Mini Challenge #143 - "Critters"

davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
edited June 2, 2012 in The Dgrin Challenges
I see we haven't had a purely animal challenge in a while, so, lets have one.

Critters to me means anything that walks, crawls, or flies that isn't human.

So whether you're a birder, or take photos of insects, or 4 leggers, you can all get something into this one.

The challenge starts now, and ends on Friday, June 1st 2012, at 6:00 PM Central Daylight Savings Time.

This is a one week challenge folks.

So dig though your older shots, or get out this long weekend and get some critter images.

As always, the success of the Minis are when folks comment on others shots.
So enter your images, comment on others, and lets have a little fun.





OUR UN-OFFICIAL GENERAL RULES
1. Have fun sharing and seeing what others share!
2. The host supplies a topic and you post 1-3 images. The host judges the winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and is not eligible to enter.
The 1st place winner then chooses the next topic, judges the winner and then passes on the baton to the new champion.
3. Any photo you’ve taken is eligible, regardless of when taken or camera used.
4. Any amount of post-processing is allowed. However, it is helpful if you list your camera and lens along with your photo.
You may comment on other contestant's images. If you want someone to leave you some critique or criticism, just ask within your post.
5. The winner has up to three days (72 hours) to begin a new mini-challenge, or the honor goes to the #2 finisher and so forth.
Guidelines:
1. Enter 1-3 photos and put them in a single post.
2. Either embed your image in the thread or, if you must, supply a link to it. Keep in mind, however, most people don't want to click to open photos hosted elsewhere (i.e. on your website).
3. Also try and resize your photos prior to posting so they're sized appropriately for viewing without having to scroll (~800 pixels on the longest side works best.)
4. Give each image you enter a title.
5. Enjoy discussion with members about their images, don't let this just be an entry thread!
6. When quoting a post change the IMG urls to a 200x200 size picture so it is clear your post is feedback and not another entry. (see here for help)
7. Don't be hesitant, share'em and enter!
Mini-Challenge pointers:
1. Upon winning a mini-challenge round your first step is coming up with a new theme, and start a new thread using the same format as others have used.
2. Make sure to notify the admin of this thread to update the main thread links with your entry thread.
3. Feel free to watch the thread as it grows or wait to the end time and look at all the entries all at once.
4. After the time/date has passed, then officially close the thread with a single post notifying everyone of the fact.
5. After you're finished judging start a new thread (again use the prior formats) and post your Winner and runners-up, it is important to have runners up incase the winner does not show within the 72hr window.
6. PM the winner with this info above and let them know they have 72hrs.
7. After the 72hrs and the winner does not show up, notify the next runner-up and post a message on the Winner thread of the fact.
8. Remember, if you're the Winner, you run the show.
dave.

Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
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Comments

  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited May 26, 2012
    A few examples.

    A deer in a park
    705160039_CM9Nt-XL.jpg

    A bird on the wing
    248618758_8yNwz-XL-4.jpg

    A moose having a snack
    977145715_ddqVW-XL.jpg

    Or maybe a dragonfly enjoying the day.
    DSC01619-dragonfly-2-full-XL.jpg

    Remember to comment on someone elses shots. Everyone likes a pat on the back every now and then.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,005 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    An osprey



    why would a wasp take a rock



    sushi
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    Critter Beauty
    Pomegrante-Roost-XL.jpg

    Crevice Critters
    CGK5864-XL.jpg

    It's a Critter eat Critter World
    1002763368_KoTCi-XL.jpg
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    #1 - What a good nap looks like
    788488764_ndiW8-L.jpg


    2 - What alert looks like
    793985208_jvpWh-L.jpg


    3 - Peekaboo! I See Ewe!
    36873672_nnfQK-L.jpg
  • kscooperkscooper Registered Users Posts: 387 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    DsrtVW wrote: »
    Critter Beauty

    Chris - That first one is brilliant.

    Eric
    ______________________

    Eric

    good gear; not enough time
  • ghinsonghinson Registered Users Posts: 933 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    1. morning gull
    4095761753_0f5df58f61_o.jpg

    2. sheepish grin
    4640382257_0d78645867_b.jpg

    3. "Who are you calling 'squab'?"
    4078206728_d8ebd8f710_o.jpg
    uosuıɥ ƃǝɹƃ
    ackdoc.com
  • kscooperkscooper Registered Users Posts: 387 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    1. Eastern bluebird:
    original.jpg

    2. Great egret coming in:

    original.jpg

    3. Thermophilic critters:

    original.jpg
    ______________________

    Eric

    good gear; not enough time
  • chrisdgchrisdg Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    ghinson wrote: »
    1. morning gull
    4095761753_0f5df58f61_o.jpg

    2. sheepish grin
    4640382257_0d78645867_b.jpg

    3. "Who are you calling 'squab'?"
    4078206728_d8ebd8f710_o.jpg

    These are awesome!
    -Chris D.
    http://www.facebook.com/cdgImagery (concert photography)
    http://www.cdgimagery.com (concert photography)
    http://chrisdg.smugmug.com (everything else)

  • chrisdgchrisdg Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2012
    "Get a haircut!"

    IMG1548-Britain-XL.jpg

    Bovine, none more awesome than Scottish Highland cattle.
    -Chris D.
    http://www.facebook.com/cdgImagery (concert photography)
    http://www.cdgimagery.com (concert photography)
    http://chrisdg.smugmug.com (everything else)

  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    I don't have anything really good enough to compete with you guys, but I offer three images taken about 10-30 years apart with three different cameras. (I note that the rules say it is helpful to list the camera, so I've done that.)

    3977-000001330046%25209-21-2011%252011-52-42%2520AM.jpg

    1965 Monterey County Fair - Kodak Retina Reflex - scanned slide

    x17729_21.JPG

    1997 Atlantic Spadefish - St. John USVI - with my first dive camera which I lost on a dive in Cozumel.

    x100_3118c.jpg

    2008 Penguins and Pelicans - off the coast of Callao (Lima) Peru - taken from a small boat with a Kodak DX6490

    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • PedalGirlPedalGirl Registered Users Posts: 794 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    Wow... I can already see that I'm not worthy (insert Wayne & Garth voice here). Greg, your shots never cease to maze me... that morning gull is amazing. Love the overlay texture as well (I'm assuming that's what it is) it ads just the right touch!

    With that said... I'll play along...

    1. My Boo Boo
    505050Project-005-Edit-L.jpg

    2. Gull on it's perch - Salton Sea, CA
    i-5Mv9MJn-L.jpg

    3. Blue Whale!
    DSCF3939-copy-L.jpg
    Pho-tog-ra-pher (n) 1. One who practices photography 2. one obsessed with capturing life with their camera. 3. One who eats, sleeps and breathes photographs. 4. One who sees the world in 4x6.
    www.lisaspeakmanphotography.com
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    jwear wrote: »

    why would a wasp take a rock

    JW36814-Th.jpg

    Lovely picture of what I think is a parasitic wasp. I think I’ve got this right ?

    If so, I expect you know this…<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>

    This wasp will dig a hole in the ground and find and carry a small rock to block the hole. It will then paralyze a caterpillar, unblock the hole again and in goes the caterpillar, which stays alive, and one of its own eggs and blocks the hole again. You can guess what’s next – ugh. Sci-Fi monster movies have nothing worse than earth nature! <o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>

    Great shot - Alan<o:p></o:p>
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    chrisdg wrote: »
    "Get a haircut!"

    IMG1548-Britain-XL.jpg

    Bovine, none more awesome than Scottish Highland cattle.

    Veronica Lake of the bovine set- although I think she was a brunette
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    DsrtVW wrote: »
    Critter Beauty
    Pomegrante-Roost-XL.jpg

    Stunning Shot !
    DsrtVW wrote: »
    Crevice Critters
    CGK5864-XL.jpg

    Brilliant Shot - I'm just wondering what it would look llike if photoshop'd to tone down the concrete a little - however still a great shot for me.

    Alan
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    2. sheepish grin
    4640382257_0d78645867_b.jpg

    [/QUOTE]

    Honey let me get that grass out of your hair, or your dad will have a fit.
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    Great standard again everyone.

    Some of my efforts ...

    This bird (Black Kite - Kenya) and its cargo landed in the tree we were parked under. This is not a great shot as unfortunately I had to blow out the sky to get the shot, but I thought I’d show it for interest and the Yuk factor! Hopefully the critter was actually dead at this point!

    Eye to Eye Contact
    IMG7480-XL.jpg

    We came across an exhausted baby elephant lying on the ground with some very agitated elephants circling around protecting it. We watched this behaviour for quite some time thinking the baby was dead. To our surprise the youngster got up and was immediately reassured by all the others – a very tender moment, and I confess we had serious lumps in our throats!
    <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
    Elephant Tenderness
    IMG8746-XL.jpg

    Straight forward Puma shot which looked up from taking a drink. Actually not much post processing which is not what I would suspect looking at my shot.
    <o:p></o:p>
    Puma.<o:p></o:p>
    IMG8765-Edit-XL.jpg

    Alan.
  • lifeinfocuslifeinfocus Registered Users Posts: 1,461 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    Siamese 2 Year Old Grand Premier
    His name is "Prince". We got him 10 days ago and he is still transitioning into his new home. He is QUICK, Very Quick. Hard to get a portrait type shot of him. UCLA coach John Wooden who valued quickness would have loved him. Hopefully, I can get a better shot of him in the next day or so.


    Prince-Upload-XL.jpg
    http://www.PhilsImaging.com
    "You don't take a photograph, you make it." ~Ansel Adams
    Phil
  • kscooperkscooper Registered Users Posts: 387 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    chrisdg wrote: »
    "Get a haircut!"


    Bovine, none more awesome than Scottish Highland cattle.

    That is terrific, Chris. It has great color, texture and pop.
    ______________________

    Eric

    good gear; not enough time
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,005 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2012
    Alans Grin wrote: »
    Lovely picture of what I think is a parasitic wasp. I think I’ve got this right ?

    If so, I expect you know this…<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>

    This wasp will dig a hole in the ground and find and carry a small rock to block the hole. It will then paralyze a caterpillar, unblock the hole again and in goes the caterpillar, which stays alive, and one of its own eggs and blocks the hole again. You can guess what’s next – ugh. Sci-Fi monster movies have nothing worse than earth nature! <o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>

    Great shot - Alan<o:p></o:p>
    the best ID I had was
    Ammophila Thread-waisted Wasp You are right and the time it takes to make the hole <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/eek7.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" > and what happens is anothe wasp will come by and dig it up ,take off the egg put on it's egg and recover . They take real care in the finish work on top Thanks for the comment and
    knowledge
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2012
    Just had to play too. 1DMKIV, 70-200f/2.8IS + 2X, ISO 1250, FL 235mm, f/5.6, 1/640, partial metering mode,

    "Barn Cattitude"

    i-mRr66j5-L.jpg
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • CodyBoxerCodyBoxer Registered Users Posts: 39 Big grins
    edited May 29, 2012
    Re: Critters
    I'm really impressed by the work I'm seeing in this thread. Especially the bird shots, I'm a softie for those.
    Any way, here are my three.

    #1 I chose this one just to add another example of a parasitic wasp. I don't know what kind of wasp.

    4087183321_5188075cc3_z.jpg
    New Jersey Pine Barrens by gmontjr, on Flickr


    #2 This goofball was sitting on a deck railing at a vacation rental. It wanted some of my chips and salsa. I think it's a Laughing Gull

    4650869687_51b78dca93_z.jpg
    Laughing gull? by gmontjr, on Flickr


    #3 Last one is of a flying squirrel that was hanging on our bird feeder, nomming the sunflower seeds. It was surprisingly non-skittish. We've been living in our house for 21 years now, and this is the first time that I've seen this critter. It's a Southern Flying Squirrel, btw.

    6366590933_3f41c52271_z.jpg
    flying_squirrel-1159 by gmontjr, on Flickr
  • kentwallerkentwaller Registered Users Posts: 158 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2012
    critters entry from kdub
    owl be there in a second...
    i-dZ7JGxv-L.jpg



    bee still
    i-kM69VnC-L.jpg



    don't bug me
    i-QgpM6bF-L.jpg
  • jttphotojttphoto Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited May 30, 2012
    This is a cross spider that hung out near my gutters two falls ago.
    1011891804_hBruZ-M.jpg

    1011893580_YMfSP-M.jpg

    1011894619_jJrAN-M.jpg
  • zoomnzoomn Registered Users Posts: 142 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2012
    Great stuff here!!! I'll join in:

    1.

    824856200_mXmxh-L-5.jpg

    2.

    dallsheepbrdr-L.jpg

    3.

    798169679_UWxaY-L-9.jpg
  • PhotosbychuckPhotosbychuck Registered Users Posts: 1,239 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2012
    Here Kitty Kitty
    i-qNr2nRP-L.jpg

    Photo taken with Nikon D300S & Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.




    Charles Cassidy,
    Aperture Focus Photography,
    www.aperturefocus.com
    D300S, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR

    Aperture Focus Photography
    http://aperturefocus.com
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited June 1, 2012
    Last day folks, get those photos in.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • jwngreenjwngreen Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
    edited June 1, 2012
    Amazing photos so far, I'm definitely inspired to get out and shoot some more. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get out this week but I dug through the archives and found a few to throw in:

    1. Poconos - Nikon d80 18-135 f/3.5-5.6
    i-fz6S5mp-L.jpg

    2. Local Brewery (Sly Fox) Annual Goat Races - Canon t2i EF 28mm f/1.8
    i-KZv2GXp-L.jpg

    3. Monterey Bay Aquarium - Canon t2i EF 24-105 f/4L
    i-qcSjCwZ-L.jpg

    Any comments/ideas/criticisms etc are always appreciated!
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited June 1, 2012
    jwngreen wrote: »
    Amazing photos so far, I'm definitely inspired to get out and shoot some more. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get out this week but I dug through the archives and found a few to throw in:


    Any comments/ideas/criticisms etc are always appreciated!

    I really love your photo of the toad - I'm no expert and just an idea ... the red in the top left corner tends to pull my eye from the subject and does not fit in with the other lovely colours in the shot. I wonder what it would be like slightly cropped down from the top to exlude it, or use photo shop to darken and or de-saturate this colour / area to remove the redness.

    As previously said though ... a cracking shot.

    Alan.
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited June 1, 2012
    jttphoto wrote: »
    This is a cross spider that hung out near my gutters two falls ago.
    1011891804_hBruZ-M.jpg

    1011893580_YMfSP-M.jpg

    1011894619_jJrAN-M.jpg

    Gives a new meaning to the phrase "hairy beast". I must say that even though I'm not bug/insect phobic - these give me the creeps. Really good photos though - I like the second one best
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • jwngreenjwngreen Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
    edited June 1, 2012
    Alans Grin wrote: »
    I really love your photo of the toad - I'm no expert and just an idea ... the red in the top left corner tends to pull my eye from the subject and does not fit in with the other lovely colours in the shot. I wonder what it would be like slightly cropped down from the top to exlude it, or use photo shop to darken and or de-saturate this colour / area to remove the redness.

    As previously said though ... a cracking shot.

    Alan.

    Thanks Alan, that's a great idea. I guess I've seen the photo too many times and don't even notice little details like that so the outside perspective is definitely helpful. I'll play around with it a little bit and see what the outcome is. I appreciate the positive feedback on the shot!
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