Just gotten off the phone for a delightful predawn call to look out and see this big boy with what we at first thought were three big does (they should be dropping fawns in 45 days or so). The buck being a big boy, it caught our attention, so we watched. Then two questions came to mind. First, why does he still have his antlers, and second, why is he with three does? We start seeing sheds at the end of January, and normally by the end of Feb, all the bucks just have buttons. And herding does is normally a fall activity. What gives then?

I ignored my thoughts, grabbed the camera, and walked out the front door slowly to see what they would do. Normally, the bucks tend to move off when I appear outside, especially when they are with does. In this case, he just stood there watching me. I slowly moved to get out from behind some limbs so I could shoot. The group of four didn’t move. So I kept moving, they just stood there. It was dark o-thirty, ISO 1600 +1/3 comp brought me to 1/30, but I didn’t care, I love just standing with them as they go about their life. Now, in full disclosure, I’ve been known to have an apple or six in my pockets when I go out with the deer, and over the years, well, they tend to watch me to see if they are going to get a treat.

After a little while, they figured, I think, that there were no apples coming so they ambled up the ravine to bed down for the morning. With that, I ran to the computer to look at the photos closely to understand the biology going on. I came to find that what we thought were three does were actually three bucks. That explains their size. When I looked closely, I could see their buttons where they had shed their antlers already. That left just one question unanswered: why did the big boy still have his antlers. I guess he was just the odd man out.

The wx station read 16 degrees as we sipped our morning coffee. The sun was making its appearance and the birds were shaking off the night’s chill. Time to check in on the nesting cavities, the bird and owl boxes to see who is where doing what. Being nesting season, nest site selection is in process with two pairs of Pygmy Nuthatches and a pair of Flickers seeming to have made their choices. I head for the Nikon Monarch Spotting Scope and who’s there, again, using it? While I got it for my use, it seems I’m constantly waiting in line for scope time. She has great eyes and sees and reports a ton, for which I’m very grateful. We have been together for over fifty years, but there are times when I gotta question, mine is hers?

What’s with the ZR? This is a question that keeps floating my way, a post from last Friday bringing more. “It shoots stills?” That was asked a few times, and yes, it does! It’s just like shooting with a Z 9 or Z 8, except that it has no EVF, just one large LCD. Its main role in our gear locker is for its sweet spot, shooting video. If you shoot video with your Z body (and if you don’t, why don’t you?) then you are familiar with the .mov file format. The ZR captures that format along with others, the most important is the R3D. This format comes from the RED master minds. If you shoot in Raw and process your Nefs, you know that the ISO is locked into place, what you shot at is now carved in stone. With the ZR and R3D, you can change ISO in Post! Wrap your mind around that for a moment. You can change the ISO in post when you capture R3D! As you might imagine, there is a hitch or two though. Shooting video, no matter the format, getting exposure and white balance right is essential unless you’re one helluva an expert in Premiere Beta (which I am not) and color grading. Then you need to learn about Luts and other “stuff.” How does this help your still photography? Everything you learn shooting the ZR advances your still photography on all levels starting with exposure and white balance. I have really enjoyed my journey so far with the ZR and the added knowledge it has brought to my photography. I recommend you rent a ZR for a week or two and find out for yourself. You might just find for your photography, the ZR – it sure does!