Copr. Copyright © 2021 GREIG CLIFFORD.
White Fallow Buck in Velvet
Wow, a lucky moment for me to photograph last weekend!
Many will have heard tales of the mythological white stag. The white stag
symbolism has appeared in many cultures across Northern Europe, America
and Asia, wherever deer have lived in the wild. Each tale has its own
significance but there's always a highly spiritual theme. It is said that
following this maginificent creature will lead one to a great spiritual
discovery. For a knight in medieval England the message was slightly different...
indicating time to pursue a 'spiritual quest'. I like the idea that it
is representative of one's spiritual journey. A guiding messenger. The
mystical symbolism continues in modern culture, being used in The Hobbit,
Harry Potter, and Narnia stories too.
It is easy to understand why such an aura of magic has been associated
with these white deer... not only are they magnificent creatures but they
are quite rare. I was incredibly excited to see this one and utterly mesmerised
when he locked eye contact with me, graciously allowing enough time for
me to compose this shot, before returning to his grazing with the rest
of the group.
I did a little research... the white colour is a result of Leucism, a
rare genetic pattern that causes pigmentation loss in the hair and skin,
not to be confused with the albino condition. Male deer grow new antlers
annually, shedding towards the end of spring, so this buck has antlers
just a few weeks old. As the antlers grow they are covered in a soft fur,
a time known as being 'in velvet'. This fur is shed in the autumn when
the antlers become fully grown.
These deer are used to walkers but even so I kept my distance. I like
the resultant space in the image. The deer draws one in for a closer look.
If this image is the first of mine you have seen, or you are relatively
new to my work, please know I'm always keen to make new contacts and push
my photography to wider horizons. If you like what you see, say hello!
If you are able to help bring my photography to a larger audience, then
lets talk! I'd be glad to hear from you!
Finally, prints
of this image are available, starting at affordable prices to encourage
new collectors. Signed archival quality prints are strictly limited in
number. Your support is very much appreciated.
(Published 15/06/2021)
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