Buck - David Mathre Photography

Nine-Years Ago (03-November-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey: Rutting Season.

Wary buck wondering why I am pointing a large black lens at him.

Wary buck. Backyard autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/45 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (25-September-2010) — California

Gone to See California: Point Reyes National Seashore.

I drove out to Point Reyes National Seashore to photograph the Lighthouse. I’ve tried to photograph this lighthouse on several previous occasions, but it was always shrouded in fog. I got there early in the morning, and this time it was very clear. In one image, the moon is above the lighthouse. Remembering my mentor Winston Hall telling us to always look behind you for a better picture, I turned around and saw this buck on a ridge in the early morning sunlight.

Moon over Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre) — Moon over Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Morning Light at Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre) — Morning Light at Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Early Morning Buck on a Ridge at Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre) — Early Morning Buck on a Ridge at Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (09-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Backyard Deer Nursery. The deer population in New Jersey is out of control. Because of all of the damage to gardens and shrubbery, deer have been labeled “rats with hooves”. The only natural predator of deer in New Jersey, and many other states is the automobile (been there, done that, don’t want to do it again). On the other hand, let nature be — and use it as a subject to photograph.

When I got home this evening, there was a Doe working the shrubbery on my driveway. Further down the driveway I saw a Buck (with a larger rack) and two fawns resting in the shade. I got a few images out of the car window, but nothing special. When I went onto the deck to check on my tomatoes, I saw many Fawns and a Doe. By the time I got the camera up the Seven Fawns started running to their den mother. When I tell folks that I can come home and find a dozen deer in my yard, they often roll their eyes in disbelief. Tonight there were a dozen all viewed with 30 minutes. The following “grab” images are of the seven Fawns and their den mother.

Goggle+ For anyone still reading this, it was about a year ago that my Facebook account was hacked and started sending out a lot of junk in my name. It also appeared that my computer was compromised and was sending a lot of data to external sites. The only way I could stop it was to delete my FB account, and restore my computer hard drive to a point several days earlier. It was at that point that I started my “image of the day” photoblog using WordPress and PhotoShelter. A few days ago, I got an invite to join the beta of Google Plus (Google+ or G+). So far it looks interesting. I don’t think that it will replace my “image of the day” photoblog.

Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre) — Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec).

Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec).

I’m getting tired of doing deer and need a new subject. Thoughts? Reply as a comment or send me an e-mail.

Sunday (07-August-2011) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

I was on the way to the grocery store and took the following images from my car. It appears that the young buck is either trying to be camouflaged or is just transporting weed seeds.

Young Buck. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/3.2, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Young Buck. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/3.2, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Doe. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 250, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Doe. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 250, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Young Buck. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 250, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Young Buck. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 250, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Doe and Fawn. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 250, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Doe and Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 250, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Young Buck. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 360, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Young Buck. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 360, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Young Buck. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Young Buck. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Young Buck. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 280, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Young Buck. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 280, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Doe and Fawn. Backyard Nature -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 220, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Doe and Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 220, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Tuesday (12-July-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Nighttime Nature in New Jersey.

Young Buck by Moonlight. While out shooting the moon, I noticed a dark shadow about 50 feet out from my deck. I pointed my LED headlamp a saw a couple of yellow eyes reflecting back — probably a deer. I put my 200 mm f/2 lens on the D3s to see if this camera really can “see in the dark”. The following images may look like they were taken during the day, it was actually after 10 PM. The only light source was moonlight. The images are shown without and then with noise reduction (Topaz DeNoise 5).

Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1600, 200 mm, f/2.8, 8 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction (David J Mathre) — Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1600, 200 mm, f/2.8, 8 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction

Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 2 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction (David J Mathre) — Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 2 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction

Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 25600, 200 mm, f/2, 1 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction (David J Mathre) — Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 25600, 200 mm, f/2, 1 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction

Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 102400, 200 mm, f/4, 1 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction (David J Mathre) — Young Buck Moonlighting. Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 102400, 200 mm, f/4, 1 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. No Noise Reduction