Photographer At Work

Day 188: Yesterday, I had the privilege of being part of "Team Lisa" during a walk for MS in Portland, OR. Our team captain was none other than my good friend and fellow photographer, Lisa's brother Kevin. Kevin and I have different photographic styles, his leaning more toward captures with human interest: faces and events, images which tell stories in and of themselves and have (in his words) "emotional resonance." My style, as you well know, is more analytic, framed to show field characteristics for making identification of species. Occasionally, though, we dabble in the other's specialty, and in the default environment of the urban throng, I was stretched to find subject matter in a sea of strangers' faces. Although I took several decent candids of Kevin which showed his smile and eyes, this is the portrait I preferred, specifically because it does tell a story...or perhaps because I've identified him previously and didn't feel a further need to capture his field markings.

Madame Skunk

Day 358: Skunk is clearly the Queen of the Household, and enjoys bird-watching from her favourite chair. She came to me as a kitten almost twelve years ago, scrappy little thing who had whipped a pair of dachshunds after they killed one of her siblings and then went after her. The lesson she taught them was not without cost. She came close to losing one hand in the encounter. Having come up the hard way, it's best not to surprise her if you value your skin, but when she is ready for love on her own terms, she will shove aside anything in her way to take possession of a lap. She endures rambunctious, rowdy Tip with the patience of a saint for the most part, but he knows that when she spits at him, she means business and he respects her authority. Skunk rules!