Today is World Photography Day, so I thought that I’d focus on something pretty essential for photography: light.
This photograph of a red squirrel was taken in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in Aberfoyle at the end of October 2018. I’m well aware that this isn’t one of my best. It was taken from a hide that was packed with other photographers and people just there to enjoy the squirrels, so I couldn’t move my position to take the photo. I had to kneel on the ground behind some other people sitting on benches and kind of shoot over their shoulders and between their heads! This isn’t ideal, particularly when you know that the squirrel is likely to bounce off at any moment. So, why bother? Why not just give up? Because the light was beautiful.
It was late afternoon so the light was nice and low, bathing the squirrel, some of the leaves and the bark of the tree in its warmth. The composition of this image is a bit messy and the squirrel is partially hidden, but the light manages to clean it up and makes it interesting. Without the light, it wouldn’t be a photo I’d feel was worth sharing.
The result was well worth the pain and bruising in my knees!