Bedded Whitetail Buck, Shenandoah National Park

While this Shenandoah National Park buck is staring directly at the camera, it is the doe behind me that he cares about. No move she makes goes unnoticed, which provides an alert look for his portrait.

Getting down low was an important technique for this photo. The lower camera position pushes the background farther away, which provides a stronger blur. The lower position aids in getting catchlights in the eyes and in making the buck appear regal.

He bedded for a long time, perhaps close to an hour. After getting way too many shots, I did the same. He was warmer than me.

The Sony Alpha 1 and Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS Lens were an outstanding combination for the fields and less-dense forest areas at SNP.

A larger version of this image is available here.