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Fox squirrel

© Peter W. Marks

Fox squirrel

Uploaded: July 01, 2009

Description

One of a pair that lives in our yard.
1/100sec; f8; iso800; 192mm

Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/125 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 1600, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 200.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 20D

Comments

Susan M. Reynolds level-addict July 01, 2009

Nice detail...how did you ever get him mid-flight. We have tons of squirrels on our property, but the dash here and there so fast, all I ever get is a blur.
I like the way he is at the top showing his intended way of escape down the tree trunk. The leaves in the lower left add a touch of color without overpowering the squirrel.
Nicely done!
~S~ #1148798

Peter W. Marks July 01, 2009

Susan, this one had been playing chase with his partner, round and round the tree then he spotted me at my desk with the window wide open and less than twenty feet away and froze. He stayed like that, clinging to the bark for long enough for me to get my camera out of the bag, fit the 70-200mm stabilised lens and make three shots. Of course he owes me at least that as the two of them have been dining off me all winter.
We only live a couple of miles outside town where there are only grey squirrels but we have these much prettier fox squirrels.
Blessings to you and yours. Pete #7699000

Thomas Ehlers July 04, 2009

Hey Peter, I like this shot, I should have come up with it, seeing there are so many of these guys around here, I had to quit trying to grow tomatoes becaused the squirrels would take one bite out of it and throw it on the ground. I got tired of feeding them and they did'nt appreciate it. Nice shot, keep up the good work and happy shooting! #7703324

Meghan Gonski July 04, 2009

Thomas I laughed out loud! :) I had a funny incounter with a squirrel today. It was around the garden that was recently planted for my dog and it was scurrying around the wheel barrow, finally it decided to jump into the bucket we had a few feet away. Then it jumped into a big brown plastic flower pot, haha it toppled over and he scurrying away! It freaked him out totally. :)
Peter I like this image. I have some squirrel shots also but not in this great pose. I will post them sometime. I like the pose and the texture of the bark. You have a pretty slow shutter speed for that action I noticed. #7704980

Peter W. Marks July 05, 2009

Hi Thomas and Geri. Thank you both very much.
The slow shutter was necessary as the light wasn't good and I wanted at least f8 to get a reasonable depth of field so that Squirrel Nutkin (can you tell I have had my share of reading stories to my kids!) was reasonably sharp from head to tail and you will notice I pushed up the ISO to 800 to help things along.
I think we all have squirrel stories as they are such engaging animals. My best(worst?) one that I come out with in company is how one of our dogs was killed by a squirrel! Looks of disbelief on all faces then I tell them how "Lady" a little and ancient terrier had a weak heart and one day a squirrel just like in my image came down the tree and chattered away at the dog. Lady made repeated jumps up the trunk but was always two feet short of success. After a few tries she would run around the tree and then think somehow she could jump higher. This performance went on for several minutes with us watching and laughing from the window, until suddenly half way through a jump she just folded up and dropped dead from a heart attack. And this is why I am always kind to squirrels- who knows what cunning ways they might have of killing a tormentor?

I am now in the UK and was panicing yesterday as I couldn't get into BP. Today, the email from them explained all.
Regards, Pete #7707262

Meghan Gonski July 05, 2009

Oh my gosh! THat is so sad! :(
Ah ha so that is why you had 100. I did see the balanced out of 800 ISO. and I liked your f stop choice Nice going.
Yeah I was confused when I couldn't get on for a day and a half too. I contacted them and then found out through email. #7708252

Michael Khoury July 17, 2009

Peter, your capture has fine composition, tone and great dynamics.
mk #7748029

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