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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Two: On Safari -- expressing the essence of nature > Angry squirrel, Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California, 2008
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14-MAY-2008

Angry squirrel, Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California, 2008

Photographing squirrels can be very difficult. They make small targets, moving very fast and unpredictably. This squirrel was angry at something and was running around the grounds of Yosemite’s elegant Ahwahnee Hotel making a loud chirping sound. The mid day sun was intense and the shadows were harsh. I waited until as much of the squirrel was in shadow as possible, and then lowered my camera down to its level. It paused its violent chirping for a moment to take my measure. Using spot metering and nearly the full length of my 420mm telephoto lens, I caught it with its teeth bared and front paws ready to strike.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/200s f/4.5 at 49.4mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis02-Aug-2008 00:45
Thanks, Alina, for adding this comment. I thought it would be very useful to compare our two approaches to similar subject matter. Your squirrel, athttp://www.pbase.com/image/101038748, is looking for a treat, while mine is, as you say, quite miserable. You are very kind to want to offer this suffering rodent a cracker, but feeding the animals in US National Parks is not allowed. I don't how that paw was injured -- I did not even notice it when I was there, but once Karen Moen commented on it here, it became very evident.
Alina01-Aug-2008 21:15
You are right; we shoot two squirrels with an entirely different story. Mine was doing well and curiously watching me if I brought something yummy. Your squirrel with all the injuries looks miserable. I would definitely give her a cracker to cheer her up. Squirrels don’t have a lot of natural enemies so probably she fell from the tree, poor thing. Thank you Phil for your kind comment :)

Alina
Phil Douglis29-May-2008 17:54
And I didn't know this squirrel was injured until Karen Moen noticed the swollen right paw and left a comment below. And now the world sees this image as one of an injured squirrel. The image now says something quite different from what I had originally intended. This picture offers a lesson in the importance of photographic context re photographic meaning. Thanks, Carole, for adding your own perspective. You were shooting this squirrel right along with me there at the Ahwahnee.
Carole Scurlock29-May-2008 00:11
I suspected he was in pain, but never noticed the injured forearm until you gave us this intimate portrait.
Phil Douglis27-May-2008 22:50
He was not smiling that day, Carole -- he was quite miffed. And thanks for the spelling tip. I should hire you as my proofreader. Thanks.

Phil Douglis26-May-2008 23:47
You are very observant, Karen. I did not notice the swelling before. Perhaps it has been injured, and that might well be affecting his behavior. Thanks for throwing this thought out there. It brings an entirely new meaning to the picture.
Karen Moen26-May-2008 23:31
I think this squirrel has a swollen right "hand" with the fingers appearing quite a bit larger than the left "hand." Perhaps that dark spot on the right forearm is a wound of some type. That could explain its unusual appearance and behavior.
Phil Douglis26-May-2008 20:29
Glad to have you back, Kerry -- you are right about its attitude. I don't know the gender but it was quite agitated, and shows no mercy here.
Kerry Tingley26-May-2008 20:03
He does look like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Unusual capture.
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