Secret Squirrel

Who could resist this cute little fellow that I spotted in the window of a local shop.

He's been well crafted, right down to his little knitted acorn.

With that little smile on his face, it looks like he is going to look forward to eating it.

It's Me In The Spotlight

Another squirrel shot. This time he's being highlighted by the late afternoon sunlight, falling low and peeking through the trees in Highfields.

Tufty

As I failed to take a photo of a squirrel yesterday, I thought I would have another go today, even though I have taken shots of squirrels before.

So I got into the same position, with the same camera and same lens and waited until a grey one started to head towards me.

This time I got my camera ready before the animal got too close and I frightened them off again.

Bingo, he got close, but not too close, and suddenly he decided to pose for me. The way that he held his right paw I think just makes the shot.

A Bum Shot

Cycling through Highfields, I saw lots of squirrels wandering around, looking for food to keep them going through the winter.

Crouching on the ground, I stayed quiet, as the squirrels  became used to me being there. The park was fairly quiet too, with just the odd jogger or walker passing by.

Slowly their curiosity became too much and one gently crept towards me. I raised my camera and tried to get a shot. He obviously was scared by this and made a run for it, just as I pressed the shutter!

Secret Squirrel

Another dull day, and another cycle ride through Highfields.

One of the many squirrels that inhabit the park posed for me today, whilst looking for food. Not having a zoom lens on my camera, I had to creep very slowly towards him. I actually had a legacy lens on my Olympus, the Nikon 50mm f1.4D. I moved very quietly too, so that I wouldn't scare him and he would make a bolt for the nearby tree. But he sat there quite contentedly posing for a photo or two, before scuttling off in search of some more titbits.

Striking A Pose

A day off work today as I had a hospital appointment this morning for a chest X-ray. Nothing seriously wrong you'll be pleased to know, it's just that I've had a cough for several months now, and Gail ordered me to see the doctor, just to find out what was causing it.

I didn't have to wait long to be seen and was soon on my way back home. As the hospital isn't too far away, I cycled there, and so as it was sunny I decided to have a ride through Highfields for a spot of photography with my OMD.

I took some of the boating lake, sunshine through trees etc. Then I saw two squirrels playing with each other in the shade. So I thought that I would see if I could get a shot of them. As I approached, they stopped running about and looked at me. One then ran away, while the other actually headed towards me. He then climbed up the tree near me and sat down on a stump and posed for me. Anyone would think he wanted to be photographed!

He must have been there for about ten seconds before scampering off into the distance. I took several photos on my OMD. Wish I had had the 75mm lens, as I could have got a bit of a closer shot, but I am quite happy with this picture, and still can't get over the fact that sat there for so long without being frightened.

Secret Squirrel

For a creature that is meant to be shy and retiring, this squirrel who lives in Wollaton Park doesn't seem to be following that idea, as he carefully approached me whilst on the steps to the front entrance to the hall.

Obviously on the alert, but he still couldn't resist seeing what I was up to and whether I had any food available. Sadly not, but he made a good subject for my camera, which of course I had in my hand at the time.

The Man In Grey

Today is our Headbanger Challenge, and only four of us again this week, as Stewart is still away at the seaside. Unfortunately he and Julie are getting a bit battered and wet at the moment in the stormy weather that we are presently experiencing across the country.

I've chosen the theme this week, and have picked 'confectionery'.  This can mean, chocolate; sweets; cakes, or anything in between. I have gone for a traditional looking sweetshop which we came across in Leeds last weekend.

It was located in a small arcade, that contained all sort of good quality gift and clothing shops. We were going to have a snack at the cafe next door, but they had run out of bread!

Don't forget to have a look at the other sites, and enjoy this great song from years gone by.


I took our Olympus OMD for a spin today for a change. I'm waiting for the battery grip that we've ordered to arrive, as although it is a great camera, I am finding it a little small for my hands. Especially as I've been used to the big Nikons.

I think I've mentioned before that I do love the different art filters that the camera can produce simultaneously, after you're pressed the shutter; although it does take a little while for them to be processed onto the SD card.

Although it rained again this morning, the sun came out a bit, while I was on my way home. So I decided to have a ride through Highfields.  I'm glad I did, as I managed to capture this little fellow while he was hunting for food.

He seemed quite used to humans, and came quite close whilst I crouched down, camera in hand and watched him hopping about. So I managed to snap him while he stood there posing for me.

I Can See You

This acrobatic squirrel in the grounds of St Mary's church just sat still long enough for me to take his photo. Then with a swish of his tail, he hopped off and scurried up a nearby tree in about 3 seconds flat. Wish I was that agile.