An Old Friend's Smile

[Andrew McLachlan]

Shot this one last night while out shooting frogs and toads in the vernal ponds behind my home. Behind my home is an abandoned cattle pasture (40 acres) that has several depressions in the ground that hold significant water, from melting snow and heavy rains, for frogs and toads to breed in. The ponds dry out by mid-summer. I have no idea where this snapping turtle goes when it leaves the ponds in late spring, but every year it returns to hibernate in this field and every spring since I have lived here (14 years) we cross paths during my frog pond adventures in this field. As it stuck its nose out to breathe I captured this image.

As usual I used Fractalius and reduced the opacity and masked back in the eyes and partially masked back in the nose.

Nikon D200, Nikon 105 micro lens
f16 @ 1/60 sec
ISO100
SB400

Look forward to comments.

[denise ippolito]

Cool Andrew! I don't think I have ever seen turtle nostrils before. Like the effect of the Fractalius and the revealed details. I like the hint of green on the right but the other piece seems odd, is it part of the turtle? Anyway nice work as always and really great timing!!

[Scott Vincent]

I love turtles and the Fractalius treatment helps accentuate the interesting natural texture of the snapper. Nice "bring back" of the eyes and nose. Even the mottled look from the sun/shade looks ok. It's funny how the thumbnails make the image look "normal" and the pleasant surprise one gets when opening the page. Must be great fun to wonder the pasture to see what you can find. Nicely done!

[Andrew McLachlan]

Thanks Denise and Steve. Much apprecitaed.

Denise, the odd piece you are seeing is a bloodsucker. There were many bloodsuckers on the turtle and many swimming among the grasses. I am quite glad I was wearing my chest waders

[Kerry Perkins]

Andrew, you actually have a "back 40". How cool! This old boy does look like an old friend and seems unconcerned by your presence. He probably was thinking - "oh, you again...". Nice capture and treatment of a fun image. Love those eyes.

[Norm Dulak]

As a turtle fan, I very much appreciate this image. I don't know what Fractalius is, or how it affects images. But the penetrating stare of the turtle is way cool!

[denise ippolito]

Thanks Denise and Steve. Much apprecitaed.

Denise, the odd piece you are seeing is a bloodsucker. There were many bloodsuckers on the turtle and many swimming among the grasses. I am quite glad I was wearing my chest waders

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

[Cheryl Flory]

Andrew, I think that is the best anyone could make a snapping turtle look! well done

[Brendan Dozier]

That is an awesome super close-up, head-on view, Andrew! It does look like he's smiling, and the nostrils kind of remind me of a pig's snout. Eye's look great, adn wonderful texture and details you got with the frac treatment. The coolest part is that you were out adventuring in the night to get this. Was it a combination of headlamp and flash to illuminate?

[Andrew McLachlan]

Thanks folks for the comments. Very much appreciated.

Brendan, I used a Nikon SB400 flash on a home-made bracket that holds the flash out above the lens and a tiny clip-on camping flashlight on the bracket for focusing purposes. I use a headlamp just to find my way around in the pond. When I find something of interest I turn off the headlamp.

[Steve Adkins]

Love the full frame view and frac treatment of your friend, Andrew. Sort of blown away by the size of that blood sucker. :eek:

[Christopher Miller]

Great close up, Andrew. I love the mottled colors and frac treament. I do wish the turtle's nose was a bit more in focus. That would take it over the top for me. Well done.