Mission 24

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

I'm back from DC. Unfortunately I didn't see any squirrels while there. But there are still plenty around campus.

I startled this one on my way back to my dorm. I like how the background is made of green grass and gray concrete.

I also like how the squirrels are getting fat for winter. They aren't as cute when they're scrawny.

Mission 23

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Just had the regular little lens today, so I couldn't get any super close shots. Still, I like this one well enough. It's a little dark, but you can still see the squirrel.

I like how the squirrel is twisting around to look at me. He's probably making sure I'm not climbing up the tree after him.

Mission 22

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Today's mission began around 4:20 p.m. I found this squirrel a few minutes after leaving my room.

He was busy eating, so I was able to get quite close (and even closer with the help of my 75-300mm lens).

I have a couple shots like this, but zoomed out so the squirrel's entire body and tail are in the shot. I chose this one because I like the focus on his body without the tail. The tail is such a recognizable part of a squirrel and I like how this guy's tail is going out of the frame, instead of being at the center.

Mission 21

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Today's mission started late. I didn't get around to my squirrel hunt until about 6:45 p.m. I had to photograph a meeting at 7, so this photo was rushed. It shows.

I do like how the squirrel's head and tail are in similar positions, though.

Mission 20

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Mission 20 began around 1:30 this afternoon. As I was walking, I came across three squirrels in the same stretch of about 6ft. They were too spread out to get a decent shot of them all together, so I took photos of them individually.

I felt this photo had the most interesting composition of the bunch. I like how light the squirrel's tail is compared to the rest of the photo. I also like how I caught him in mid crawl. I think it makes the photo look "alive," if that makes sense.

Mission 19

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

As you may have realized, I didn't post yesterday. It was my friend's birthday and I was busy with class and getting things together for him.

So, to make up for it, I'm posting two photos today.

I adore the squirrel's facial expression in the first photo. It looks like he's smiling at the camera. I also like how you can see the little notch in his left ear (you may have to click to make the photo bigger to see it on here).

I like the second photo because of how close the squirrel is to the camera. You can see the bony part of his tail as well as the variation in his fur color. I also like how well he stands out against the bright green grass.

Mission 18

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:
I spent most of my free time editing/taking photos for the newspaper. I finished around 5:00 and began today's mission.

There were about five squirrels romping about in the grove, but I focused on this guy for most of the mission.

I like this photo because it's an action shot with the squirrel facing the camera. Most of the action shots I take are of the squirrel's side or back.

Mission 17

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Today was another rushed, rainy day. Luckily I found this guy and a few of his friends on my travels around campus.

The only reason I picked this photo is because of the angle. It's one I haven't put up here before and I think it's a pretty cool shot. I like how bushy the tail looks and how it's hanging down toward the viewer.

Other than that, there's not too much to say.

Mission 16

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Ooooo, creepy squirrel.

Today's mission started around 6:50 p.m. It was a busy day. It was also a rainy day, which made finding squirrels a bit difficult.

This photo isn't all that special, but to be frank, it was the best shot I managed to snag today.

I do like the shadow behind him and how wet the grass looks. I guess that counts for something.

Mission 15

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Aside from the glare on the squirrel's left cheek, I adore this photo. His pose is so adorable I can hardly stand it. Seriously, I want to squeal just looking at this photo.

Awwww...

Sorry. My brain has exploded from the cuteness. I have nothing else to say.

Mission 14

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Welcome to the "Squirrels Gone Wild" edition of Squirrel A Day. Haha. Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Anywho, I'm back on campus. The wedding was dreadfully boring, as most weddings are. But, I digress.

I took this photo about 10 minutes ago. It's been raining all day, so, once it stopped, I stalked the first squirrel I saw. I didn't spend a lot of time on today's mission, because while I like rain, my camera does not.

This photo's not the best, but it's funny and every one needs a laugh once in a while.

Laugh away, folks. Laugh away...

Squirrel A Day Runners-Up

I went home this weekend for a wedding. Unfortunately, there were no squirrels at said wedding, so today's mission was a no-go.

But don't worry, all you squirrel fans! I promised to post the photos that didn't make the "Squirrel A Day" cut, so here are the runners-up from missions 1 and 2.

Mission 13

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

I went on my squirrel hunt around 3:00 today.

I didn't see as many squirrels as I usually do, but this guy stuck around long enough for me to get some decent shots.

To be honest, I picked this photo because I liked the lighting and how it plays off the white in the squirrel's tail.

It's also taken from a different angle than most of my "Squirrel A Day" shots, which is a plus in my book. After all, the point of this project is to grow as a photographer. Composition is a big part of that.

Mission 12

EQUIPMENT:

Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

I went on today's mission around 4:00. As I walked outside, I saw this squirrel running away with a nut in his mouth. I, of course, decided to follow him.

He ran to one of the nearest buildings and perched on a window, which is when I took this shot.

It's different from the other photos I've taken, which is why I picked it. I like the squirrel's pose and placement and I like the bit of greenery on the photo's bottom left side.

I also got a few shots of a squirrel in a tree. I almost picked one of those shots as today's "Squirrel A Day" photo, but decided this one was stronger.

Maybe one of these days I'll make a "runners-up" post featuring all those photos that didn't quite make the cut.

Mission 11

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:
I honestly don't remember much about today's mission. I had several photos I had to take for the school paper, so I when I saw this squirrel, I took as many pictures of him as I could.

Though the mission was a bit rushed, I think it was successful. The subject is in the bottom of the photo, which I feel makes it an interesting shot. But, hey, that's just me.

And, you have to admit he's making a cute face...

Mission Nine

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

I found today's squirrel gnawing on an apple core in the lawn next to one of the residence halls.

Since he was distracted, I was able to get quite close. However, when I moved around to get a shot from the front, he ran away.

Oh well. It's still a cute shot.

Mission Eight

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:
This photo makes me laugh every time I look at it. I found this little guy upside down on a tree around 2:45 this afternoon. I startled him and he jumped down to hide near the bottom of the tree. He wasn't a very good hider, so I snapped his photo, startling him again, making him jump to the other side of the tree trunk, where I took his photo, causing him to jump to the tree's other side, where I took his photo, causing him to...

It was pretty adorable.

Mission Seven

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:

Today's mission began around 3:45. It was a warm, sunny day, so people and wildlife alike were out and about.

I didn't have my zoom lens on me, which made getting clear shots difficult. Still, I like this photo. The squirrel's position is cute and I like how the tree branches form a triangle around him.

I do wish I could have gotten a closer shot of the squirrel's face, though.

Also, I have good news! The newspaper I work for has two Rebel XTs, but last year, one of them started working very slowly. Thinking I had lent the only good camera to one of my photographers, I went out with the slow camera--not expecting much luck-- and my cruddy point-and-shoot strapped to my hip, just in case.

I saw a squirrel early on in my hunt and turned on the slow camera, which... wasn't slow anymore! It took the photo right away, which baffled me at first, since I hadn't played with any of the settings. Then I remembered I'd switched its memory card yesterday. I guess the one in it before must have been faulty. It's the only explanation I can think of...

But, hey, I'm just happy I have two decent cameras to work with.

Mission Six

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:
I wasn't sure how well today's mission would go. I've come down with a cold and don't have the energy to chase squirrels around.

Luckily, around 1:00, as I was going to check my mail, I saw this guy poking around a fire hydrant.

It's another action shot and was the most interesting of the bunch. I only had the basic lens with me, but was able to get close enough for a decent shot.

Compositionally, it's not the strongest photo I've taken, but I like the contrast of the yellow hydrant against the green grass.

Overall, it wasn't a bad mission. I will say I didn't spend a lot of time on it, so hopefully I'll be feeling more energetic soon.

Mission Five

EQUIPMENT:
Canon Rebel XT

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:
Ahhh... mission five--so much better than mission four.

I got the Rebel XT back and took it squirrel hunting around 4:30. I went several places before finding this squirrel in the same tree as yesterday's squirrel.

He rested on a thick branch for a few minutes before jumping from tree to tree and limb to limb.

This photo was taken on his brief break from jumping frantically (probably because some crazed maniac with a camera kept following him).

I was feeling low after yesterday's less-than-stellar mission, but today's shot makes me feel better. However, I just lent the camera to another photographer, so tomorrow's mission may require some creativity and patience, on my part.