Scottish Reindeer

A smaller reindeer, both males and females have the antlers

The Alpha Male Reindeer

Found these reindeer photos in some of the shots I came back with last week, it would probably have more impact if they’d have been in 3 feet of snow but what can you do. I was trying to get over the size of their antlers, I dare say they would do you a serious damage if you suggested strapping a present-laden sleigh to a couple of them and told them to make a quick trip round the globe, funny red coat or not. I went for the warm shadowed mono conversion as opposed to colour as I’ve still got a bit of a Nick Brandt thing going on when it comes to wildlife shots. Google him if you don’t know who I mean, then spend the next hour in open mouthed wonder. Back to the subject, these are the only (semi)wild reindeer in Britain and these were taken about a week before the rut, which is basically a big fight between the males for the female, my biology degree hasn’t gone to waste explaining that one! Some still had a velvet coat to their antlers but these two had lost theirs and thus, meant business.

Both taken at ISO100, f/4 at about 1/1000, there was plenty of light about so it was more a case of trying to avoid harsh shadows. We managed not to get charged (by the reindeer, oh we certainly got charged by the owners! very nice guides though) and came away with some usable images, will have to go back in the snow one day.