DAY 254

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Narrow Depth of Field

CATCH A SQUIRREL, BLUR THE REST

There is a saying: “Hurry up and wait.” Wildlife photography can be that way. You prepare as much as possible, then when you get in the field, you wait, and nothing presents itself. Might as well call it a day. Then, opportunity comes running on all fours.

Driving home one day, I remembered a friend mentioned spotting a rare, light-colored squirrel in a local park. I swung by the park on a whim. Lo and behold, there it was: a light-colored squirrel sitting at the base of a tree, eating a nut.

Photo © Bill Diller.

Equipped with a telephoto lens, I walked slowly toward the squirrel. It scampered up the tree as I approached, so I hurried. The best view would be to frame the squirrel with leaves around it, but I wanted the animal to stand out. Opting for a narrow depth of field, and with camera in Aperture Priority mode, I selected the lowest number f/stop, focused, and got my shot. —WTD