Chilly morning? Incredible photo snaps stag’s warm breath as temperatures cooled down in London
Photographer Cristi Vasile captured a stag’s breath glowing in the early morning light as it bellowed in Bushy Park, south-west London. The image shows the arrival of cooler autumn weather and highlights how low sunlight can make an animal’s warm breath visible in cold air.
Vasile arrived before sunrise, when it was still dark, and used the stags’ calls to locate them. She worked out where the sun would rise and positioned herself in advance; the striking moment lasted only seconds. She said the backlight made the breath stand out against the morning air.
- A stag’s breath glowed in the sunrise at Bushy Park.
- Photographer Cristi Vasile arrived before dawn to capture the moment.
- Cold air and backlighting made the breath visible.
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Bushy Park in south-west London is home to wild deer, including stags—male deer that are particularly visible in autumn during the breeding season when they gather and bellow. A recent photograph has captured an unusual image of a stag's warm breath glowing in early morning light, a phenomenon made visible by cold temperatures and bright sunlight. The image was taken by photographer Cristi Vasile.
When air temperature drops sufficiently, warm breath from animals becomes visible because the moisture condenses, similar to breath fogging a window on a cold day. This effect becomes increasingly apparent during autumn and winter as temperatures fall. The condensed breath is particularly visible when illuminated by bright, low morning sunlight.
Vasile captured the image by arriving before sunrise and using the stags' calls to locate them, then positioning herself in advance of where the sun would rise. This careful timing and positioning allowed the morning light to backlight the breath dramatically. The striking moment lasted only seconds, requiring considerable planning to capture.