Just for fun — a turtle head

[Steve Foss]

Hey all. Was out laying in the muck at marsh's edge this evening hoping for ducks or herons or mink or most anything, and saw almost nothing. ALMOST nothing, that is. This fellow popped his head up just a couple inches outside the minimum focus distance of the lens and hung there long enough for me to adjust exposure compensation and fire a burst.

Canon 1Dmk2n, Canon 600 f4L IS, iso400, 1/1600 at f4, center-weighted metering +1 EC

[Jim Almquist]

Really like how the water clings to his head and with the reflection creates a surreal look about it.

[polarsusd81]

When you said a turtle head...I was expecting something different. JK That is really a cool shot though Steve. Looks like the new toys are getting plenty of use.

Tom

[Dbl]

I really like this shot. Great idea of a subject you wouldn't look twice at if you were on the lake.

[hanson]

Great shot! I love it!

[Dirk W]

Very nice. You took a common visual experience for those who hang around the water and made it into art - excellent.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dude,... that is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my faves ever! How the HE#%@^%# did you get him to sit so his pupil was exactly horizontle?

[Steve Foss]

OK, Deitz, you busted me. This is really my pet turtle Frank. The silky water around the head is caused by surface tension (thus my naming the turtle Frank), and I spent seven hours trying to get the persnickety thing to pose just so. You think shooting a supermodel is challenging? Try Frank when he hasn't had his turtle flakes or Leinies in the morning.

Kidding, of course, my man. Not making light of your appreciation, either. Comments like yours are one of the reasons I do this photography gig. This fella just surfaced for a couple seconds and then went on his merry way. What ya gonna do but trip the shutter and see how it looks later?

[Surface Tension]

Nice Northern Striped Anaconda there.