A Friendly Whitetail Doe: An Intimate Encounter with Wildlife
As a Wildlife Photographer, I am always on the lookout for unique and intimate encounters with the animals I photograph. While driving through the countryside, I came across a snake in the road and stopped to take a few shots. It was then that I was privileged to have a chance encounter with a friendly Whitetail Doe.
This majestic animal appeared from a soybean field, and began feeding on the side of the road, completely unfazed by my presence. The doe was so close that I had to back up in order to capture a photo. As I watched her, I noticed that she was covered in scars and had two large blood blisters on her rump. Despite this, she was a picture of grace and beauty as she calmly grazed, occasionally glancing in my direction.
It was not just me who was in awe of this magnificent creature, as a couple in another car pulled over to admire the doe as well. I stepped back, giving them the opportunity to take their own photos. The doe, who seemed completely unfazed by human presence, walked up to the couple’s car and inspected them before gracefully walking into the trees and disappearing.
I was hand-holding my Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens, allowing me to be more agile and flexible in capturing the perfect shot. This experience was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and one that I will cherish forever.
The encounter with this friendly Whitetail Doe highlights the importance of respecting wildlife and their habitats, and the beauty that can be found when we allow ourselves to connect with nature. Whether it’s through photography or simply observing, these moments are what make wildlife photography such a rewarding and fulfilling pursuit.
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date Taken: July 26, 2014
- Aperture: f5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/320 sec.
- ISO: 800
- Focal Length: 400 mm
- Lens: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D