This must be egg-laying season for Eastern Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) for I have seen them on multiple occasions this past week far away from the water that is their normal habitat. I spotted this venerable one in a grassy field at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
I am happy that I was able to capture some of the turtle’s wonderful skin texture and serious expression in this head-and-shoulders portrait. I do realize, of course, that turtles do not really have shoulders—I used a bit of artistic license in characterizing the portrait with those words (and in calling myself an “artist”).
Many people say that snapping turtles look prehistoric to them, but I tend to think of Yoda every time that I see one. In my mind, I imagine a snapping turtle speaking with Yoda’s wisdom and unusual grammar structure with expressions like, “Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” (Lots of wonderful Yoda quotes like this one can be found at yodaquotes.net.)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I like the idea of turtles talking like Yoda !
Like it you do. 🙂
🙂
Very nice portrait, Mike, with the grass in the foreground and tilt of her head. I’m still in awe of their size.
My oldest daughter will love this…a Star Wars fan since childhood and loves Yoda’s wisdom. If a snapping turtle talks, it must be Yoda-like! Benjamin is going to be thrilled examining this enlarged photo tomorrow. Amazing photo! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
They start laying in about the second week of June here so I’d guess yours would do so a little earlier. It’s all about the temperature, I think.
That’s an excellent shot!
Benjamin is visiting all of the posts that he has missed. “Mr. Mike, this is a great picture. I like his squishy neck and his nose in the air.” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!