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I’ve Been Photographing Red Squirrels For 6 Years, Here Are My 19 Photos To Show How Acrobatic They Really Are
Hi, my name is Niki Colemont and I am a nature photographer living in Belgium. I’ve been photographing red squirrels for 6 years now in different locations. I have no formal education and I learned everything through trial and error.
Red squirrels are impressively agile. While jumping, the tail is held horizontally behind the squirrel and, although it does not act as a parachute, it helps improve the squirrel aerodynamically. I wanted to share this post to show you how acrobatic red squirrels really are and to brighten up your days in uncertain times.
Check out my other photographs of squirrels I shared on Bored Panda by clicking here, here, here and here.
More info: nikicolemont.be | Facebook | Instagram
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The most exciting thing is that you don't always come home with photos that you have in mind. Sometimes the unexpected can happen and that's what makes it so special that you can't predict nature. Also, squirrels are very smart and persistent. They don't give up easily and that's what I love about them. They are the perfect models.
You have to gain the trust of wild animals and get the perfect shot without even having a formal education. I learned everything through trial and error. Not to mention that you have to be really lucky, and the animal sometimes doesn't show up at all.
For the future, I recently bought a drone and I want to explore the beauty of the planet from above!
I hope to inspire others to go out and enjoy nature as it has so much to offer, especially during unexpected moments, which makes it all the more special an experience to be there and enjoy it, with or without the camera.
Make art, not war.
These are the gorgeous red squirrels of summer! Mine are also much more red in warmer weather, but they their "winter white" coats on now. I love how that leaper hangs on to that nut, too. He might fall out of the tree, but he'll still have that NUT!
Thousands of TREES are being planted on this earth by the Squirrels. They hide their precious NUTS & many times they forget to come back to get it. In the meantime the Nut grows to be a Plant and then the new TREE is added to the Nature. These tiny creatures are Very essential to the Planet's existence.
Niki, you have taken some beautiful photos. Especially as the red squirrel in the UK had been bred out by the grey squirrel. I think the only reds we have left are in Scotland somewhere.
Nature is BEAUTIFUL, yet many of us don't respect & appreciate these natural wonders we are being given privilege to experience & enjoy. I love the Nature & it's INHABITANTS as well.
Pro tip: If you feel you sad, google 'Babysquirrels'..if this doesn't help to to put a little smile on your face, your soul is finally dead
These are awesome photos! How do you capture them in motion like that without it getting blurry? Is it a certain type of lens?
Very nice! It's really cool that you were able to get such pefect action shots.
This will mess with peoples heads - the U.K. is soon to introduce oral contraceptives (laced food) rendering grey squirrels infertile, in a bid to save the red squirrel. The grey is an invasive species doing a lot of damage, so we're taking action. Couldn't believe it when I read as much the other day...
This was on the news in Canada too. BC has a grey squirrel problem
Load More Replies...This is one of the squirrels I've been trying to train to come when I shake a can of walnuts. This guy now shows up, without prompting, looking for his treat. This picture is of him peering down at me where I sit - he does this every time, now. I'm pretty sure he's making sure I'm where I need to be and to let me know he's here for his snack. 20220720_0...fbf6d3.jpg
Question: do you think that squirrels, when they jump, feel the same "fear" we feel when we make a big jump or is it no big deal for them, like walking is for humans, for example. Like, I walk and I don't even have to think while I'm doing it, I don't think "ok one step then the other step and then I'll get exactly there, ok c'mon now", while If I have to make a big jump I make an estimate, i ponder before doing it. Does it make sense?
No big deal, convinced. They do it all the time and so effortlessly.
Load More Replies...These are amazing! As a wildlife photographer, I can tell you they are hard to do as well.
Beautiful squirrel pictures I needed this! I made a squirrel feeder years ago and get to watch the grey's all day long as well as 2 baby black squirrels that just started coming around! No way to be depressed in my house when I can sit on the couch and watch out the window all day and see my favorite squirrels!
Niki! Gij zijt een machien!!! Altijd op Fb aant zien of ge er nieuwe hebt
Oh my gosh I need a squirrel. So cute. I was in NY for the second leg of my honeymoon in January and the funniest thing I saw was a squirrel bounding through the snow all majestic like until Poof! Disappeared because he hit a thick part of snow. lol I hadn't laughed that hard in a while. He was fine he even peeked up and looked around like "Did anyone see that?" Yes my dude, I did and I loved every second.
Pro tip: If you feel you sad, google 'Babysquirrels'..if this doesn't help to to put a little smile on your face, your soul is finally dead
These are awesome photos! How do you capture them in motion like that without it getting blurry? Is it a certain type of lens?
Very nice! It's really cool that you were able to get such pefect action shots.
This will mess with peoples heads - the U.K. is soon to introduce oral contraceptives (laced food) rendering grey squirrels infertile, in a bid to save the red squirrel. The grey is an invasive species doing a lot of damage, so we're taking action. Couldn't believe it when I read as much the other day...
This was on the news in Canada too. BC has a grey squirrel problem
Load More Replies...This is one of the squirrels I've been trying to train to come when I shake a can of walnuts. This guy now shows up, without prompting, looking for his treat. This picture is of him peering down at me where I sit - he does this every time, now. I'm pretty sure he's making sure I'm where I need to be and to let me know he's here for his snack. 20220720_0...fbf6d3.jpg
Question: do you think that squirrels, when they jump, feel the same "fear" we feel when we make a big jump or is it no big deal for them, like walking is for humans, for example. Like, I walk and I don't even have to think while I'm doing it, I don't think "ok one step then the other step and then I'll get exactly there, ok c'mon now", while If I have to make a big jump I make an estimate, i ponder before doing it. Does it make sense?
No big deal, convinced. They do it all the time and so effortlessly.
Load More Replies...These are amazing! As a wildlife photographer, I can tell you they are hard to do as well.
Beautiful squirrel pictures I needed this! I made a squirrel feeder years ago and get to watch the grey's all day long as well as 2 baby black squirrels that just started coming around! No way to be depressed in my house when I can sit on the couch and watch out the window all day and see my favorite squirrels!
Niki! Gij zijt een machien!!! Altijd op Fb aant zien of ge er nieuwe hebt
Oh my gosh I need a squirrel. So cute. I was in NY for the second leg of my honeymoon in January and the funniest thing I saw was a squirrel bounding through the snow all majestic like until Poof! Disappeared because he hit a thick part of snow. lol I hadn't laughed that hard in a while. He was fine he even peeked up and looked around like "Did anyone see that?" Yes my dude, I did and I loved every second.