Peanuts In My Pocket

I’ve been an avid photographer my whole life, but it’s only recently that I’ve turned my lens toward birds. My preference has always been urban and street photography. When I did photograph birds, it was usually just to help identify them. Since retiring, however, I’ve shifted gears. Reflecting on it now, I’d guess that 80% of my creative photography work focuses on birding and the natural world. Yet I’m still drawn to urban scenes and the ugliness that surrounds us. Ugly things can be beautiful in their own way, or, if not beautiful, at least visually interesting.

It’s harder to find that in nature. Birds are naturally beautiful, so my options are somewhat limited. But other animals offer more interesting challenges. For example, I find turtles rather repulsive, so I’m always searching for ways to portray them favorably. It’s difficult and not always rewarding, but occasionally, I find something that stands out—like this Spiny Softshell Turtle. It’s so ugly that only a blind mother could love it, yet at the same time, it’s so visually interesting that it’s beautiful in its own way.

Spiny Softshell Turtles can absorb oxygen through their skin, the lining of their throat, and their cloaca (essentially their “butt”), allowing them to stay underwater for long periods without needing to come up for air.

I’m building an impressive collection of turtles alongside my bird photos. The same goes for any other animal—or even an interesting plant, I encounter. Squirrels fit neatly into the “ugly but beautiful” space for me. Once I started noticing them, I realized that most look pretty worn out. But their cute antics and constant begging for peanuts (I think they know I keep them in my pocket) make them hard to ignore. Sometimes they even follow me around.

This spring, a squirrel family has taken up residence near my house. Mom and dad used to raid my bird feeders regularly, but now there are four of the little monsters after they produced two babies. It’s too much. My wife hates them. I find them annoying but still a part of the urban landscape. I’m now at the passive warfare stage—trying to limit their access to food sources while still snapping a few photos.

I might have to draw the line at snakes. I’ve seen a couple, including an impressively large one at El Dorado Nature Center, but I’ve yet to get a decent photo. It’s hard to take pictures when you’re running away—even with a big lens.