When the weather is nice, many turtles emerge from the waters of the ponds to bask in the sunlight. Often I will see turtles jammed so close together on logs that it looks like a mall parking lot just before Christmas.
During a recent visit to Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, I spotted an Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) that had found a solitary perch that was just big enough for a single turtle. The only problem was that the tree was sticking out from the water at a sharp angle. I could not tell, but suspect that the turtle had dug the claws in its front feet into the bark to keep from sliding into the water.
I love the serene look on the face of this turtle—it seemed to be in a meditative state, a picture of peaceful contentment.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Cool… he does look like he is immersed in a morning meditation. 😌
Mike, I love his tiny claws and look on his face, too. What a beautiful capture of “nature” finding peace in nature. The look on the turtle is how I feel when I’m in nature! 🐢
Spectacular image. I like the use of the diagonals within the composition with the subject and the reflection. I also think you’ve done a lovely job of capturing the range of textures in the bark and the turtle.
Wonderful picture!