Spotted dear with velvet antlers during Indiawilds meet

[Atul Sinai]

The antlers of this male is covered by a soft shiny skin known as velvet. This generally happens during the growth of the antlers. The velvet is very sensitive as it is fed by many blood vessels and is vulnerable to injuries. When the antlers grow to take their final shape a ring of bone forms on the base and cuts off the supply of blood to the velvet thus leading to its shedding. During this period many deer can be seen rubbing their antlers on the tree trunk to get rid of the velvet.

Availability of good grass plays a important role during the process of shedding as they need good source of calcium to help the formation of bone (antlers).

Please critique !

Location: Kabini
Canon 7D. 400mm f5.6
Manual Exposure
Auto Focus
Manual metering
Shutter Speed 1/320
Aperture 5.6
ISO 1000
Focal Length 400mm
Full frame
Handheld

Thanks!

Regards,
Atul

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Nice velvet. the rim lighting on the velvet looks good. If the deer in the background would have moved a bit more to the right then it would have been framed well within the antler and the curved neck. Slight head turn of the deer with antlers would have strengthened the image. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Mrudul Godbole]

The antlers are nicely documented here. Good details and sharpness. Thanks for sharing the detailed information.

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Nice details. Moving the camera slightly to the right would have been better. Did you get any shots with more head turn? Thanks for including the detailed info.
TFS

[Atul Sinai]

Thanks guys.

Didn't get much time with this one. No sooner did this one came out clear from the out of focus tree on the left the jeep moved. Just got one image of this male. Did not get an opportunity to track the action here.

[V S Sankar]

Good sharp image.Very intereting details about the velvet.Thanks for that.Good work.

Regards