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Red deer, blue haze
The red deer rut in the Ardennes Forest, France, is something that Jean-Michel has photographed over many years. On one afternoon, he watched a stag and his harem grazing peacefully in a wet meadow at the edge of the wood. When the light started to fade and the temperature fell, a mist started to rise up, creating a magical atmosphere. As he watched, Jean-Michel noticed a young stag crossing the meadow towards the group. He knew that the harem owner would not tolerate the intruder and so focused on him. Tension rose. 'Then suddenly the big male charged. The chase across the meadow into the wood was incredibly fast, and the image captures exactly what I saw.'
Photograph Details
Red deer, blue haze
The red deer rut in the Ardennes Forest, France, is something that Jean-Michel has photographed over many years. On one afternoon, he watched a stag and his harem grazing peacefully in a wet meadow at the edge of the wood. When the light started to fade and the temperature fell, a mist started to rise up, creating a magical atmosphere. As he watched, Jean-Michel noticed a young stag crossing the meadow towards the group. He knew that the harem owner would not tolerate the intruder and so focused on him. Tension rose. 'Then suddenly the big male charged. The chase across the meadow into the wood was incredibly fast, and the image captures exactly what I saw.'
Technical specification
Nikon F100 + 600mm f5.6 lens; 1/20 sec at f5.6; Provia 100F processed at 200; Gitzo tripod.
Ardennes Forest, Ardennes, France
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