<< Previous Next >>

Super Model


Super Model
Photo Information
Copyright: Deborah Kelleher (Debz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-05
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 52mm UV
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Tree Squirrels [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-07 4:30
Viewed: 669
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It was a very grey and overcast day and as I was walking home from the park when the sun came through the clouds. This female Squirrel appeared looking at me expectantly. I couldn't resist her and gave her a nut. She stayed right there whilst eating the it. She looked at me wide eyed again and I moved to an area where the light was better and gave her another nut. This continued for some time with me directing her to various areas of good light, she obliged every time and posed every which way for me. Excellent model, I forgot to take her contact details for future shoots however.

Grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Grey squirrels are an alien species and were introduced to the UK from the USA in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the detriment of our native red squirrels.

Life span
Up to 9 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: 23-30 cm, Tail length: 19-25cm, Weight (adult): 400-600g.

Physical Description
Grey squirrels are distinguished from red squirrels by their grey fur, smaller ear tufts and their larger, more robust build. Grey squirrels sit with their large bushy tail arched over the back.

Distribution
They are widespread throughout England and Wales, south of Cumbria, and are common in local pockets in Scotland. They are absent from the rest of mainland Europe, except for small localised populations in Italy.

Habitat
Common in deciduous and mixed woodland, they are also found in hedgerows, trees, parks and gardens.

Diet
Grey squirrels feed on acorns, tree shoots, flowers, nuts, fruits, roots and cereals. They bury surplus food 2-5cm below the soil or in tree hollows. They feed at ground level, more so than red squirrels, and together with their ability to digest acorns, (which reds can't), they have tended to displace red squirrels in areas of woodland where the two have come into contact.

Behaviour
Grey squirrels live in a compact, spherical nest (drey), 30-60cm in diameter, with an outer frame of twigs, and dry leaves and grass inside. They are diurnal, active from before sunrise to after sunset. The peak of activity is in the autumn. Their range covers 2-10 hectares.

Reproduction
Females produce a litter of usually three young in the spring or late summer (or occasionally both), after a gestation period of 42-45 days. The young are weaned after 10 weeks and are independent at 16 weeks.
blakitan, Jamesp, Kathleen, fartash, shaharbv, Jeroenmulder, pablominto, jaycee, Argus, hester, gypsygirl58, glazzaro, marmottelolo, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To peter_stoeckl: Super ModelDebz 1 09-15 02:32
To Heyshamite: Super ModelDebz 1 06-08 05:43
To GLEM: Super ModelDebz 1 06-07 08:35
To shaharbv: Super ModelDebz 1 06-07 06:07
To Kathleen: Super ModelDebz 1 06-07 05:17
To Jamesp: Super ModelDebz 1 06-07 04:58
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Deborah,
Very cute model, superbly captured.
Well focused, nice DoF, Sharp and neat.
Excellent shot.

BL

Hi Deborah

Great composition/POV. The detail is very good.

I may have tried a portrait view here - though am no expert.

James

Hi Deborah.
Excellent image. Exposure, detail, DOF, pin sharp, all spot on. Love the notes and a wonderful image and memory to go with it.
For a wild animal to give nature lovers the benefit of the doubt and not run instantly is always a special moment So cool.

Kathleen
New Zealand

Helo Deborah
Excellent shot of this Grey squirrel in
a difficult condition to shoot,
Perfect details , BG and composition,
Superb shot.

Regards
Fartash

Hi Deborah,

You sure did great for a overcast day. Fortunately the sun came out. I like the picture and the story. Great pose from this nutty lady. Well done.

Jan-Hendrik

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 13 N: 1453] (4981)
  • [2007-06-07 5:47]

Hi Debz

What a great capture of the Cute Squirrel, very nice composition and I think being central works well, the pose of the Squirrel eating its nut is just perfect, they really are the best posers in the Animal World, nice sharp details and wonderful colours too.

TFS Hilary :o)

Hello Deborah,

What a beauty. When I meet her, I might take her for diner in a nutbar.
Very nice sharp picture, thanks.

Jeroen

Hi Deborah,
Lovely photo. Good details and out of focus background. I think if you would have captured the whole Squirrel's body it would have been better. Perhaps a vertical picture orientation rather then horizontal.

Regards,
Shahar.

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 695] (5747)
  • [2007-06-07 7:52]
  • [+]

bonjour Deborah,
j'aime toujours autant ce genre d'image, leur petite frimousse fait toujours son effet. Belle netteté et image de 3/4.

gl

Hello Deborah,
A good portrait with great details!
They always seem to eat something, yours is no exception...
Very well exposed and details in fur and face are simply great!
Greetings,
Pablo -

hi deborah,
your model is really a super model, nice pose captured of this so cute squirrel, sharp image with good details, nice pov, good dof,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1987 W: 8 N: 5258] (17043)
  • [2007-06-07 10:43]

Hi Debz,

You were well rewarded for giving this cute squirrel a nut. She is adorable sitting there looking straight at you. Wonderful colors and details. I love the way she is holding the nut!

Jane

Hi Deborah,
...like he's holding dice and wanna play:-)
Good work!
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 165 N: 8400] (26072)
  • [2007-06-07 14:37]

Hello Debz,
A very appealing capture of a Grey Squirrel having a bite to eat. This is nice and sharp with appropriate blurred green BG.
The POV mekes the central composition quite pleasing here.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2224 W: 10 N: 6266] (23542)
  • [2007-06-07 17:05]

Hi Debz. IT looks as if he just sat there for you. very good colour and detail.sharp focus. ans a nice POV. very well done .Great notes as well. TFS
Nick..

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-07 22:48]

Hello Deborah

A wonderful shot of this grey squirrel.These squirrels are very common around here,and my father in-law had to trap and release a few from his house the other day.They can become a nuisance.But in urban areas here they become quite friendly and visit people at their doors for "hand outs".Your POV and DOF is very good on this shot,and the focus and details are wonderfully sharp.Very good eye contact with lovely catch light.Nicely done.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1030 W: 4 N: 2702] (12410)
  • [2007-06-08 5:09]

Deborah,
Wonderful and really superb and sharp picture. The PoV and DOF all perfect.
ganesh PT Tmw

Hi Deborah,
Nice Squirrel photo. Good focus, plenty of definition. My opinion would be to crop it to a square format, taking a little off its tummy and the green sides past the whiskers. I wouldn't mind betting that it is your reflection in the catchlights.
Well taken opportunity.
TFS,
Peter

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1517 W: 18 N: 3137] (11548)
  • [2007-06-08 13:25]

Hi Debz

What a stunning model and so well behaved - she can't be a supermodel or she would have been giving you atitude. Lovely framing, wonderful details and lovely lighting

TFS

Karan

Hi Deborah,
Gorgeous pose of this squirrel! Good sharpness and details and nice POV. So cute, well done and TFS
Cheers Tina :-)

Now this guy knows how to stock up, seems to have his hands full! Nice shot, good detail and exposure.

Greg

Hi Debz, splendid composition with lovely Squirrel in great pose, excellent sharpness, wonderful colors, very well done, have a nice week end, ciao Silvio

Striking image, good colours and pose from the squirrel, though personally I think that a portrait upright format would have looked a little better. Otherwise, very good.

bonjour deborah
ah!oui c'est vraiment un superbe model,beaucoup de details dans le plumage.j'aime la pose de l'ecureuil.
laurent

Hi Debz,
grateful model, perfect shooting.
A charmingly lively pose, precise details, beautiful subtle colours. Perfectly handled backlight conditions creating a very pleasant brightness and transparency. You have captured a scene of great atmospheric beauty.
With thanks, and best regards,
Peter

Hi Deborah,

very interesting "portrait". Excellent image quality and good moment capture.

TFS

Gio

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF