I know I know...I've taken redundancy to soaring new heighths...
Most days I visit over coffee in the morning, go for a long walk in the park, and spend the rest of the day around the house. I live in a bedroom community with no historic buildings, no sky scrapers, no grafitti, no crocuses, no horses, hedgehogs, bunnies or badgers. The doves are gray, the crows are black, and they never hang upside down. *Outside of town*, in every direction are all the sights people come to California to see, so I'm not deprived if I'd get in the car for 20 minutes or more. But I seldom do.
So for the present I keep company with squirrels. Their charm is a highlight of my day. Call me "Squirrelly", but just call me.
You are so right, i did not know squirrels had such a variety in their diets, this could lead to new marketing opportunities in the squirrel grocery business. lol. Yours is a great photo.
I like your description of where you live and all the things you don't see. It's interesting how some people post photos of things they've never seen before (either they're traveling or they move a lot within a city that always seems to have something new) and others post photos that are of the things that are easy to ignore because they see them everyday.
I have always thought squirrels were underrated. I like that you really got down to his level.
Don't worry Louise, it will be a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time before I tire of squirrels! Through your pictures I am actually going to go hunting for them either around my neighbourhood or the park across work with some peanuts in hope they will then cooperate for a photoshoot! So thanks!!
Oh Louise, I LOVE the squirrel shots, so please keep them coming!
This one is precious!
I sure wish my buddy would come back, but so far, no luck!
I love the description of your day, and where you live.
And I think all of your pictures have been wonderful.
This project is supposed to document a year in the life, so I think squirrels and scrabble and coffee by the pool and purple shirts and lazy cats are telling YOUR story, brilliantly! :-)
But, I do share a bit of your feelings of redundancy, or of what am I going to shoot next? I'm home A LOT due to health issues, so I am getting a little bored with my 4 walls and postage sized back garden. SO, I decided to loosely do my own theme of my fav things, which as I look around, has given so much more subject matter than I originally figured. And, I DO want to try and take interesting pictures and learn as I go, but first and foremost, I want my pictures to document my day, so at the end of this wonderful project I can look back and really be able to remember and reflect on what I was doing/how I was feeling, every day.
So sometimes, I have to tell myself that it's not about the "shot" so much, as the remembrance.
It's a balance to be sure, don't you find?
But of course, that's one of the things that I find most interesting about Lauren's pictures, as she is so cleverly able to document her day, WHILE creating true art! Amazing!
Anyway, I seem to have written a novel here, so I will just say again that I LOVE your squirrel series, and look forward to them.
I think they will invoke wonderful memories for you, when your project is finished!
Oh! I've liked this all...but this one is my favorite! I can't believe the coloring and the detail on this picture. It is so good. I understand too about being able to get out and find pictures. Don't feel bad. It's YOUR project. You can do whatever you want. It also says exactly what you did that day and that's the most important thing...which is why I have a lot of school pictures! So, take more...share more...I love them.
Louise, I just loved your description of where you live. I feel the same way. Can't just look out the door and find much of anything interesting to photograph in a suburban townhouse development...as my bunny door mat photo of yesterday proves! LOL
But as for your squirrels...keep them coming. You have found something interesting to shoot and you are good at it. I made this one a favorite :-) How close are you when you take these shots? I'd be afraid the little guy/girl would jump at my face and latch on! Though, this ones seems to love the camera...or maybe she just senses that you are a friend. Animals know.
Louise, Thank you for all your lovely comments on my photos. It's funny you feel that way about where you live. Even though my town in PA is crawling with history, interesting architecture, etc I am jealous of you all in sunny California! I'd take your pool over historical any day!. Anyway the most interesting photos I've seen are the ones that are of very ordinary things that are elevated to art by the eye of the photographer.
Oh my gosh, this is too cute! I love the details! I love how he is gripping his peanut and he has a little piece of food on his chin - how embarrassing for him. :))) LOL. Keep the squirrel photos coming, I really enjoy them. PS. I just posted my squirrel photo and story for you. It's on my calendar for March 26.
snow ... you forgot to mention snow ... want some of mine?!!? I second Barb's (with the maple leaf) commentary, I love the glimpses you give us of your life! And, you are so active and positive about looking and commenting on the photos of others! Thank you!
Wow very nice squirrel portrait!
Louise, i'm curios, how far you from this cutie?
were you using a 300mm lens? since, i tried to shoot that little guy, but not so clear (using 250mm lens)...thks
To *ALL* of you... I struggled so hard about the decision to post another squirrel, but your notes (which greet me when I get up in the morning, in that I post before bedtime) have lifted my indecission because of your kind and thoughtful words...like a friendly back pat! **Thank You**, and you have no idea how much I mean that! Kerri shared her little squirrel picture with me http://365project.org/kerri26/365/2010-03-26 (and now with you, too!) and Sue Stevenson, last night, sent me a message about a squirrel photo being chosen amongst the winners in a Chicago magazine, Red Eye. The Sherman Boys and their squirrel "rode home with me", too. You've been a delightfully supportive group!
I don't want to forget the lens information for Karen & Wahyusp. I use a 55-200 Nikon lens, close up, and then I position myself at the closest range. They take the peanuts from Ken's hand and sit practically at our feet or climb a low limb. It hasn't been hard to get good pictures of them as they're so accomodating.
If you'll appease me about 6 weeks longer, I hope to shake up my focus a bit when we head to Chicago, to visit our girls, and then Lunenburg, Nova Scotia for the summer. You'll probably get a series of boats and doorways, but I also know where they dress up the oxen, so please, stick around and come along!
You guys...**You make my day**!!! Look at this from Wahyusp http://365project.org/wahyusp/365/2010-03-29 ! I'm so incredibly moved by what you've done, as I think you're the most amazing photographer! (If you somehow have missed Wahyusp's photos, follow his work...it's outstanding!) So here is our American cousin in Jakarta for all of you to see...*Thanks So Much*!!!
Love your squirrels, love your cats - just can´t get enough! So I agree with everyone else here - keep them coming! I have only one little question for you & it´s not about the animals - what´s a bedroom community?
Louise...You Rock! This little squirrel looks as if he could talk to us. Thanks for posting my link and feel free anytime to do so. I enjoy following you everyday and look forward to your travels.
@Marie-Louise...A "Bedroom community" refers to a town without any sort of central shopping district or areas of interest. We're four-square miles of neighborhoods with a "Mile Square Park" in the center.
Definitely not redundant - I love all your pictures - the squirrels especially - they look so much friendlier and plumper than English squirrels which are a bit flighty and grey. But here is a little piece of squirrel trivia; there is a sub-species of Cambridge black squirrel - I will make a point of hunting one down and taking its picture (could take a while as the dogs scare them away - I may need to invest in one of those super-long paparazzi telephoto lenses! ) http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Black-is-the-new-grey-for-squirrels.htm
Oh Louise. I just LOVE your squirrel pictures. And it's obvious you are well loved. You are always so generous with your time and your comments. And your photos are simply beautiful. I really love your description on this one.
I still say you are brave. I checked out Kerri26's link to her squirrel photo ...where she says the squirrel jumped onto her and hung on...I know she didn't get hurt but that sure would have freaked me out! LOL
It's late in the day and you might not see this, but it's fitting to add Cindy List's photo from today, too http://365project.org/cglist/365 SOOOooo adorable!
Love how close you get to these little guys! So clear and crisp right where you want it to be. Never get tired of seeing your squirrel pics!! I also love you how you are showing off other's squirrelly days as well. If I get the chance, I'll try for one too, just for you. :)
This is SO cute. I love it. And your neighborhood sounds exactly like mine. But I don't see squirrels and don't have a park. Maybe that's good if the squirrels jump on top of people, though. Ha!
Thanks for posting a link to my homage to the mighty squirrel...They are quite beautiful creatures, very delicate. So many people enjoy photographs of horses, dogs, cats...I think there is a niche for squirrel photography!
“If we had a keen vision of all that is ordinary in human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow or the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which is the other side of silence”. George Eliot (just sayin') ;-)
Phew took me ages to scroll down to write something. love the squirrel pics, keep on with them they are part of your life just like my many sky shots from the same spot are part of mine.
Ps I am following two squirrels that have taken up residence in my neighbour's chimney and steal the birds peanuts - see my Jan shot http://365project.org/cindy/365/2010-01-31
I love your squirrel photos! I saw a squirrel today and thought of you as I reached for my camera...didn't get a good shot though. Maybe I'll start carrying squirrel snacks with me...In the mean time, please keep 'em coming! :)
I have always thought squirrels were underrated. I like that you really got down to his level.
This one is precious!
I sure wish my buddy would come back, but so far, no luck!
I love the description of your day, and where you live.
And I think all of your pictures have been wonderful.
This project is supposed to document a year in the life, so I think squirrels and scrabble and coffee by the pool and purple shirts and lazy cats are telling YOUR story, brilliantly! :-)
But, I do share a bit of your feelings of redundancy, or of what am I going to shoot next? I'm home A LOT due to health issues, so I am getting a little bored with my 4 walls and postage sized back garden. SO, I decided to loosely do my own theme of my fav things, which as I look around, has given so much more subject matter than I originally figured. And, I DO want to try and take interesting pictures and learn as I go, but first and foremost, I want my pictures to document my day, so at the end of this wonderful project I can look back and really be able to remember and reflect on what I was doing/how I was feeling, every day.
So sometimes, I have to tell myself that it's not about the "shot" so much, as the remembrance.
It's a balance to be sure, don't you find?
But of course, that's one of the things that I find most interesting about Lauren's pictures, as she is so cleverly able to document her day, WHILE creating true art! Amazing!
Anyway, I seem to have written a novel here, so I will just say again that I LOVE your squirrel series, and look forward to them.
I think they will invoke wonderful memories for you, when your project is finished!
But as for your squirrels...keep them coming. You have found something interesting to shoot and you are good at it. I made this one a favorite :-) How close are you when you take these shots? I'd be afraid the little guy/girl would jump at my face and latch on! Though, this ones seems to love the camera...or maybe she just senses that you are a friend. Animals know.
Louise, i'm curios, how far you from this cutie?
were you using a 300mm lens? since, i tried to shoot that little guy, but not so clear (using 250mm lens)...thks
I don't want to forget the lens information for Karen & Wahyusp. I use a 55-200 Nikon lens, close up, and then I position myself at the closest range. They take the peanuts from Ken's hand and sit practically at our feet or climb a low limb. It hasn't been hard to get good pictures of them as they're so accomodating.
If you'll appease me about 6 weeks longer, I hope to shake up my focus a bit when we head to Chicago, to visit our girls, and then Lunenburg, Nova Scotia for the summer. You'll probably get a series of boats and doorways, but I also know where they dress up the oxen, so please, stick around and come along!