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Mex Ground Squirrel 2
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Mex Ground Squirrel 2

by Kurt Bowman

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 14, 2012608 views20 comments
Here is another shot of a different squirrel...this one managed a nice snack.

1D MIV
500 mm f/4
1/1000 at f/5
ISO 800

Comments

20 comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on June 14, 2012 at 8:11 AM
This is pretty neat! I like your POV! Good catch with the gs eating a bug. Thanks for sharing. Do you have a shot which shows more of the back of these gs? Just curious.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on June 14, 2012 at 8:44 AM
I like this a lot, Kurt. I didn't know ground squirrels ate bugs! All our squirrels are herbivores - at least that's what I think. :confused: Is it just my eyes, or does the image a wee bit of CCW rotation?
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on June 14, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Thanks for the comments! Hi Ajit, it is possible, I think I am seeing level all the time and sometimes am not. FYI - The shoreline was not level on this though and that might be making it look off set. I used the flat part of his back foot to rotate.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 14, 2012 at 9:22 AM
What a great low angle that isolates this capture. In a perfect world I would like the reflection too. Bravo :wavey:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 14, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Stellar all the way around
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on June 14, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Nice low POV choice for DOF. The insect definately ads interest; I didn't know that ground squirrels would eat insects! Nice image!
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 14, 2012 at 11:56 PM
Beautifully sharp and detailed. I like the snack and pose too. Very cool looking squirrel I haven't seen photographed before.
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on June 15, 2012 at 5:12 AM
Fantastic image, Kurt! It is just beautiful in light and DOF and it is interesting to see the squirrel with a prey! :toast: :toast:
Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Graham on June 15, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Great image. I like the pose and the snack. The soft background really emphasizes the squirrel. I like the water at the bottom.
Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on June 16, 2012 at 1:17 AM
The snack is a nice touch, especially since it adds a little color to what's otherwise a monochromatic image (not a bad thing, mind you). I can see the point about the rotation, which crossed my mind as well thanks to the water line, but you obviously know the most accurate representation of the scene.

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on June 17, 2012 at 8:35 AM
Hey Kurt,

Sweet shot - I'm wondering if this little beast is focusing more on animal protein to help fulfill the energetic needs of its offspring (that she's clearly nursing...). This pose makes me think this squirrel is about to make a rapid departure, stage left!

The issue of level or not level here is interesting. I think most viewers of an image (not just on NPN, but in general) always assume shorelines should be level - but this is obviously not the case when the shoreline does not run parallel to the focal plane of an image (i.e., the shoreline is receding away or angled toward the camera). One of those "should you adjust for perception or reality?" issues...

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on June 17, 2012 at 5:07 PM
love the low angle here Kurt
it's pretty sharp too
maybe try and recover more detail and add some punch by toning down highlights and adding some midtone contrast? :wink:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 20, 2012 at 5:27 PM
Congratulations! Well deserved. :toast:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 20, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Wow, cool photo. Congratulations Kurt! :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on June 20, 2012 at 6:44 PM
Kurt, I like the low perspective and the seemingly about-to-leap pose. Congrats on the WP!
Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 20, 2012 at 7:56 PM
I also didn't know GS ate bugs - really nice catch - fine detail, great eye, and the prey is excellent -
Congrats on the WP!
(This one looks much healthier than the thin sick one that was barfing)
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 20, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Ha! cute and horrifying at the same time! Congrats, Kurt! :smile:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Danny Laredo on June 21, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Love the low angle.
Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 8, 2012 at 2:56 AM
Excellent!!
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 14, 2013 at 12:58 PM
Congrats on this fine image Kurt, very nice!
I've spent a lot of time watching the Texas fox squirrel, never saw em' eating bugs before though..
Must be a Mexican thing :wink:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments