Squirrel Hunt Photo

Photographer’s Note

I was in a graveyard in Helsinki feeding squirrels and birds. I saw a patch of wild mushrooms, dropped some nuts into them and then lay down and took some snaps when this little guy came over to fossick. My camera is only a compact, but it takes great shots, particularly close-ups.

Later I was sitting on a bench feeding a couple of other squirrels when two of them attacked me. One bit the back of my head (presumably to sidetrack me ;) and the other bit my finger where I was holding the nuts. I ended up running out of the graveyard clutching a bloody finger, with thoughts of alfred hitchcocks "the birds" swirling around in my head. Genuinely scary.

Heres some info about the squirrels:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Finland/Etelae_Suomi/Helsinki-242105/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Helsinki-MISC-BR-1.html

faganrodney, Doron_L, MLINES, JonteW, Henryk_Bilor, leiju has marked this note useful

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kasienka (491) 2006-12-08 11:06

Oh... how lovely!!! Beautiful picture!
I'm delighted!!!

Regards
Kasia

faganrodney (496) 2006-12-08 11:28

Great shot, I like how you placed the nuts in the mushrooms to get this. The earth tones of the squirrel and mushroom work well together. The note was great and entertaining. TFS Rodney

Dianchen (189) 2006-12-08 11:29 [Comment]

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nurka3 (242) 2006-12-08 11:40

beautiful photo, i like the scene, but i will sharp the squrell not maschrums:)

Doron_L (411) 2006-12-08 11:44

A very good shot.
A good photo is usually a result of a good photographer more than it is a result of a good camera. A compact camera is good enough, just spot the opportunity and make the most of it.

Andrzej_HHH (2558) 2006-12-08 13:20

Hello! Great, very close picture of squirrel during meal. Very good, dynamic picture. Best regards! Andrzej ps. I have a hope that`s not a hallucinogen mushrooms :)

eversmile (6455) 2006-12-08 14:20

An unexpected shot, with an original subject, right in time! Good composition. I love the detail of his little tong, and the blurred movement of the leg, which attests that it is an alive squirrel. Thanks for this pastoral picture, a beautiful and moving illustration of the autumn's pleasures (mmm... mushrooms!)
Cheer, Marine

Jorgos-74 (106) 2006-12-08 15:38

Nice picture...

How on earth did you manage to come so close to that squirrel ?!? ;-)

Lix (0) 2006-12-08 17:50

Hi Van!
Great!! Congratulations, this photo is very funny!!
Well done!!!

Bye
Alessandro

MLINES (10998) 2006-12-10 21:27

Hi Van, Very god close-up. The story you wrote about it makes it special. Good work. Murray.

JonteW (182) 2006-12-11 7:52

Good closeup! But the squirrel was a littel too fast, giving some blurr.

And yes, the squirrels can be quite demanding when they want to be fed...

Henryk_Bilor (20371) 2006-12-19 17:06

Hello Van
Great composition. I like very much the animal with the mushrooms. Nice colours. A bit pity that the sharpness isn`t on the squirrel`s face ;).
Regards

oellepi (165) 2007-01-02 3:18

Fantastico....una delle foto più divertenti di trekearth, peccato per la sfocatura.

BRAVO BRAVO

leiju (1683) 2007-01-05 13:09

Squirrel tongue! Aah! That's a first! I've never seen the tongue of a squirrel before! Brilliant! Considering that it is one of my favourite animals (except for the fact that my family has spent my whole childhood teaching me that they carry all kinds of diseases) I must say that this is a simply magnificent capture! Too bad it is just that hint blurred due to the animal's excessive speed ;D
I Love the position You have captured it in and the colours, sharpness and the whole... What an excellent shot! (... you managed to put in one two of my favourite things: squirrels and mushrooms... not that I eat either of them ;D)
All the best and thanks for sharing this brilliant catch!
Julia