Knole deer park in Kent is one of my favourites. The fairways of the golf course within the park offer nice settings for the fallow and sika deer found here. Apart from around the car park area the fallow deer are surprisingly nervous and it is hard to get close, but the sika deer are far more approachable. I left home about 0200 hrs to arrive for dawn and packed a toothbrush in case I wanted to stay over. It was bright and sunny all day, but as ever by 1000 hrs I packed up. The sun was too high and harsh and the deer mostly in the shadows of the trees. Photography did not begin again until late afternoon, which leaves a substantial part of the day to sleep after such an early start.
Fallow deer, Dama dama
At one point a line of fallow deer ran along a ridge, one after the other, but although they were moving fast they did not appear stretched. Given more time I would have tried using a slower shutter speed, but it was all over to quick.
Sika deer, Cervus nippon
Fallow deer, Dama dama
Sika deer, Cervus nippon
The best potential was close to dusk as the sun hit the horizon as a large red ball. The backlit sika deer looked great with flies buzzing around their heads. Unfortunately they never stood in the right place during that last glow.
Fallow deer, Dama dama
The fallow deer also did not pose so well in the last bit of light. A pity as they stood out well on the horizon. I underexposed them a couple of stops to make them more of a silhouette.
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