Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction

Bordering Grand Junction, Colorado to the west is the Colorado National Monument.  This year, it celebrates its 100th anniversary.  The canyons, mesas, and outcrops are most photogenic early in the morning, when the rising sun lights up their east-facing features.  This area is high desert, and the cactus blooms in late May bring lots of color to the landscape.

The buck returns.... in better light

Deer are so prevalent in the U.S. that many people who don't live in urban areas can see them frequently.  Still, like most wildlife, there's an attraction to spotting them.

There are three bucks that have been visiting my neighborhood lately.  Often they come after sunset, and photographing them is difficult.  This one was grazing in front of my house yesterday evening about 6:30, and thus was easy to capture - if I didn't spook him.

The Yule Creek valley and Mt. Justice

A pair of bucks were grazing in front of my house this evening

I happened to be walking through the living room when I saw two bucks in front of the house.  Knowing how easily they spook, I ran quickly and quietly to the garage and grabbed my camera from the car.  I turned up the ISO to 640 because the light was fading, and took a few photos from inside the house.  Then, ever so slowly and quietly, I opened the front door and crept out on to the deck.  They didn't notice me, and I was able to walk a few steps out to get a better view.  From then on, they would occasionally look up, and I had to remain motionless until they were convinced I wasn't there (or wasn't a threat).