01/04/2026
Red deer by Carol Dilger.
"Searching the rugged northern slopes of Quinag in Sutherland, Scotland, we spied a lone stag happily grazing on a nearby grassy knoll. A stealthy, downwind approach was duly undertaken and a clear, but concealed vantage point obtained. The stag was indeed a fine specimen with impressive antlers and we happily photographed him making the most of the short grasses around the summit of the knoll. Slowly, he nibbled his way towards a fence, about 4 feet high. Would he jump or would he retreat? Standing up to sniff the air and assess the quality of the aromas on the other side, he paused for a moment before nonchalantly leaping the fence with ease, proving the old saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side".
Judge's comment: "There is a lot to like about this image and it made an impression on me right away. It's memorable too, in the sense that after quickly browsing all the images entered into that category to obtain an overview, it was one that I really looked forward to seeing again and taking more time to fully appreciate.
It has some of the hallmarks of a silhouette, but it isn't. It's much better than that because we can see colour and detail throughout the scene, yet it still shows clean-cut outline of a stag negotiating the only man-made obstacle in the scene with ease. Timing is perfect, as is the exposure, and I love the tone-gradation effect of the hills in the background."