Figure of the Forest

Japanese sika were first introduced into Ireland in 1860 in an attempt to bring more exotic animals into the country. The sika were first released into an estate in County Wicklow, where they were bred and distributed to other estates. Many escaped and can now be found living wild in various locations around Ireland.

During my time in Ireland, I spent a few hours hiking through Killarney National Park on a calm autumn afternoon. I was aware deer lived in the area so I kept my eyes up as I navigated through the lush forest, hoping for the off chance I might see one. 

Walking down a well-beaten path, something in the bush to my right caught my eye. I stopped and noticed a brown patch hidden between two trees. I thought, is that a deer? Nope. I took a few more steps forward and realised oh wow it is! It was looking straight at me over its shoulder. I slowly moved behind a tree, out of sight to attach my long lens. Looking through my viewfinder, I discovered it was a stunning hind. I took a few photos before she moved along into the scrub.

Is that the deer in this photo? No.

As I lowered my viewfinder a black figure with two white horns entered my peripheral vision. I nearly jumped out of my skin! Standing perfectly still in a well-lit clearing was a striking spiker, standing bolt upright and looking straight at me. It almost looked unreal. Taxidermic. I calmly lifted my camera back up and quickly composed the shot before he followed after the hind. The spiker is the deer in this photograph. A special moment that embodies the definition of being in the right place at the right time.

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• Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag®, a premium white cotton paper with a soft textured feel. Boasting brilliant colours, deep blacks with an impressive, three-dimensional pictorial depth
• Print includes a 5mm border