While driving along the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I spotted two White-tailed Bucks leaving a frosted field early in the morning. These moments resulted in the two photos you see here, capturing the bucks as they paused briefly before disappearing into the woods.
A fascinating element of the scene was the large flock of blackbirds flying low across the field, their dark shapes in constant motion creating a dynamic contrast to the frozen stillness of the frosty field and the calm demeanor of the bucks. In the first photo, you can see their black forms blurred in the background, contrasting with the stillness of the smaller buck in the foreground. The younger buck seemed momentarily intrigued by the movement of the birds, pausing to watch them before following the larger buck into the woods. Neither deer appeared concerned about the blackbirds, even as the flock moved closer.
Camera Settings and Challenges
Photographing these two bucks presented a few technical challenges. Here are the key settings and conditions:
- Date and Time: 12/11/24, 8:17 AM
- Camera Model: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm at 800mm
- ISO: 8000
- Aperture: f/9
- Shutter Speed: 1/160
- Exposure Compensation: +0.3
Shooting at ISO 8000 was less than ideal, but the lighting was very dim that morning. Using such a high ISO allowed me to brighten the image enough to keep a shutter speed of 1/160, which was needed to avoid motion blur as the bucks moved. With both deer walking, this was a risky choice, as such a slow shutter speed can cause motion blur. Fortunately, both bucks paused briefly, allowing me to capture sharp shots despite the slow shutter.
Using a bean bag for stabilization was essential. Resting the camera and lens on the bean bag draped over the open window of my truck minimized vibrations and camera shake. This setup was critical for sharp images at such a high focal length and slow shutter speed.
Observations
The larger buck exhibited classic dominance, holding its head high and walking with deliberate steps, while the smaller one followed a few paces behind. Their brief pause gave me just enough time to adjust my composition and capture these frames. The younger buck seemed to check out the blackbirds curiously, while the larger buck briefly looked my way before leading them into the woods. The frosty field added texture to the scene, while the backdrop of blackbirds brought a sense of movement to the still morning.
These photos remind me why the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is such a rewarding place for wildlife photography. The variety of habitats supports not only large mammals like these bucks but also a wide range of bird species. Observing this interaction of species, even for a moment, makes the early mornings and high ISO shots worthwhile.