Red Stag in Velvet

Intense seasonal ritual of New Zealand Red Stag (Cervus elaphus) shedding bloody, tattered velvet from emerging hard antlers, his raw, geared-up form hinting at impending roar battles amid grassy slopes, dappled light, and distant peaks – a captivating display of wildlife transformations in Aotearoa's wilds, captured through extended patient monitoring in transitional phases, quiet discreet positioning, and sensitive timing to document the undisturbed cycle.