Red Deer Rut

The wild Red Deer in the Peak District National Park are completely wild and aren’t easy to get near, unlike the Deer in the various parks around the UK. Working alongside them. watching and learning about their behaviour is absolutely crucial.

Out in the open they are easier to see and get images of, in their natural woodland habitat they are very cautious. Eye contact is important and nature will know you are there way before you see them. It’s how you manage that encounter with the subjects well-being at the forefront of any decisions and images you take that will decide how long that encounter will be. It will also translate into your images, showing a more natural photograph.

I always like to photograph natural behaviour, remembering I’m a guest in their world. If I genuinely disturb the subject it upsets me because that’s the last thing I want to do. I’m always watching and trying to think ahead, often I’m trying to think like the subject I’m with. Which often people smirk at, but unless you’re in that situation you won’t fully understand that comment.

These few images were taken alongside clients and I wanted to show you how our largest land mammal, where the males can weigh in excess of 200 kilograms can almost just disappear in front of you. This massive male Red Deer had quite a lot of females with him that he was protecting all the times.

He saw us very early on and watched us intently. It’s best you don’t get any closer than 100m of these males. Don’t offer any opportunities for them to be spooked, scared or stressed by your presence. Once this fellow was happy we weren’t a threat he carried on doing what he wanted before moving off with his females and carried on going about their lives.

As a photographer this should always be your aim. I hope this post doesn’t sound like a long, boring rant. It’s not meant too. There are too many images on all the various social media platforms that don’t put the subjects first and you can see this if you look closer.

In a world where photography is becoming really popular each and everyone of us that points a camera at another living being has a duty of care not to scare, stress or trouble them. Don’t chase awards, fake likes and comments, put your efforts into working ethically and with respect for nature and nature will never fail you.

Thank you to all my clients over the last two weeks who have been on my wild Red Deer workshops in the Peak District National Park. They have had some wonderful encounters with our largest land mammal. many thanks.