Eye of the turtle

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Eye of the turtle

May 15, 2015 by Mike Powell

When you can see your own reflection in an eye, you know that you have managed to get really close to a subject, in this case an Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) that I encountered this past week while walking through the woods at my local marshland park.

Of course, it is equally possible that I am imagining things and the reflections are merely those of the trees and the sky. In either case, I really like the isolated, almost abstract view that I managed to get of the eye of the turtle.

Posted in Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, Reptiles, spring, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Eastern Box Turtle, Huntley Meadows Park, Tamron 180mm macro lens, Terrapene carolina carolina | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on May 15, 2015 at 4:57 am | Reply AnaLuciaSilva

Beautiful!
- on May 18, 2015 at 8:23 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. AnaLucia. I was happy that this closeup shot worked out as well as it did.
on May 15, 2015 at 5:51 am | Reply Gill McGrath

Great photo!
on May 15, 2015 at 5:52 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I’m surprised that he let you get so close without pulling into his shell.
on May 15, 2015 at 6:52 am | Reply Ed

Should’nt that be the eye of the tiger? Great shot.. 🙂
- on May 15, 2015 at 1:21 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I just can’t imagine Rocky getting psyched up with a song called Eye of the Turtle. Thanks, Ed.
  - on May 16, 2015 at 5:44 am Ed
    
    Did you see the remake of Rocky with a 60 year old Stallone? It fits… 🙂
on May 15, 2015 at 7:56 am | Reply judysbirds

Very cool photo, Mike! Not just close but so super clear.
- on May 15, 2015 at 1:24 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Judy. I was shooting with my macro lens, which helps me get some pretty good shots, even when I am hand-holding it. When I get that close I really have to concentrate on being steady because the lens is not image-stabilized.
  - on May 15, 2015 at 6:39 pm judysbirds
    
    Then that photo is all the more amazing!
  - on May 15, 2015 at 6:53 pm Mike Powell
    
    However, the fact that it is a 180mm macro lens on a crop sensor means that it functions simultaneously as both a macro and a telephoto lens.
on May 15, 2015 at 8:05 am | Reply Lyle Krahn

The eye has it! Great close up to provide this most unusual view.
- on May 15, 2015 at 2:17 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It seems like I am always trying to get closer and closer, whether it’s with a telephoto lens or, as was the case here a macro lens. Eyes fascinate me and postings this spring have featured the eyes of turtles and snakes among others.
  - on May 15, 2015 at 5:36 pm Lyle Krahn
    
    The eye is a great window
on May 15, 2015 at 9:15 am | Reply Boeta: RumblingOcean & Having fun with camera blogs

Awesome photo.
on May 15, 2015 at 2:36 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Great photo! Aside from the reflection, the textures are wonderful.
- on May 15, 2015 at 5:19 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Laura. I definitely agree that the different textures are fascinating
on May 15, 2015 at 11:04 pm | Reply krikitarts

ICU2!
on May 16, 2015 at 7:35 pm | Reply naturesnippets

Amazing! I’d never think of that much of a close-up.
on December 13, 2017 at 1:02 am | Reply Five Eyes [series]: Mike Powell – Exploring Colour

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