The Itinerant Photographer: Photographs from Five Years of Wandering with Wildlife and the Stories behind Them by Allen Max

Author:Allen, Max [Allen, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Animalia Press
Published: 2013-12-19T22:00:00+00:00

Snapping Turtle in a Stare-down

Hinsdale, New Hampshire

300mm, ISO 100. Evaluative metering at 0: 1/4 second at f/9

One spring, I was working on a study of river otters along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont. I had been out for the day documenting the river otter activity in some local wetlands, and on my hike home I found this snapping turtle. She was digging a hole in which to lay her eggs in the soft dirt along a gravel road.

Snapping turtles prefer soft, sandy soil for laying their eggs, and the edges of gravel or even paved roads work just fine. They can lay anywhere from a dozen to six dozen eggs, the size of golf balls. Once laid, the eggs are covered over with dirt and are then abandoned to hatch on their own. With luck, the baby snapping turtles make their way back to nearby wetlands.

Snapping turtles up close seem like prehistoric monsters, with the spikes on their chin and the ancient gaze of their eyes. Another prehistoric trait is that they will eat anything they can get their jaws around, whether it be fish, amphibians, carrion, or aquatic vegetation.

I decided on the square format to eliminate any distraction from the gaze of the snapping turtle. I wanted to draw the viewer’s attention in to the nose, hooked mouth, and calm gaze. My plan was to place the eyes above the centerline of the frame, and allow the turtle to fill the rest of the photo.

Considering the prehistoric gaze, the predatory nature of snapping turtles, and their ferocious reputation, it was with some trepidation that I laid down on the ground in front of it. However, I believed this would give me the photo I was looking for. Also, knowing she was laying eggs, I felt my chances were good that she would stay put. She did, and the photo I was imagining came to life.

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