But me, I noticed the individual snowflakes on the back of his head!
I hadn't planned on such a closeup but I couldn't back up in the snow and more and I had my long lens on (well, it's more or less permanently attached to my camera since the pandemic started).
Junko this is soooo beautiful! Perfect eyes and little mouth and those snowflakes...super Fav. Tell me, are your pic tures so beautiful because of the lens or because of the postprocessing? Of course in addition to your photographic know-how and lovely subjects
Thank you all for your kind comments. Who knew I would become a squirrel photographer during the pandemic? Seems that's the only photography I have done this month. No, probably the only I have done in months! I can't remember the last time I took a photo of anything else. Maybe it's like @koalagardens where if you shoot only one subject long enough you eventually get better at it and get some amazing shots. Only she has koalas. I don't think squirrels can compete with the appeal of koalas.
@caterina -- I was amazed that I got those snowflakes on the tips of the hair on the back of his head. Completely by accident. I had challenged @bpfoto to take photos of snowflakes because of his extremely meticulous macro work but then said I had no time to practice such things because I had to shovel snow. And then, voila! snowflakes! Not quite as clear and focused as I would want for a snowflake photo but not bad for an accidental inclusion. And of course, it's entirely due to my photographic know-how (not!). In all seriousness, it's definitely a combination of the factors you ask about. On my last birthday with Bill, he had bought me two new lenses -- the 100-400 and the 50mm/1.2. The 50mm you have seen because I always have it with me when I travel. I hadn't used the 100-400 much at all because it's big and heavy. But during the now-nearly-11-month-stay-at-home time, this lens has stayed almost exclusively on my camera. I have gotten to know the lens well, and I have worked on figuring out "squirrel settings"vs "bird settings" and practiced post processing. Since I only photograph one subject most of the time, it's repeated practice. I can't wait for you to visit so we can photograph squirrels in the backyard together. (I started to say you are welcome to use mine when you are here but you'd have to bring your old camera since your new one isn't a Canon.) Although once this pandemic is over, we will also go all over Chicago, and not just stay in my backyard!
Thank you all for your kind comments. Who knew I would become a squirrel photographer during the pandemic? Seems that's the only photography I have done this month. No, probably the only I have done in months! I can't remember the last time I took a photo of anything else. Maybe it's like @koalagardens where if you shoot only one subject long enough you eventually get better at it and get some amazing shots. Only she has koalas. I don't think squirrels can compete with the appeal of koalas.
@caterina -- I was amazed that I got those snowflakes on the tips of the hair on the back of his head. Completely by accident. I had challenged @bpfoto to take photos of snowflakes because of his extremely meticulous macro work but then said I had no time to practice such things because I had to shovel snow. And then, voila! snowflakes! Not quite as clear and focused as I would want for a snowflake photo but not bad for an accidental inclusion. And of course, it's entirely due to my photographic know-how (not!). In all seriousness, it's definitely a combination of the factors you ask about. On my last birthday with Bill, he had bought me two new lenses -- the 100-400 and the 50mm/1.2. The 50mm you have seen because I always have it with me when I travel. I hadn't used the 100-400 much at all because it's big and heavy. But during the now-nearly-11-month-stay-at-home time, this lens has stayed almost exclusively on my camera. I have gotten to know the lens well, and I have worked on figuring out "squirrel settings"vs "bird settings" and practiced post processing. Since I only photograph one subject most of the time, it's repeated practice. I can't wait for you to visit so we can photograph squirrels in the backyard together. (I started to say you are welcome to use mine when you are here but you'd have to bring your old camera since your new one isn't a Canon.) Although once this pandemic is over, we will also go all over Chicago, and not just stay in my backyard!
Only rain in the forecast.
Don't underestimate the appeal of your squirrels, though - they are amazing!