the ground for a base, you can attach cross limbs at various heights. 

Drilling a few small holes in the limbs allows for the placement of peanut butter mixed with birdseed. Woodpeckers love this and are fun to photograph. When you build your limb perch, place it some distance from the background. This provides several advantages for the birds and the photographer. Birds like a safe place to perch before feeding and your limb perch is a good attractant for them to perch on with cover nearby. With the background some distance away, this helps to create those blurred, soft background images that are so appealing.

Another good place to start is to simply sit next to a patch of wildflowers and watch closely. Within a few minutes you will begin to notice small insects and other forms of wildlife. These provide some really interesting subjects.

  A good macro lens helps but is not necessary. Just use a small telephoto and zoom in close to them.

Most states offer state parks and/or state owned wildlife management areas for use by the public. These can be great locations to find deer and other wildlife, just make sure you know the regulations for the areas. Other places like wildlife refuges can often be found nearby and they provide access to sometimes thousands of acres of habitat. Do a little research and give them a try and most of all remain patient. Wildlife will often prove frustrating, but that's part of the appeal of attempting to capture their portrait. Just remember, a good wildlife portrait does not always have to be a closeup. 

Environmental wildlife portraits, where the animal is only a small portion of the image, can often be extremely rewarding. They blend landscape, nature, and wildlife all in one photograph. So, being close is not a requirement. These kinds of photographs provide a wealth of scenic value.

Other good places to find wildlife is at local ponds or local lakes. Ponds will require a bit more concealment on your part, but are fun to sit beside and simply watch what happens. 

Dragonflies, birds, squirrels, are just a few of the visitors you may find at ponds. At some of the larger lakes you can also find migrating birds including gulls. They are graceful flyers, fun to watch, and a challenge to photograph.

Environmental wildlife photography is a year round opportunity. The change of seasons offers their unique blend of challenges. I love all four seasons and look forward to what they have to offer. Hope to see you out there.

Photographing Sandhill Cranes: The Challenges and Rewards - Part 1

The first time I ever saw Sandhill Cranes was a good number of years ago, well over 20 close to 25 years anyway, while I and a friend were on a late season goose hunt on Oklahoma's Canton Lake. The goose hunt was pretty much a bust but all through the morning we kept hearing this haunting chattel like call echoing off in the distance. Neither one of us knew what it was so we decided to investigate. Eventually we spied a large circling dome of birds hovering and spinning above a distant shallow arm of the lake. We still were not sure what they were but eventually made our way close enough to where they were setting down to be almost on the very edge of their group. A large span of tall grasses hid our advance as we worked our way closer. It was quite a sight to witness being where we were, all but in the middle of this amazing flight of exotic birds. The odd thing was, we still were not sure what they were.

A little investigation later that evening revealed their identity and I was forever mesmerized by their haunting call and graceful dance across the sky. Fast forward to more recent times. Living now in Kentucky opened up an all new array of photographic and outdoor adventures, and I learned about how a few thousand Sandhills would winter over around the Barren River Lake area. It did not take long to find them and I began to photograph them with a renewed vigor. After a few seasons of this, I learned about a new and exciting and much larger congregation of them near Seymour, Indiana, something like 30 to 40 thousand of them spend the winter there. The chase was on and over the next several seasons I ventured the 3 hour drive up there to capture and gaze in awe of the spectacle of watching all of those Sandhill lift off their roost just before sunrise to head for their feeding grounds.

Photographing Sandhill Cranes provides a range of challenges but also an abundance of rewards. They are quite wary with sharp eyesight. Getting close to them is not an easy task although I have discovered it is easier to do when there are a large number of them setting down in a cornfield. Numbers seem to provide for them a sense of security. Even so, they keep a sharp eye out for any intrusions and you can't just walk up to them and start photographing.

Trying to guess where they will be feeding is a gamble for they might decide one day to use a particular location and the next day go somewhere else. The most success I've had was to simply drive around until I spotted a large formation setting down in a field, then position myself reasonably close and use a long lens to capture them. I've tried to move closer at times only to have them bust skyward. I've even tried to set up a blind. This has worked on occasion, however it is a guessing game as to where they will be and I've lost many an hour waiting on the birds to show up that never do. Using my Jeep as a blind works pretty well, but I don't like doing that. I much prefer to be outside where I can experience the full range of the moment where large flights of the birds fly over and set down in distance fields. Being inside a blind or a vehicle limits the range of the visual experience in many instances blocking your view of the full sky.

I always wear dull colored or camouflaged clothing so as to blend as much as possible into the prevailing background. Just to explain how good their eyesight is, one time I was in full camo, top to bottom including my face, and I was nestled inside some cover that lined a fence row. Sure enough a group of Sandhills came floating in about to set down a few dozen yards in front of me. 

They were descending maybe 75 feet or so off the ground and I moved ever so slightly and pointed my camera toward them. In an instant, they picked up my movement and flared off to find another safer location. Did manage a few photos, but learned very quickly just how wary they are. 

One of the most magnificent days afield photographing Sandhills I decided to stay until after sundown.

 Most of the birds except for a few straggler had moved off through the day leaving the cornfields around me mostly devoid of their activity. I figured they were gone. A few moments before sundown, with a bright and amazing sunset developing, They started flying through in groups of a hundred, then two hundred and more, returning to their roosting area. By chance, I happened to aligned with their direction of travel as they moved into the sunset. What an amazing sight! Thousands of them sailing by, calling to each other as they settled toward the setting sun. 

On another occasion, I arrived just before sunup and caught the full flight of at least 30,000 Sandhills lifting from their roost to head into the fields for the morning. An amazing sight and one I will not long forget.

In the near future, I will again be heading back to Indiana to witness and capture these amazing birds. Plan is to shoot more video than still photo's, then create a Beyond the Campfire Adventure Video program about the experience. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Photographing Sandhill Cranes: The Challenges and Rewards.

Red Letter Days: Photographing Elusive Kentucky Whitetail Deer

Over the years I could probably count on one hand how many true red letter photography days I've managed to have. They do not come all that often, one or two a season at most. By red letter I mean a photography day where everything falls into place; timing, subject, light, opportunity, and preparation. Two days near the end of November and into early December 2022 became such a time.

The farming fields that surround the area where I live harbors a great assortment of wildlife. Coyotes, foxes, birds of prey, and other small game, but deer are by far the most prominent. They may indeed also be abundant, but that does not make them easy to photograph for they are extremely shy and easily spooked by people. They are survivors, so they have learned to be vigilant or risk not surviving. These instincts are what makes them so difficult to photograph.

They have good eyesight, but can only see in shades of gray. They also have excellent hearing, but the one sense they rely on the most is their keen sense of smell. It is that sense that makes them a challenging foe for the hunter and photographer alike. They may hear you but that does not always generate a flight. They may even see you, but again that may not spook them if you remain motionless for they rely on detecting motion and if you stand or crouch and be very still, they may not be able to distinguish you from the background. But, if they get one whiff of you, they are most assuredly gone. But knowing this and how their other senses are used can be deployed in your favor when it comes to photographing these amazing animals. Camouflage or dull colored clothing helps to break up you pattern against the background, however, wind is the key. By always positioning yourself downwind from their expected sighting area, your odds of seeing and photographing these amazing animals greatly increases. It's also important to position yourself against a dark shaded background and to stay low so as not to present the form of a standing person.

Deer follow predictable patterns and tend to utilize familiar pathways and feeding locations. The corn and soybean fields that prevail around here draw them like magnets. The two weeks leading up to the end of November were the gun hunting season, so I stayed out of the woods during that time to avoid interrupting someone's hunt. But after it ended, I once again headed through the spit of woods that ends where two fields converge. Across the way about a hundred yards or so begins another more extensive woods, and that is where most of the deer congregate.

I wanted to capture some good quality photographs of these amazingly beautiful animals. I knew they typically feed in those fields late in the day and if the wind was right, I'd stand a good chance to catch some as they entered and begin their feeding. It was chilly, so I dressed accordingly. Top to bottom full camouflage was the dress of choice which included a full mess facemask and dark gloves. Along with me I packed a 3 by 6 piece of camouflaged burlap. 

Around 2:00pm I slowly walked through that spit of woods slowing and stopping just before I came to the end of it. A quick look revealed no deer, but that was expected and the down time afforded me time to get set up. A large cedar tree became my backdrop as it provided a shaded area out of the sun not so much to prevent my getting too hot, it was quite chilly, but to provide a dark area my camo clothes could blend against. I sat down with my tripod extended to its lowest level and draped the burlap across and to either side of the tripod effectively creating a simple but effective blind that would muffle and hide most any movements. The wind was good, blowing from my left to right which would take my scent pretty much away from where I expected the deer would show up. A slight adjustment to the tripod and camera, then it was time to wait.

I expected the deer would possibly show up between 3 and 3:30pm as I had previously inadvertently jumped them out of those fields around that time.  Right on cue, just after 3:00 I spotted the first one, a young doe coming out of the woods across the way. She was followed by another, then another. For several minutes, they were the only ones I saw, but the late afternoon light was awesome coming from behind and to my left flooding the field with long shadows and brighter areas. Before long a fourth deer arrived and he was a young buck with a small set of spike antlers. Within a few minutes a second buck  cautiously walked out of the woods. This guy was a nice 6 point with a well shaped rack. He was strong and healthy having survived the deer season and definitely was interested in the does as the rut was still on.

A short time later the does wandered back into the woods but the two bucks remained for a time before following them. Before long several more deer appeared along the edge of the adjoining field. They were a ways off but I was able to capture a few photos. As the light began to settle toward dusk, five more does came out of the woods and crossed over the field to my right. I suspected they would wind me as they crossed my downwind area. They did, but oddly they did not spook, they just got a bit antsy, and real cautious and kept looked over my way. Holding still and with the camo along with the natural foliage made it difficult for them to see me. 

Within a couple of minutes I heard a loud snort and thought they had figured me out, but when I turn my gaze toward them, they were looking in the opposite direction. Far across the other end of the field were two does and another buck...a nice buck somewhat larger than the 6 pointer. He was chasing after those two does. Too far away to get a clear image but I fired off a couple of quick photographs...then my battery died, the third one of the day to do so. I had no more batteries with me, so my photography day was over, but I sat for a while longer just watching. At one time there were around 15 or 16 deer in the fields at the same time.

I slowly and stealthily made my exit so as not to spook the deer. I could not believe my good fortune. I've seen a lot of deer over the years, photographed a few of them, but never have I seen that many deer together at the same time when I had a camera with me. My only gripe is I did not have a fourth battery and I missed the best light of the day.

A red letter day for sure, but the best was still to come. A couple days later I ventured out again. It was another gorgeous day with a light breeze blowing from east to west, not perfect but acceptable. I got there earlier and before long saw five does trotting across the edge of the soybean field toward that other wooded area across from where I was. Right behind them followed that same six point buck. All through the afternoon I caught glimpses of the deer, however they remained some distance away. Eventually, about 30 minutes or so before sundown, eleven deer exited that patch of woods across from me and angled across the Soybean field. I managed a few long range photos, but their line of travel eventually caused them to cross downwind of me and they caught my scent. Again they could not see me, but became quite agitated and eventually trotted across the field. 

I thought my shoot was over, but decided to stay until sundown. A short time later, a small group of does and one little four point buck walked into view way across the other end of the cornfield, well over two hundred yards away. By now the sun was quite low and created some wonderful warm light that spread across the field bathing the distance tree line with a warm glow. It took them a while, but they worked their way toward me and crossed over into the soybean field just after sundown. The light was very gray and dim by now, but I was able to capture some video and a few photos.

About all the light I had left was from the ambient glow cast across the sky. It was so dark by then I could no longer shoot video and a high ISO and slow shutter were required for photos. I started to gather my gear and sneak away hoping not to disturb the deer now feeding in the soybean field, when I noticed some movement across the cornfield. It was so dark I could just make out two deer, one was that little four point, but the other took my breath away. With his head down as he followed the scent of the does, his rack now polished almost white, stood tall and wide. 

I took a series of photos knowing the conditions were not ideal, but this buck was a true trophy class deer and just seeing him was worth the wait. I've seen a number of large bucks over the years, but never when I had a camera with me. This one was as grand of a deer as I have ever captured. Back to back red letter days photographing Kentucky Whitetail Deer.