Wyoming ground squirrel - read on for more info...
So here I sit in a motel room in the lovely decadent town of Rawlins in Wyoming, just about at the halfway point of my road trip to Tennessee. The town sort of reminds me of my wife's hometown of Butte, Montana, basically a once-bustling small city that has now seen its better days. A friend that was born and raised in Rawlins, but now lives in the Portland area, described Rawlins as a place where the best view of the town is that seen in your rear view mirror.
Interestingly, the first motel we checked into was a real dive and we quickly checked out and got another room elsewhere in the town, this new room slightly better. Getting back to that first motel... the rooms were in total decay but the lobby had a wonderful display of landscape and bird photographs from Steve Bein, a photographer that I recognize from Naturescapes. Steve's photographs were gorgeous but they really deserved to be shown in a more upscale setting and where people that might buy them would be. Perhaps I am wrong, but I can't see how that first motel could attract the individuals that would appreciate and spend for the photos.
The trip to this point has been one I'd for the most part rather forget. We left Oregon with rain and its only gotten rainier and colder the whole way. In Ogden, Utah it hailed all night and was in the 30's. We passed through Evanston, Wyoming in a snow storm and still in the 30's. An indication of how bad the weather has been is the fact that my camera didn't come out of its case these first two days of the trip until we finally hit a rest stop near Green River, Wyoming where some clear skies finally enticed us out of the car for a pseudo-picnic (pseudo because it was so windy that we just stood at the rear hatch of the Forester and made our lunch to eat inside the car).
It was at this rest stop that I finally had an excuse to pull out the camera. One of the pictures of these little excuses is posted above. It was good to finally be shooting a bit. There were quite a few good landscape possibilities along the way but all dashed to the ground by the extremely poor weather.
Because we are rushing to get to Tennessee, my real image taking won't be until our trip back. I'll have 10-12 days and will hopefully hit lots of good places in South Dakota, northern Wyoming and various points in Montana.
Geoff,
I once stayed in a horel in Winamucca(spelling?) Nevada and I couldn't believe what bad shape it was in. I ended up sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag so I can relate to you.
I hope the weather gets better for you. The forcast does show an improving trend here in the west so I'm sure thats good news for your trip back. As for the image, thats sure a cute little fellow. I'm looking forward to seeing more images of your trip.
(1) I thought there was an axiom that the more you froze your a$$, the better the photo????
(2) What's the other squirrel behind & under the first one? Is it a nursing juvenile? Or what?
(3) Lovely sharpness, and this photo conveys just how well camouflaged the little creature is. No shadows---was it noon or just sunless? (Maybe it was one of those 30 degree days you mentioned....)
Hey Geoff,
I'd like to know why that squirrel is sitting on his buddy's head, too!
Where are you headed in Tenn? I used to live in Nashville.
Here's hoping you have clear skies and happy shooting along your trip.
Yikes...I'll bet you have some real goo dshots on your way home. I thought I stayed in some bad places...but that place you describes sounds scary. I too wonder how many photo sales Steve makes in that place.
This is a closeup of one of the same squirrels munching on some grass.
Erik - after we bailed from the first motel we got a Best Western room in the same town. It was also a bit of a dive but not as bad. Beggars can't be too choosy. However, have you ever tried to go potty on one of them thingies that they use on a toilet to make it about a foot higher? (Yes, we were in a handicapped access room even though we didn't need it).
Eric - I don't mind freezing to get a decent shot. But in our case, it was not only freezing but also just completely flat light because of low cloud cover, rain, and snow.
Andy - I am headed to Clarksville. My son is on two weeks leave from his duty in Baghdad and we are driving out to be with him, his wife, and our year old grandchild.
Rick - I too am really curious as to how many, if any, sales that Steve picks up at that location. I sent him some email so I'll see what he says.
Now for the squirrels... it was early afternoon which explains the lack of shadows and it was the first sun we'd really had on the drive out. That other squirrel you see on its back behind the erect one is the loser in a scrap between the two. I guess the poor thing on its back was being told in no uncertain manner who was boss!
Discussion
5 repliesSo here I sit in a motel room in the lovely decadent town of Rawlins in Wyoming, just about at the halfway point of my road trip to Tennessee. The town sort of reminds me of my wife's hometown of Butte, Montana, basically a once-bustling small city that has now seen its better days. A friend that was born and raised in Rawlins, but now lives in the Portland area, described Rawlins as a place where the best view of the town is that seen in your rear view mirror.
Interestingly, the first motel we checked into was a real dive and we quickly checked out and got another room elsewhere in the town, this new room slightly better. Getting back to that first motel... the rooms were in total decay but the lobby had a wonderful display of landscape and bird photographs from Steve Bein, a photographer that I recognize from Naturescapes. Steve's photographs were gorgeous but they really deserved to be shown in a more upscale setting and where people that might buy them would be. Perhaps I am wrong, but I can't see how that first motel could attract the individuals that would appreciate and spend for the photos.
The trip to this point has been one I'd for the most part rather forget. We left Oregon with rain and its only gotten rainier and colder the whole way. In Ogden, Utah it hailed all night and was in the 30's. We passed through Evanston, Wyoming in a snow storm and still in the 30's. An indication of how bad the weather has been is the fact that my camera didn't come out of its case these first two days of the trip until we finally hit a rest stop near Green River, Wyoming where some clear skies finally enticed us out of the car for a pseudo-picnic (pseudo because it was so windy that we just stood at the rear hatch of the Forester and made our lunch to eat inside the car).
It was at this rest stop that I finally had an excuse to pull out the camera. One of the pictures of these little excuses is posted above. It was good to finally be shooting a bit. There were quite a few good landscape possibilities along the way but all dashed to the ground by the extremely poor weather.
Because we are rushing to get to Tennessee, my real image taking won't be until our trip back. I'll have 10-12 days and will hopefully hit lots of good places in South Dakota, northern Wyoming and various points in Montana.
I once stayed in a horel in Winamucca(spelling?) Nevada and I couldn't believe what bad shape it was in. I ended up sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag so I can relate to you.
I hope the weather gets better for you. The forcast does show an improving trend here in the west so I'm sure thats good news for your trip back. As for the image, thats sure a cute little fellow. I'm looking forward to seeing more images of your trip.
(2) What's the other squirrel behind & under the first one? Is it a nursing juvenile? Or what?
(3) Lovely sharpness, and this photo conveys just how well camouflaged the little creature is. No shadows---was it noon or just sunless? (Maybe it was one of those 30 degree days you mentioned....)
I'd like to know why that squirrel is sitting on his buddy's head, too!
Where are you headed in Tenn? I used to live in Nashville.
Here's hoping you have clear skies and happy shooting along your trip.
Erik - after we bailed from the first motel we got a Best Western room in the same town. It was also a bit of a dive but not as bad. Beggars can't be too choosy. However, have you ever tried to go potty on one of them thingies that they use on a toilet to make it about a foot higher?
Eric - I don't mind freezing to get a decent shot. But in our case, it was not only freezing but also just completely flat light because of low cloud cover, rain, and snow.
Andy - I am headed to Clarksville. My son is on two weeks leave from his duty in Baghdad and we are driving out to be with him, his wife, and our year old grandchild.
Rick - I too am really curious as to how many, if any, sales that Steve picks up at that location. I sent him some email so I'll see what he says.
Now for the squirrels... it was early afternoon which explains the lack of shadows and it was the first sun we'd really had on the drive out. That other squirrel you see on its back behind the erect one is the loser in a scrap between the two. I guess the poor thing on its back was being told in no uncertain manner who was boss!