January High Pressure (4) Squirrels at last

Finally on 16^th January I moved the camera to the opposite side of the feeding area i.e. looking roughly Southeast. The height of the tripod was increased as there were some plants between the camera and the seed area which needed to be excluded from all photos. The time was 1500 – close to the end of a winter’s day, when often the birds and animals came for one final feed before the cold night ahead.

The camera setting was:

f/5.6; ISO 400; 1/60^th second; focal length 45mm.

The lateness of the day meant that the ISO was increased, and the shutter speed decreased reflecting the diminishing amount of light available. 

Fortunately I obtained several interesting images of a grey squirrel. Whilst eating he remained perfectly still allowing focussed images in spite of the slower shutter speed.

Below are some of the images:

This was when he first arrived. It shows aspects of his movement, but is blurred because of the slow shutter speed.

This shows the squirrel eating. The image is in focus, has reasonable eye contact and with suitable cropping could become a good photograph.

A slightly different pose – it is good to see both eyes, again the focus is good; but it is a more intimidating, less friendly image.

Wow I didn’t know squirrels could be scary! Definitely not an image to use.

This I feel is the best image. Focus is good, eye contact is good, and the white underbelly is very apparent. Cropping will be needed to make this into a folio quality image.

Here is the landscape crop – below is the portrait crop:

Both of these images are underexposed and will need work in Photoshop, and it is personal choice as to which is preferable. In this instance I have chosen landscape. My reasons:

·         I find the background interesting, and feel all the leaves on the ground tell a story of when and where the squirrel is.

·         I wanted to show the feed on the ground.

·         The portrait image obviously shows the squirrel more close up, and is a good image. However I would like such an image to be brighter (with sunlight), perhaps with a bright summer coat for the squirrel, and with a certain ‘wow’ factor – perhaps what he is eating.

Either image could have been chosen – and on another day might have been. For the purposes of this folio – one of which is to provide memories of this garden – I felt this was most apt. Feeding the birds and animals throughout the winter months has always been a most rewarding aspect of this garden – and this represents just that. A portrait close up on the green lawn, in the summer would be an equally rewarding image.