There is nothin more common in the Northern Latitudes then the Columbian Ground Squirrel! And when it comes to the basic challenge of making the uncommon of the common, you can easily find hours of fun in chasing the Columbian with your lens. In early spring as the snow is still melting away, they are coming our of hibernation and they have two things on their mind, food and sex. That means photographers who are patient meld into the background. This gives you the opportunity to shoot them at their level making the uncommon out of the common.
With food and sex on their minds, getting close physically is rather simple. All it really takes is a little time and observation. They will telegraph where they like to sit and spy on each other and that’s where you need to get. Shooting with the D4s & 80-400VR3, the top image was taken while I was down on one knee. Shooting at 400mm, the CGS went about lookin about, groomin and defending its little piece of turf. Shooting at its level puts the viewer of the photograph staring in its eye making a physical contact. That’s important. The bottom photo taken with the same rig, the CGS went up on a rock so I could shoot standing up and still be eyelevel. Both are basic biology that get the viewer involved and that’s where you want to take your wildlife photography.