Turtle Time!

This is the time of year for turtles to lay their eggs.  It's usually about a three-week period that they wander up from the swamps, ponds and lakes to higher ground, seeking the perfect spot.  For decades now, our backyard happens to be the perfect spot for two different turtles that simultaneously lay.  One was a little shy and remained inside her shell while I was there, the other poked her long neck out of her shell and didn't seem to mind my presence while she busily dug the nest.

Finding this small snapping turtle while on my lunch break the other day, prompted a quick photo shoot!

In order to shoot at the angles and perspective that I prefer when photographing reptiles and amphibiams, I put my belly on the ground (just like theirs!)  It's one thing doing it in my backyard, and another when the turtles are in the road like the one above and the ones below of another turtle I saw that same day.  I don't like to move them from the exact spot I find them, so as I lay in the middle of the road, I also have to be keenly aware of the sound of approaching cars to keep myself safe.  The following photos show what a close call it can become for me! 

Unfortunately, the turtle wasn't so lucky.  As I was shooting it, I suddenly heard the roar of a bus speeding down the road, and I knew I only had SECONDS to get myself up and off the road--without even a split-second to spare to grab the turtle.  If I had, the next image would have been a lot messier!

Stunned by the bus whizzing past, stunned by the crunch under the wheels, stunned by my own close call, I was also stunned by the colors spewed on the ground before me, and realized that sometimes--just sometimes--there's beauty even in death.   Of course I photographed it, said a quick prayer, and solemnly walked away.

Posting these turtle images reminded me of some old favorites from last year that seems fitting to re-post.

This snapping turtle, wet and muddy, had just crawled out of the pond where we live to cross to the other side.  The setting sun hung low in the sky, casting a bronze glow on the massive creature.  I was stunned by the long claws, the "piggish" face, and the trademark jagged edge of it's shell--matching the pattern of it's firmly-shut mouth.

And this favorite of mine: