Thanks so much for your wonderful, fun, and interesting comments about Vickey's and my Big Field adventure. In the light of day today, it's more fun that frustrating and we're both enjoying the fact that we have a good story that involved so many different island folks. And thanks for your fav's that put the daisy shot on PP -- a rare event so I'm most appreciative!
This shot was from tonight -- Vickey called to say there was a snapping turtle looking to lay her eggs in their driveway (she is associated with the Central Michigan University Biological Station so knows much more about the natural goings-on here than I do). So right after dinner, I hopped into the car with my camera and went over to take some photographs. Her husband and dog came back from their walk and the dog showed a lot of interest AND a lot of respect -- never once went near the front/face of the turtle.
Great capture! I love the expression on both the dog and the turtle's faces....Is it a good idea for turtles to lay eggs in a driveway? Don't they need to bury and hide them?!
OK, so... you have a lot of viewers and frequently I don't comment, but this is really a fun shot. That dog's expression makes him look like a Border Collie, working a sheep. Lovely blues and textures on this turtle. Excellent.
@rosiekerr Rosie, thanks for commenting! I do appreciate it -- and have always meant to tell you I like your square photo that shows up next to your name. So colorful!
@panthora Last year Vickey and her husband built a little fencing area around the eggs to protect them. I don't know if any little ones survived. It didn't seem like the wisest turtle...it was lying in the main road when Vickey spotted it and got some of the CMU staff to help move it off road. It walked around her house for quite awhile (she has photos of it moving) and then settled on this spot and didn't move once while I was there. Fascinating...no clue what it was responding to in the area.
@golftragic Vickey said he'd never been hurt by one, but he seemed to instinctively know this was a dangerous creature. It was funny watching him walk back and forth behind the turtle, always about a foot away.
@taffy Dogs are just wonderful in sensing stuff - good and bad. No wonder we love 'em to bits. We don't have snapping turtles here in Oz, thank goodness.
What a great capture. Love the dof with the dog staying behind at a respectful distance. I haven't seen one of these snapping turtles before but I don't like the way he is looking at you Taffy!!
I have had a good look through your albums at those images that I haven't already seen in my feed and have also had a read through your 'details'. My get pushed to you is a combination of techniques seeing as you are already well versed in each technique individually. Okay so here goes .... I would like to see a 'low key, long exposure image in B&W'. Sound okay ?
@sewsharyn So excited!! I've needed inspiration! As soon as I read this I quickly put my camera on my tripod and ran down to the beach. I've spent the last 20 minutes doing long exposures of the sun setting. I'm going to start on this tonight and by week's end, hope to have something worth posting!
@friend2303 Good timing that their walk ended, but this was one of about 10 shots I took of him walking back and forth and looking at the turtle. He was really funny, and two of the shots showed this very wary expression and his leaning in. The others were 'flatter' in style. I couldn't believe he didn't go anywhere near the turtle's face -- good instincts!
Love it, what a great capture, Taffy. Dogs and animals in general are so instinctive by nature. Some heave to find out the hard way while others just know. FAV
Taffy, I'm late to this party, but this is a fabulous moment that you captured. The noble turtle and skeptical dog. Great expressions (for both), a fav!
@darsphotos@eyesmile Thanks Darlene and Gena, for fav'ing this! It was such a stroke of luck that they happened back from their walk, as I was about to head home because of all the mozzies.
Love the turtle
Fav