Newsletter #155 - The Deer
Hold still
At first, you were probably enchanted by them.
But they are terrified of you so your presence will scare them away.
That gives these deer (Odocoileus virinianus aka white-tailed deer) an elusive, almost otherworldly aura.
But if you stick around long enough, something shifts. They stop running. They grow used to you. Maybe they even get curious about you.
Or curious if you have food.
They are hungry. And they don’t want to be killed.
In a way, they are just like us.
But watching them, it almost feels like they’re trying to tell us something. Like their wariness, their quiet presence means more than just survival. Could they be signaling something deeper, something we’re not seeing yet?
In Leave the World Behind, the 2023 apocalyptic psychological thriller directed by Sam Esmell, deer take on a symbolic role.
They signal the encroachment of nature, the collapse of our familiar world. As the characters face a mysterious global crisis, the sudden appearance of deer in unnatural places becomes a warning—a sign that societal boundaries are dissolving and primal instincts are creeping back in. The deer are a subtle omen, hinting that the world is unraveling.
Is that what these deer I have been photographing are trying to say?
Is something bad about to happen?
Is doom on the horizon?
Is the planet about to revert back to a time before humans?
Probably not.
Like I said, they’re just hungry. It’s probably going to be okay…
Just try not to hit them with your car.
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Zach Vitale survived the early to late 90’s invasive white-tailed deer crisis on Long Island.
Dammit Noah, how do you take such awesome pictures? Do you have a bunch of stuffed deer models in your studio and you take them out into the world and very carefully light the scene? Or is this natural light? I know, I know, you probably don’t want to give away your secrets, but honestly I think you could tell me every step you take and I still couldn’t hope to replicate it because I don’t think I have the patience. I’m joking around a bit here, you probably know, but deep down I’m just so in awe of your artistry.
Awesome!!