Oh my deer, what a stunning shot
When photographer David Lowe went to photograph birds in Cannock Chase he did not expect to come face to face with this magnificent beast.
This picture of the buck fallow deer, standing proud and displaying its magnificent antlers was taken earlier this month near Brocton.
Mr Lowe, from Pendeford, Wolverhampton had visited the beauty spot to photograph jays armed only with his Canon camera and a bag of bird seed.
But instead of attracting jays the food got the attention of this deer who promptly ate the seeds and stared directly at 63-year-old Mr Lowe.
He said: "I have got into animal photography much more in the last 12 months and I go to places around the West Midlands trying to get pictures of them in their natural environment.
"I had intended to get pictures of jays and gone to this part of Cannock Chase as it had been recommended.
"I placed the seed down on the mound and sat in my car which was a few metres back. It wasn't long before this deer came out of the trees and I grabbed my camera and took it.
"It was magnificent I hadn't expected to get a picture like that. I know you get a few deer around Cannock Chase and I have pictures of the top of the animals' heads but this was there standing proud.
"I was told it was rutting season so I knew I had to be careful."
There are around 800 fallow deer on Cannock Chase and this is the time of the year that the males lose their antlers.
Sharon Caldecott, Cannock Chase Visitor Centre assistant, said: "Their antlers are cast and it is only in the spring when they begin to eat berries and get nutrients into their system that they begin to grow back.
"Once they do, the rutting season is between September and October and this where you will see the male fallow deer fighting and charging with their heads down."
