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American Beaver


American Beaver
Photo Information
Copyright: Lesley Mattuchio (Lesley) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 13 N: 913] (2988)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-10
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon EF100-400 IS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-04-12 17:07
Viewed: 6496
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The American Beaver is our largest rodent. Although it has the" rodent" name associated with it, the beaver will weigh up to 50 pounds and can be 43" high. It is also a brilliant engineer. It will take sticks and mud and construct a damn to create a pond to live on. It will then make an elaborate lodge for it's home with underwater entrances, dry insides with wood chips on the floor and holes in the top for fresh air ventilation.

The young are born fully furred, eye open and they are ready to hit the water for a swim within an hour after their birth. Beavers eat the tender inner bark of willows, aspens, and other trees.

There are glands at the base of their tails that produce oil that get distributed through out their fur to aid in shedding the water. They have a clear membrane over their eyes and valves that will close their ears and nostrils off so the beaver can stay underwater up to 15 minutes before comming up for air. The large flat bald tail is used to help balance them so they are able to walk upright when needed. The tail is also used as an alarm when slapped loudly on the water surface.

I encountered this handsome guy early Sunday morning. He swam from across the pond heading back to his lodge near where I was standing. He saw me crouch down and start taking photos and came right towards me, made a pass close to the boardwalk I was on , turned came back in front of me and then lifted his large tail out of the water, slapped it hard on the surface and made a loud dive under the water to enter his lodge. Clearly he was not pleased to see me!
sAner, PDP, marhowie, jthibodeau, Runnerduck, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-04-12 17:25]

Nice effect of the water on his fur. Like the reflection and exposure. Well done.
Toni

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-04-12 17:27]

Nice shot of the "Castor Canadensis" Well done on the composition.
www.bear-tracker.com/beaver.html

The Canadian Beaver. :) :)

Mike

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-04-12 18:31]

This is gorgeous Lesley. I love the reflections and the water looks to be highly viscous. Lovley image.

Superb shot Leslie, you couldn't have gotten it any sharper. I really like the color of the water in contrast to the beaver, it seems to match perfectly.

Very well done

Jack

This is a great photo Lesley, the water is such a nice copper colour and the detail on the beaver is fantastic. Great note too, thank you for all the information!

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 382 W: 27 N: 5] (40)
  • [2005-04-13 4:13]

Magnificent shot Lesley. The beaver is very good focussed and the golden reflection on the water are wonderful. Great composition too.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-04-13 6:11]

Hello Lesley! I love the color of the water. The pose of this Beaver (I always think of something else when I write that down ... ) is great. Very good details, POV & DOF. Overall this is a very nice action-shot. Informative note aswell. TFS!

He looks like he has found the pot of gold and it swimming in it. A super shot Lesley. The reflection is amazing. Crisp clear shot of a lovely subject.

Hi Lesley, Very nice! Really like way you've composed this shot. The gentle wake surrounding the beaver and the perfect reflection with the gold tones of the water make it magical! Very well done.

Nice shot Lesley, I really like the water reflection.
Well done.
TFS.

An eager Beaver if ever I saw one! A superb shot, the reflection is incredible. The water looks like syrup! Amazing. Great note too. Thank you for posting.

Amazing capture, Lesley. We don't have them here and the otters we do have are not co-operating at all. :) Lovely capture and composition. The effect of the water is really impressive. Very well done.

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