One of Bradgate Park's majestic stags - Red Deer male Stag - Cervus elaphus / Taken at Bradgate Park - Leicestershire - UK
Face to face with a Red Deer Stag – This morning, as I stepped into Bradgate Park, I didn’t know what awaited me — but soon I found myself face to face with a magnificent red deer stag in its natural habitat.
It was a rare and thrilling encounter. By pure chance, the stag approached to within about 5–7 meters, allowing me to capture these close-up portraits.
At this time of year, red deer stags usually roar and clash their antlers in dramatic displays of strength and dominance — the “Deer Rut” is in full swing. Yet this morning was surprisingly calm.
During the rutting season, males are heavily driven by testosterone. They often forget to eat, become restless, and spend their days fighting rivals. For photographers, safety and respect are vital: never stand between a dominant stag and his harem, nor between two rivals who haven’t yet decided the outcome of their contest.
Wildlife photography often requires careful planning, logistics, and tested camera settings. In short, knowing your subject and your equipment is essential when working with such fleeting moments.
Despite the overcast light, I was greeted first by a young male and his lone female companion. Later, as I crossed the River Lin, I spotted two impressive stags — likely just after their morning feeding. This year, with the mild weather, the rut seems less intense; roaring is rare, and many stags appear calmer than usual.
After waiting patiently for Stonechats and Robins, I took a short break — and sometimes, as nature photographers know well, that’s when magic happens. About two hours later, two large males appeared from different directions and met near my path. One moved closer to me, watching the other intently. I quietly took cover behind an old oak fence, and to my surprise, the stag approached and paused just in front of me.
He was aware of my presence, yet remained calm. I didn’t move suddenly; when our eyes met, I pressed the shutter. He then passed by, continuing on his way.
These portraits were taken with patience, respect, and a bit of luck. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the quiet connection with this majestic creature.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and inspiring weekend.
Field Observation: The stag was fully aware of my presence but showed no aggression. Maintaining a calm posture and avoiding direct eye contact for too long helped build trust. The combination of patience, quiet movement, and natural cover made these close portraits possible.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
One of Bradgate Park's majestic stags - Red Deer male Stag - Cervus elaphus / Taken at Bradgate Park - Leicestershire - UK
Face to face with a Red Deer Stag – This morning, as I stepped into Bradgate Park, I didn’t know what awaited me — but soon I found myself face to face with a magnificent red deer stag in its natural habitat.
It was a rare and thrilling encounter. By pure chance, the stag approached to within about 5–7 meters, allowing me to capture these close-up portraits.
At this time of year, red deer stags usually roar and clash their antlers in dramatic displays of strength and dominance — the “Deer Rut” is in full swing. Yet this morning was surprisingly calm.
During the rutting season, males are heavily driven by testosterone. They often forget to eat, become restless, and spend their days fighting rivals. For photographers, safety and respect are vital: never stand between a dominant stag and his harem, nor between two rivals who haven’t yet decided the outcome of their contest.
Wildlife photography often requires careful planning, logistics, and tested camera settings. In short, knowing your subject and your equipment is essential when working with such fleeting moments.
Despite the overcast light, I was greeted first by a young male and his lone female companion. Later, as I crossed the River Lin, I spotted two impressive stags — likely just after their morning feeding. This year, with the mild weather, the rut seems less intense; roaring is rare, and many stags appear calmer than usual.
After waiting patiently for Stonechats and Robins, I took a short break — and sometimes, as nature photographers know well, that’s when magic happens. About two hours later, two large males appeared from different directions and met near my path. One moved closer to me, watching the other intently. I quietly took cover behind an old oak fence, and to my surprise, the stag approached and paused just in front of me.
He was aware of my presence, yet remained calm. I didn’t move suddenly; when our eyes met, I pressed the shutter. He then passed by, continuing on his way.
These portraits were taken with patience, respect, and a bit of luck. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the quiet connection with this majestic creature.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and inspiring weekend.
Field Observation: The stag was fully aware of my presence but showed no aggression. Maintaining a calm posture and avoiding direct eye contact for too long helped build trust. The combination of patience, quiet movement, and natural cover made these close portraits possible.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)