Big City Wildlife

As many of you already know I'm a sucker for Pikas, squirrels and Marmots. The first night of my trip to Colorado I stayed at a cheap motel in Denver, Colorado. When I pulled into the motel parking lot and was unloading my photo gear a squirrel bounded across the parking lot. It climbed up a small tree beside my car. I was surprised to find that the tree was an apple tree of all things. The squirrel grabbed an apple and climbed a ways up the tree. I grabbed my camera and tried to find an angle I could photograph the squirrel from. I ended up being so close that my camera wouldn't focus that close so I had to back up.I made several images but this one was my favorite. After taking a few images I plucked an apple and I have to agree with the squirrels choice of dinner. The apple was sweet and delicious. God's love and blessings upon your day, chris

Part of the Fall Color Series

Wednesday morning I was out in the photoblind in the yard adding some images to my fall color series. It's a series of images with birds and fall color in the background. A nice Douglas Tree Squirrel thrown in for good measure. I am really behind on editing images right now. I still have a weeks worth of editing to catch up on. It just takes time. Here for your viewing pleasure are a Steller's Jay, Chestnut Backed Chickadee, Dark Eyed Junco and a Douglas Tree Squirrel. Enjoy your weekend and God bless, chris All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens, Manfrotto 055PROBX tripod and an 3055 Bogen ballhead. If you are interested learning more about bird photography like this please check out my new book. "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography" on Amazon and other online book sellers. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559

What's in the Pile This Time?

Today I stacked firewood. We leave it on the driveway to dry for a few weeks before we stack it up. During that time you never know what is going to crawl into the pile. We have never had any rattlesnakes crawl in but that's always somewhere in the recesses of your mind when you are stacking it. Today I got down to where there were only about ten pieces left when a big Alligator Lizard crawled out of the pile towards me. Naturally I jumped and I may have said a few things unbecoming of a gentleman. Recovering I captured it. When I was done stacking I photographed it on a white background with Annika's help as lizard wrangler. Afterwards she let it go in the forest. Right now it is starting to rain so I'm glad that I got the wood done. God's precious light and love to all, chris