Whiskers

[Bill Dix]

While I was photographing waterfowl at Chincoteague the other day, this fellow poked his head out of the reeds across the way. He spent his time probing the mud beneath the water with his forepaws, feeling for some kind of shellfish, I guess, although in the time I watched I never saw him come up with anything. Not up to the caliber of the spectacular beasts on the Wildlife forum, but I thought he was cute enough to share.

D90 | 500VR | ISO 200 | 1/500s @ f8 | -1.0 EV | monopod

[Andrew Merwin]

I like images that I have to work a bit to understand what I am seeing. This is a good example. It is a great environmental that is sharp & documents very nicely the raccoon's habitat & its hunting behavior. I like how its tail is hidden amongst the BG of the reeds. Well captured.

[pat lillich]

he is gorgeous - sharp, beautiful whiskers and lovely colors. I really like how it shows him in habitat - was wondering if you cropped off about half of that clump of grass on the right if he might stand out a little more - but i like it like it is too.

[Dave Leroy]

Lovely photo Bill.

The little raccoon looks right at home.

I like the choice of dof. It works well.

Dave

[nancy hazen]

I love this shot Bill. Very sharp and great expression in the eyes. Great capture!
Nancy

[Julie Kenward]

I have to agree with the others...this is certainly good enough to go in the Wildlife forum. Just because it's not an elusive tiger or a ferocious grizzly bear it's still a beauty of an image. I'd be happy to copy the thread to that forum if that's okay with you...

I especially like the lighting on his face. Normally we'd hate to see the reed shadown on his face but in contrast to the black and white mask he's wearing I rather like it - plus the lighting is beautiful.

You even have lovely water below the racoon. It all works for me!

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all for your comments.

Peter, actually I do have some frames of him more fully emerged from the reeds, including a nice one with his mouth open; but I sort of liked this one of him lurking in his environment.

Pat, I agree I probably could have cropped a bit off the right. This is a standard 3:2 format, which is unnecessary for web presentation.

Julie, feel free to copy this to Wildlife if you see fit. But I have great admiration for the skill that it takes to capture beautiful images of leopards and tigers in the field, and don't pretend that this serendipitous capture of a local critter is up to their standard of excellence.