Squirrel
Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel
Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel
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Apr, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
My friend and neighbor is an amazing photographer. We were actually in his backyard doing a mock photo shoot so I could get some experience using lighting and reflectors. I was using my husband as a model so I wasn't there to shoot wildlife, but I was entertained by a couple of these really cute round tailed ground squirrels who were exploring the yard and feasting on the bird seed that fell from the feeder. I couldn't resist taking pictures of them.Time
This photo was taken at 2:19 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2014. This would usually be a time of day when I might avoid shooting, but the weather was perfect, and I wanted to challenge myself using shadows and light. Luckily the pile of seed this squirrel was after was under a very large tree giving me a lot of shade to work with.Lighting
I wanted the squirrel to stand out in the photo so I exposed on him using a single focus point and didn't worry too much about the bright light in the background. I made sure I was in the same shade as the squirrel so I wasn't trying to shoot into the shadows from the brighter part of the yard. He moved around very quickly so I used an ISO of 400 so I could keep my shutter speed quick enough to freeze the action.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon T2i using the 55/250 lens that came with it. No other equipment was used.Inspiration
There was actually a pair of these ground squirrels and they really stole the show. It was entertaining to watch them have a little feast and not be concerned at all about the humans in the yard. I wanted to get a close up shot so I could share a photo that would capture their cuteness but also show the detail in their fur and tiny little fingers and nails.Editing
I shot this in raw. I brought the overall exposure down a little bit and darkened the highlights in the background. I bumped up the contrast and the saturation and sharpened the final image.In my camera bag
I'm just starting out so I have my Canon T21 and the two lenses that came with it, which are an 18-55 and 55-250. The only other things in my bag are a polarizer, a remote shutter release, and a headlamp (and of course extra batteries and cards).Feedback
Be open to the unexpected and have fun with your photography! I wasn't looking for this shot and easily could have continued with the photo shoot instead, but this was a fun distraction. Get down low! I was laying flat out on my belly for a long while in order to get this shot. For wildlife, I like to focus right on the eye of the animal and try different settings until I get the shot I'm after. Bump up the ISO so you can freeze the action. It's better to have a little noise then to end up missing the shot because it's too blurry. If it catches your eye, take a photo of it. Sometimes my best shots are the ones I didn't plan on taking.
