double trouble

Photographing animals can sometimes be a challenge---they run away, look away or move at the most inappropriate moments.  For an extra degree of difficulty, try adding a second animal to the mix.  If you can get them both to stay still long enough for you to click your shutter... congratulations, you win the prize.

I love this photo below from alphabet soup studio.  In her description she writes that Gizmo and Terra "were great buddies."  I cannot say the same for my two animals pictured above.  Although they mutually exist in our small apartment with no problems, the reality is that the less than 8 pound cat, Tilla (short for Tortilla), is the boss of our 85 pound dog, Willow.  No bones about it.  Willow will go out of her way to keep a certain distance between them. If they pass in the hallway, Willow will press her huge hairy body up against the wall and slither past the cat with her head turned away.  It's quite a sight to behold.

They mostly stay out of each other's way, sleeping the days away on opposite sides of the TV room.  But there are those rare  moments when the cat will curl up on the top part of the couch just above Willow's big head, allowing me to grab my iPhone and capture the elusive prize.

~christy of urban muser

gizmo and terra by alphabet soup studio

making faces

I am loving the creature feature posts so far!  Animals and other creatures are so much fun, beautiful and full of personality.  Just like this giraffe I met at the Hogle Zoo, he came right up to me and my kids, checking us out and making faces.

I love this face of the Alpaca by photoangie!  That funny face really stuck out to me in the flickr pool, I can just imagine him saying "whatcha looking at lady!"

I hope you have a lovely day and find moments to smile!

April of april's 365

alpaca thoughts by photoangie

the velveteen rabbit

We have a zoo at home; a cat, two guinea pigs, two goldfish and a rabbit. Every time I get broody, I end up with another pet. So which animal did I select for the special treatment? Perseus, the rabbit. There's something about the way he could easily be a cuddly toy with all of his soft hair. It's not difficult to imagine him being brought to life by the fairy in "The Velveteen Rabbit", a book that Miles and I love to read together over and over again.

"Autumn passed and Winter, and in the Spring, when the days grew warm and sunny, the Boy went out to play in the wood behind the house. And while he was playing, two rabbits crept out from the bracken and peeped at him. One of them was brown all over, but the other had strange markings under his fur, as though long ago he had been spotted, and the spots still showed through. And about his little soft nose and his round black eyes there was something familiar, so that the Boy thought to himself:

'Why, he looks just like my old Bunny that was lost when I had scarlet fever!'

But he never knew that it really was his own Bunny, come back to look at the child who had first helped him to be Real."

from "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams

Green Dream Photography's rabbit could easily be one of the rabbits from this scene. So very easily. Look at all that outrageously fluffy fur and perfect snow on his nose.

See you next week for some silhouettes.
k
x

pino in the snow by green dream photography

tiny creatures

I am always intrigued by nature's tiny creatures and find butterflies to be nearly mesmerizing to watch as they float and flutter on the breeze from leaf to blossom. I truly enjoy the challenge of following one with my lens, trying to capture the colorful beauty as it rests from its dance for just a moment.

This photo by Misty DawnS is a delightful capture of another difficult subject. I love how she caught the grasshopper in his secret world, posed perfectly on a dew covered blade of grass basking in the morning light.

xo maureen of Cottage 960

basking in the morning light by misty dawns

go out with a smile

I don't know if animals actually smile when they're happy, or cry when they're sad.  But their wonderful expressions reach out across the human/animal divide and connect us in profound ways.  These sheep couldn't have looked happier curled up together in the sunshine, and seemed genuinely pleased to have their picture taken.  Each time I look back at this image, I get a big goofy grin on my face.

I'm feeling both happy and sad this week as I take my leave from Mortal Muses.  From the very start, I've SO enjoyed being part of this amazing group of photographers.  My fellow muses are talented, funny, caring, and generous.  Connecting with the followers of this blog and seeing the diverse and beautiful images that have been shared in the flickr group has been a treat.  Thank you for making the last 6 months a hugely rewarding experience.  I'm taking my leave in order to have more time to pursue other projects.  But I'll be following along as the Muses offer up great prompts and challenges in 2011. You can keep up with me as I tackle my 53 project over on my blog a little light reading.

I know you'll join me in welcoming the newest muse, Ashley Sisk of Ramblings and Photos.  She'll be taking over this spot, and I hear she'll also have some great wisdom to share over in Muse University.

OK --let's go out with a wry sort of smile, courtesy of Angie*Allen.

I've loved every minute of this adventure.  Thank you all so much.

Much love.  --  lucy

Chuckles by Angie*Allen

wild kingdom

Witness the wild guinea pig in its natural habitat, casting a baleful eye on those who would approach.

Actually, meet Alice, my daughter's guinea pig who eyes us suspiciously even after two years living in our home, but welcomes all gifts of carrots, lettuce and apple slices.  And squeaks outrageously if we ignore these needs for more than a couple of hours.  I have to admit, I wasn't sure whether a quality photograph could be made of a rodent without apparent personality.  I intended to go for photo walks this past week to local stables to capture noble horses, or meet friends in the dog park exercising their rambunctious doggy friends.  But it seemed a shame not to feature Alice given that she plays a part in our family life.

Arin S's sneaky chipmunk seems to share Alice's focus on acquiring (or in this case - stealing) food.  Which is probably the only way one can photograph speedy little creatures like this one. 

cheers,
mosey of mosey along

Sneaking a snack by Arin S

tongue action and running faces

One of my dogs is an avid face maker, the other one can look grumpy. Yet they are never as hungry or sad as they look. And they totally know people think they are pretty. They use it to their advantage every time. Most of all I like my dogs running faces and tongue actions. I hardly ever capture it, but when I do I need to laugh out loud. They are the funniest clowns on earth.

I admire dogs for their authenticity, their ability to practice pure joy every single day. They never have a bad day and they inspire me to live up to their ideal life of joy, of being open minded and open hearted. They trust. Almost never fear. This happiness I describe is also shown in Rejardin's (aka Becky Sue) picture. And because her dark red beauty reminds me so much of my own.

See you in 9 days!

Love,
Suki of sukiphotography

Stella snow by Rejardin (aka Becky Sue)

why we watch

This last week my family and I visited the Oceanário de Lisboa (Lisbon Aquarium) and were fascinated watching these sea otters from the Pacific ocean. There were three otters in the exhibit and these two floated around together, touching the entire time. Most of the time the head of one bumped up against the other as they cleaned their fur, but at one moment, they reached out and held hands, er, paws as if to reassure each other. It was the most endearing sight.

What is it, that draws us to zoos and aquariums? I think we visit these places, not only to see the creatures from the wild, but to see a bit of ourselves. We seek the human behaviors, and are so excited when we catch the moments that make these animals a little more understandable to us. FeeMail's photo is a great example. She captured a moment that brings the wild a little closer to humanity.

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

Untitled by FeeMail

pet pals

Ahhh...my crew♥ by iluv2bauntie

Creatures…our pets.  How can you even think of them without your heart smiling? We have all heard how research says that pets can lower your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. People living with animals have less depression, exercise more and socialize more. They add so much to our lives.  Certainly, you have hairier couches and lint rollers by every door but it is the special and intimate moments like the one captured by Princessinboots that make living with pets so delightful. 

A flickr friend, Tolly P., shared this little song from YouTube with me. It sums up my feelings even better!  GoD And DoG. I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you Tammy, fellow obsessed animal lover, for inviting me to muse for you.

Guest Muse Tavia of iluv2bauntie 

and pet human to Bigs, Scout, and Daddy

Untitled by princessinboots

and the next theme is... CREATURE FEATURE



lioness by soupatraveler


Whether you are fortunate enough to observe animals on safari in the wild, admire them at a zoo, enjoy wildlife in your backyard, or share your home with a beloved pet, photographing the creatures around us can be quite challenging, but provide some of the most satisfying images you may take.

Wherever you find them, photographing animals has a special lure. We admire their unique beauty and distinct personalities. You can capture them in their natural habitat or focus on the details that are characteristic to their species.

swimmy by krow10

You can record them hard at work, joyfully playing, or show the love and devotion they have for their humans. (And their humans have for them.)

summer friends by tammy lee bradley

Make sure to visit tomorrow, Tammy will start our 9 days of musing on Monochromatic Color and we will announce all the giveaway winners on the More Musing page at 8pm.

I look forward to seeing the creatures that share your world.

xo
maureen