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WC #319 - An Unnatural End

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 20, 20081,157 views8 comments

I found a red squirrel carcass hanging from the barb-wire fence near work. It was soggy from the rain, and pathetic to see.

Clearly the squirrel had jumped from an adjacent tree onto the fence, and in doing so had impaled its paw on one of the tynes.

I chose to just shoot the paw, because I thought the visual was strong enough.

Canon 10D, 100mm macro lens (if I recall correctly)

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 20, 2008 at 2:27 PM

Robert,

Most definately a very strong visual. The implied story is there without the rest. An unfortunate way to go...

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on February 20, 2008 at 4:13 PM

Robert, I think your selection of just the paw is extremely poignant. It certainly symbolizes death and leaves the viewer a great opportunity to visualize how painful the experience of death must have been to the squirrel. I like the almost OOF barbed wire diagonal line and the vertical line of the squirrel's paw.

I think you did a great job and created a very strong visual.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 21, 2008 at 12:14 AM

Very effective illustration -- probably tells more than including the whole animal. Excellent vision to focus on the foot and barbed wire.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Kim Ritsema on February 21, 2008 at 1:55 PM

I agree, this picture is a testiment to what is so great about the ART of photography...so much more powerful to only show a portion of the squirrel, tells much more of a story and leaves something to the imagination. (poor lil guy!)

Registered on February 7, 2008, 21 Posts, 26 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Peterson on February 25, 2008 at 9:16 PM

Very effective. I agree with not showing the entire animal, probably for the best plus it does create a better image.

Registered on July 11, 2007, 19 Posts, 112 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on February 26, 2008 at 9:27 AM

Hi Robert! Congrats on the EP!! Very moving image...it tugs at your (my) heartstrings in a big way. Very tasteful in only showing the foot.

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Ganz on February 26, 2008 at 4:47 PM

Thankyou all for the comments, and I am thrilled with the EP.

A very sad scene for me, as this particular red squirrel was a frequent visitor to the area near our office.

Thanks again.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 339 Posts, 759 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 4, 2008 at 4:08 AM

A very respectful and touching image of a sad end. Congratulations on the EP.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments