Close Encounters of the Tortoise Kind

[Second Hand Pat]

The gopher tortoise which lives in my front yard was out today and I couldn't resist grabbing the camera and having a tortoise opt. So I laid down in the grass to get to his level

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7547/16147514938_03e818e9e4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qAUeBY)DSC_7061 (https://flic.kr/p/qAUeBY) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[Second Hand Pat]

He walked towards me and suddenly I was staring down the lens at him.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/16147728330_91ed4b22a5_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qAVk49)DSC_7066 (https://flic.kr/p/qAVk49) by phusband56 (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[Second Hand Pat]

So I backed away...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8608/16149207897_09f2d96071_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qB3USV)DSC_7070 (https://flic.kr/p/qB3USV) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

and here he came again

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7546/16309157526_5eb92e1ba1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qRbGk9)DSC_7074 (https://flic.kr/p/qRbGk9) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[Second Hand Pat]

and one for the road

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8680/16147711250_7b5f5478de_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qAVeYE)DSC_7096 (https://flic.kr/p/qAVeYE) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[Disgirl]

Great shots Pat! Our turtles are all hibernating now, good to see some out in the winter. Do you feed them? Or they find their own foods? How long have you had them? I think this tortoise likes you!
Barb

[Second Hand Pat]

Great shots Pat! Our turtles are all hibernating now, good to see some out in the winter. Do you feed them? Or they find their own foods? How long have you had them? I think this tortoise likes you!
Barb

I was really surprised to have this guy come right up to the lens Barb. Maybe he saw his reflection and thought it may be a foe or possible mate. He is a wild tortoise but lives close to the house. I do not feed him but since he eats various plant in the front yard I do not use fertilizers. He really like to eat right after I mow the yard.

[brewmaster15]

I'm Jealous! It would be great to have tortoises like that here in my yard in CT!:) Very cool candid shots Pat!. I have always found gopher torts to be a challenge to photo as they seem to always come out in harsh light. Got some very nice shots there.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7546/16309157526_5eb92e1ba1_c.jpg

I really like the glimpse of the claws in this one. thats why they are such keen diggers.

al

[Second Hand Pat]

Al, they have some serious claws and thanks on the kind words on the photos. :D I am rather happy with some of the pictures. He actually did come up to me a third time and I offered him some tender grass but he seems more interested in my fingers so I withdrew my hand.

[Rudustin]

Great shots Pat. How big is he?

[blueluv]

Great photos Pat.

[Second Hand Pat]

Great shots Pat. How big is he?

He is good sized Rufus, sort of like a fat football. Bet he weights between 5 to 7 lbs...and it is a male.


Great photos Pat.

Thanks Chris :)

[rickztahone]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/16147728330_91ed4b22a5_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/16147728330/)
DSC_7066 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/16147728330/) by phusband56 (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr
This is a great shot because the DOF is very narrow that it renders the background very well. You must have been quite close to pull that off at f/5.6

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7546/16309157526_5eb92e1ba1_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/16309157526/)
DSC_7074 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/16309157526/) by phusband56 (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr
While the first shot was a great one, this shot is compositionally the best shot and most pleasing. The diagonal subject translates well here and the top right part of it's shell brings you on to the shot and transitions well in to the subjects face.

Great shots overall and I am glad you got down on the ground to take these shots :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Ricardo, in the first photo the tortoise walked right up to the lens. So yes, close lol. It just seemed the right thing to do to be at the same level with the tortoise. I am overall quite happy with this series of pics.

[rickztahone]

Thanks Ricardo, in the first photo the tortoise walked right up to the lens. So yes, close lol. It just seemed the right thing to do to be at the same level with the tortoise. I am overall quite happy with this series of pics.

How do you feel you could have improved?

[Second Hand Pat]

Well, I tried to keep the tortoise with the sun on it to avoid the shadows. The tortoise had a different agenda.

[rickztahone]

The shadows actually create a great contrast which I really like, especially for this subject. I think you did great.

[Second Hand Pat]

The shadows actually create a great contrast which I really like, especially for this subject. I think you did great.

What would be your suggestions for improvement?

[rickztahone]

The 2 shots I mentioned were pretty spot on. The first one was just a tad bit overexposed, but you could fix that in post by sliding downt he highlights. The second one could have been improved by doing...nothing. That is how I would have taken that shot, and I would not have processed it much. Spot on focus. Great job. The one nitpick, and even if I would have taken it, would have been the front foot area. I would have loved it to not have been covered by the blade of grass. That is just me being a perfectionist though.

[Second Hand Pat]

Thank Ricardo, it doesn't much better than that :D

[Second Hand Pat]

Came home from a lunch date with hubby and had two tortoises in the front yard. This is the male and he did not really want to hang around. I call him Big Gray

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/17382254485_7eb22a3900_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/su1AER)DSC_8871 (https://flic.kr/p/su1AER) [/url]

and this one is a female and I call her Little red. She didn't seem to mind my company.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8735/17194697830_eedbecabe7_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/)DSC_8884 (https://flic.kr/p/scrjBq)

and more than happy for a little snack
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8759/16761997543_e60d132191_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/)DSC_8889 (https://flic.kr/p/rxcBTD)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7782/16759760614_9b72902a42_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/)DSC_8900 (https://flic.kr/p/rx19VU) [url=https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/]

[dagray]

Great tortoise shots.... I bet you moved like the rabbit to grab your camera when you saw them :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Great tortoise shots.... I bet you moved like the rabbit to grab your camera when you saw them :)

You bet I did Dave :)
Pat

[rugal]

Very nice Pat. My pond has a turtle living there but i want a tortoise too :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Very nice Pat. My pond has a turtle living there but i want a tortoise too :)

Hi Rugal, these are actually wild Gopher Tortoise. They visit my yard for tender grass shoots. They especially visit after I mow the yard. Do you have pictures of your turtle. :)
Pat