Majesty, a photo from Derbyshire, England

Photographer's Note

This stag was standing in the rain at Chatsworth, the home of the Duke of Devonshire in Derbyshire. Deer are free to roam the estate. He looks very proud and powerful. I have to admit to feeling a little nervous, as there was nothing between us but a mutual awareness.

P.S. If you’re wondering why the Duke of Devonshire lives in Derbyshire, it’s due to a historical (hysterical?) mistake. When making the first Duke a duke, the King forgot what he was to be duke of, and mistakenly said “Devonshire”. The King, of course, is never wrong, and the Duke of Devonshire he was…

Roly, nbournas, eduaraujo, rdans59, archanabhimasen, msirois, Auslander, rildin, MLINES has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

set (260) 2004-02-19 10:29

Beautiful photo, soft colors and perfect framing. Very interesting notes, thanks. Could you give the parameters of the shot? Congratulations.

cool_s15 (4050) 2004-02-19 10:40

I really like the tone and lighting on this one. Very nice shot. Just wonder about the size of the photo... Have you done any cropping?

robbertjan (2906) 2004-02-19 10:42

Wow what a great shot of a beautiful animal. This one is realy, realy good! The trees, the deer and the soft colors. Superb! There is a lot of power in the deer. Good job!!!

kourosh (2346) 2004-02-19 10:44

Splendid! soft grey colors and the beautiful animal in perfect harmony. very well done.

Mrg (825) 2004-02-19 10:52

Good B&W shot Bruce. The animal looks really good

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-02-19 10:53

What an excellent choice, this animal and its surroundings in grey colors. I like the size as well. I can imagine that you felt an intruder in his territory. Great shot, and I like the anecdote

cloverstar (0) 2004-02-19 11:00

A very regal pose indeed. Good misty feel to this photo. I like the sepia tones you have chosen.

dob_31 (0) 2004-02-19 12:14

What a nice beast! The B&W mode makes this shot a timeless classic. Well seen, well framed and well commented.

I'll post a WS, showing a close-up on the stag, I hope you won't mind!

carper (96) 2004-02-19 12:28

It's realy a majesty, Bruce.

Great photo, to chosen fore b&w likes me a good choose. Nice note to, You did a good job here.

ninadev (5377) 2004-02-19 12:46

Majesty indeed.. He stands so proud, so powerful. I like that he stands on a little slope, it makes a nice diagonal. DOF is also good.
I find that there is a little too much branches above his head, I wonder if a different cropping would help. I will make a WS and you tell me what you think.

[workshop] [compare]

Midnight_sun (1941) 2004-02-19 12:48

A classic photo of a very proud stag. I like how the branches in this context resemble antlers too, a good piece of framing, well done.

JacquesLanctot (501) 2004-02-19 12:50

Your right, the name of the picture say's all. Good idea to make black and white. Composition very good with that fade background.

khadem (341) 2004-02-19 13:56

Very nice shot,welldone.
"Proud and powerful" no doubt!
A beautiful creature.

Ebbe (9625) 2004-02-19 14:45

He is really majestic and so well framed by the trees. Very well toned B&W and the foggy air smooths out the background in a fine way which also give depth. Well done!

gbac (1933) 2004-02-19 15:15

Fière de lui il vous regarde et se dit: "ici c'est moi le maitre".
Je trouve bien l'idée du noir blanc pour cette image.

edji (1368) 2004-02-19 15:29

Wow, very nice photograph. I like to photograph wild animal. I have one of a baby moose with his mother. I like the black and white. I like the framing too and the square shape. Well done!!!

mogens-j (56) 2004-02-19 19:02

Nice picture of the king of the forest Bruce and the b/w works very well here. Composition is great with the framing branches in the top of the picture. Well seen.

akeyswede (1078) 2004-05-02 1:40

Bruce: great framing with the trees and I love (not only the deer) the way the trees to the left complement his antlers... you are right, a strong sense of majesty!

nbournas (3229) 2004-05-26 16:09

Bruce indeed a majestic stag. Personally I would prefer a larger version of your shot because the dramatic effect would be better. Nevertheless a great post. I loved your note.

eduaraujo (185) 2004-05-26 16:28

very well done !

rdans59 (263) 2004-06-20 10:34

Very impressive image. This stag is indeed a majesty on his own right! Very well framed. I like the foggy background against the sharpness of the subject.

The historical/hysterical note alone is 2 points worth.

I've never seen a stag at close range, but I'd be (a lot) nervous in that situation.

naxius (16685) 2004-09-25 4:59

Wow! Bruce I guess you have been very rapid to take this shot...This is excellent and the details are vry sharp.
Bravo!

Alexandre

burdallet (0) 2004-09-26 3:55

Well done B&W : his majesty the King of our forests

pirulesco (1961) 2005-01-28 6:50

magnificent photo! no other words for this...

Maru (0) 2005-01-28 6:55

beautiful shot with that proud animal. I like the composition, with the blur misty background, and frame you chose. I particulary like the upper diagonal ground, adds a sense of magesty to our superb stag.
Well done

Lolydodia (580) 2005-03-10 18:24

I must say, this is one of the most beautiful pictures I´ve seen so far. I really like the volour and the atmosphere. Well captured!

archanabhimasen (270) 2005-05-12 9:22

Beautifully framed shot. The black and white enhances your shot.

msirois (275) 2005-05-12 10:02

Hi, Bruce--
Wonderful, hazy shot. The deer does indeed look majestical. Nice DOF, and the note is great too.
Michael

ivanhooace (60) 2005-05-28 18:12

beautiful , it looks like it is the king of stag

MON (135) 2005-08-11 6:50

Well shot!. I like all composition and colours. Congratulations!

MLINES (12516) 2010-03-02 22:16

Hi Bruce, A magnificent stag with huge antlers. Well composed as it shows the details of the deer's face well and balanced between the two trees. The B&W effect makes it seem from a distant period of time. TFS. Murray.