Sometimes you don't have to travel too far for an excellent wildlife photography opportunity. I THOUGHT I was familiar with County Armagh, until I discovered Gosford Forest Park had a herd of deer.

Although fenced off, it was easy to get close enough to the herd for some great shots. I had my basic but trusty Sony 50mm prime for the deer who were relatively close at hand. For anything further way, I was able to use my Sony 200-600mm lens.

There's nothing like a good snooze on an afternoon. Since they (the deer) didn't seem to be in a hurry, I could take my time to compose my shots and experiment a little. Subtle subject movements such as closing or opening an eye or tilting a head, combined with me making simple changes in position made for interesting compositions.

Majestic, relaxed, but in command.

A relatively young herd that were quite shy. The zoom lens allowed me to get up close and personal from a safe distance so as not to disturb the deer.