Shhhhh... she was training Dave to pick up the sensitive vibrations of the small mammals beneath the snow Large On Black [Colours look rather nice on that, too. : )]

We all spend far too much of our lives making a noise... just think how much more we could understand if we were all prepared to listen with that much attention and focus. [This has been a philosophical observation! ;-)]

Wild Planet series: 7 of 10

Tags:   Wild Planet Bath It had been a while, and Peter Gabriel had now clearly forgotten how to attach the fox's head! He lives in Bath, ya know. : )

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See the ladybird on the road to nowhere Large On Black

I don't really have the lens to do these kinda shots justice, but it doesn't stop me occasionally trying.* But, again, wrapping it up in a texture gives it a different atmosphere and masks some of its technical flaws! : ) So, I thought, 'What the hell. I'll post a few anyway.'

* Moments later it took off. I got a shot of an entirely out-of-focus departing arse and a pin sharp blade of grass. ;-)

Tags:   Something a little different... Some things that are worth focussing on... ...but probably worth photographing better than this! from The Book of Brilliant Things Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home, Your house is on fire, Your children shall burn! I quickly came to the conclusion as a small child that my parents were either a bit grim or possibly insect pyromaniacs

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View Larger On Black

There’s an extraordinary irony surrounding this picture…

If you look at the text within the picture, not only did it provide me with a natural title for the image - as you can see, the woman became a little wary of me pointing the camera in her direction - but the charmless guy she was with virtually threatened to disembowel me with a single kick, too!

As soon as I saw her sit under the image, I knew that wonderful headscarf/head symmetry couldn’t be missed. But, unusually at the zoo, there weren’t too many people around, so it was quite difficult to get the candid shot. With this style of imagery I’m extremely loathe to ever ask permission first because…

Firstly, I’d spend my entire time in conversation. And secondly, and most importantly, people rarely pose in a way that is remotely natural or works with this form of image making.

Anyhoo… the guy suspiciously approaches me and asks if I’m taking pictures of him. I begin to briefly explain what I’m doing and, without really even listening for more than a split second, he immediately goes off the scale! Waving his arms - and disembowelling leg - shouting “This is illegal!!” and looking beyond me, seemingly, in an attempt to get an audience. Undoubtedly the most extraordinary reaction I’ve ever had to a photo being taken of someone. I politely asked him to calm down, which only served to invite potential apoplexy. I equally politely suggested that it was only a photo I took and not his soul. “Go away! Now!” he yelled. I quietly went and sat down opposite – much to the amusement of the intrigued audience. However, for him, this didn’t appear to be far enough, and he paced up and down, almost snorting, in a kind of no mans land between the two benches. I’m pretty sure he even got the attention of the silverback gorilla on the island behind me!

So, for those of you who haven’t nodded off, tuned out or lost the will to live while reading all this about a photo… [You know, those things that can metaphorically paint a thousand words, so you don’t have to read them! ;-)] …here’s the dilemma: I worked up the image, as I still really liked it. But should I have respected that reaction - as ridiculous and irrationally disproportionate as it was - and deleted it?

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. © All rights reserved.

Tags:   Life in seven pages artlibre bird brain The Very Wary Bristol Zoo watchingtheanimals streets peoplewatching monochrome female candid animals willgortoaportfolio

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View his beautiful Dog Day Afternoon contentment Large On Black

Tags:   This has been my desktop for three days... ...there's something about his demeanour which reminds me to chill : ) Bath Dogs Streets Horse biscuits the little dog laughed

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Incontrovertible proof that some sharks close their eyes when they move in for the kill Large On Black

Wild Planet series: 2 of 10

Tags:   Wild Planet Bath

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