The Blind: An Excellent Method For Photographing Red Deer
In wildlife photography, luck is a major factor
During a workshop in France devoted to photographing red deer in the rutting season, I went into the field with a trainee to explain how to use a blind. I expected to see the first animals after an hour or two. We were very lucky. Ten minutes after we settled down, a herd of red deer arrived. The meadow was blanketed in fog. All the elements for beautiful photos had come together, but we almost came back empty-handed because of a photographer’s impatience.
That Day, a Blind Was the Best Choice
I left very early to accompany the student to the field. The weather the day before had been foggy. We had to leave before the sun rose so that we could set up the blind. When we arrived at our destination, it was still dark, and the fog partially hid us. I opted for a natural blind in the ferns around us.
Usually I do not take my camera when I am with a trainee on the field, but when we use a blind, I bring it along. This time I chose a 500 mm lens and a tripod.
The day before, I had spotted a small path between two thickets. The numerous tracks and the deer feces clearly showed that a herd of red deer came there to graze. I also noticed a possible spot for a blind, just at the edge of the trees.
Picking the right place for a blind is never easy. First, it has to make us invisible to the animals we are going to photograph. The only thing that should be visible is the front of the lens. Between the unfamiliar sight of the lens and the noise of the cameras, the animals will already be on their guard. If they see us, they will almost certainly run away.
Then, the blind should be placed so that all of the elements in the photograph are in the right place. The background, lighting, and many other parameters must all be considered. Being invisible to the animals is necessary, but it is not enough. When placing the blind, we also have to pay attention to the composition of the photographs.
After I explained how to set up a good natural blind, we took our places five yards apart, with only our lenses visible. We sat there on our stools, and listened to deer bellowing in the distance. I was certain that we would wait there for several hours. As always, nothing happened the way I thought it would. We were extremely lucky. In about 10 minutes, a herd of two young does and a fawn, led by a big stag, came within 50 yards us.
Impatience Is an Easy Trap to Fall Into
I had told my student that it is important not to start taking photos as soon as the animals arrive. They need time to get used to their environment. They check the area for danger before they start to graze. If the stag has a herd, it is especially important to find the doe who is on watch. In case of danger, she barks to alert the herd. Then the lead doe, the oldest and most experienced one in the herd, gives the signal to run away. She also decides the direction they take.
Generally, we wait for 2 or 3 minutes before taking the first photo. But when a photographer takes his first picture of a stag bellowing, he is too excited to wait. Fear of not getting a good picture is stronger than anything, including the warning to be patient. We all go through this stage. Experience teaches us that patience, even in exciting situations, is one of the things a good wildlife photographer needs most.
I am watching the scene through my viewfinder, waiting for the herd to relax, when I hear a burst of 5 photographs from my right. Even one picture makes a noise, but the burst breaks the absolute silence of the woods like a thunderclap.
Unfortunately, it’s too late now. The doe on watch barks. The deer raise their heads and look in our direction. They have seen our lenses, and are trying to figure out if they are a threat or not.
I hear another burst. That seals their course of action. Not only do the lenses look wrong, they also make strange noises, and therefore they represent a danger. I now take one picture of my own, because I am fairly sure that the herd will run away immediately. I am not mistaken. The lead doe gives the signal, and the rest of the herd follows.
I look to my right. The trainee has realized his mistake, and he is sorry. He knows he took good photos, but if he had waited a little bit more, they would have been even better.
Wildlife Photography Requires Time and Patience
The moral of this story is that every beginning photographer is impatient. We have all gone through this phase. It was a shame, because having a herd of red deer and a young fawn is unusual. Also, we had the fog, which gave a supernatural aspect to the scene. However, when I saw the student’s photographs, I was really happy, because they were beautiful. The compositions were excellent.
I also think he has retained the most important lesson: patience is the thing a wildlife photographer needs most. I am sure that from now on, he will think about it every time.
