06/24/05

Shortly after I photographed the newborn fawns and started processing the pictures, I realized what a treasure trove I had documenting this wonderful happening in nature.  With more deer in the neighborhood than in any of my previous 13 years here, I'm sure scores of fawns were being born all around.  Most births, however, have been deep in the scrub oaks and pines in the various green belts between houses. I don't imagine anyone else got such a close view for more than two hours.

I e-mailed some images I liked to a few friends so they could share at a distance what I had seen and photographed in person.  Soon I was getting reactions such as:

What a magnificent photo! It's National Geographic quality for sure.  

Great shot of the two fawns and doe.  I like the lighting, backlit ear.  Fawns look only minutes old.  My granddaughters thought they were cool, too.

WONDERFUL PIC OF MAMA DOE AND BABIES.  FABULOUS! 

 My kids and I loved the picture of the doe with her fawns.  How fortunate you arrived on the scene so soon after their birth!  You should find a market for that shot!

Oh Jimmie, that is the most beautiful photo. It actually took my breath away. :) Thanks SO much for sharing it with me. I love it!! I bet that was a marvelous experience--seeing the mama take care of her newborn baby deer. Isn't it cool how God gives us those inspiring experiences through nature? I don't know how anyone could witness something like that and not believe there is a God. It gives me chills when I even see the picture...God's creation is so wonderful.

The news reporter for the Colorado Springs Gazette, who interviewed me on the following day, asked where people could buy prints from me. Other friends started asking, as well. So I decided on an initial offering of three sets of ten 4 by 6 prints.  I picked out 85 photographs (I still have several hundred to process, but found amazing pictures in the 400 or so I've been through, so far.) that would be reasonable candidates and selected these 30.  Each set of ten includes photos ranging from the opening minutes--when each fawn was hardly more than a dark lump in the sand with legs, ears, and a head sticking out at odd angles--until the fawns were nearly three hours old with their white-spotted coats glistening in the sun. 

I have added some notes on the 3 pages that show the pictures. The price per set of 10 prints is $40, which includes shipping/handling and any applicable sales taxes.  For shipments outside the United States, add $2.  Ordering instructions are available on the Ordering Information page.

Many of the pictures make me smile. If none tug a bit at your heartstrings, then they're probably not for you.  In some cases the fawns look so bewildered that you may wonder if they will last out the day.  So, while Mama Deer is quite protective in the first few days, I have gotten a couple of pictures and have observations of how much the little ones have changed in a short time.  See the Newborns Update page for more on their first week of life.