Bill Jennings's Photoblog
Meerkats (Suricata suricatta)
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 17 June 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
San Francisco Zoo.
The meerkat motto: You get by with a little help from your friends. Welcome to the strange social life of one of Africa's most beloved carnivores. Read more from National Geographic's article on the Meerkat.
Just made it home after a month of travel - posted a few photos from my journey to within 48 miles of the antartica circle: at nearly the longest day of the year: hence, there was 21 hours a day of sunlight...
Thank you for your patience while I was out of touch.
I do hope you followed Bob Kelly's blog (my roommate) while he is still traveling - he is now on Easter Island - and will be updating his blog for some time to come - please check it out!
Barbara from Florida, United States
A cute pair. Like they are cloned. Both facing the same way focused on something interesting. Nice clarity and detail of the Meerkats set against the colors and soft DOF. I like the profile shadow of the one on the left.
They are interesting creatures, thanks for the NG link.
17 Jun 2009 5:34am
@Barbara: thanks Barbara - glad you like this pair !!!
Dulcie from Danville, United States
You've captured their identical stances and furry textures beautifully!!!
17 Jun 2009 6:25am
@Dulcie: Glad you like it Dulcie!
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
lovely shot, Bill. I almost posted photo of these little ones today, but mine wasn't as good as yours so I changed to the Ostridge!!
17 Jun 2009 7:27am
@Sarito: well, that's ashame - I'd love to see your meerkats another day !!! I really liked your Ostridge today.
Chimti from New Delhi, India
awww! they look like the cutest pair on earth! wish humans were in sync like this, then there would be peace :) meerkats are so cool!
17 Jun 2009 7:43am
@Chimti: they are cool indeed - and I agree, if we could get our act together, peace would be a natural consequence.
Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States
Such sweet faces, well captured, Bill. they are so much fun to watch as they scurry around.
17 Jun 2009 11:41am
@Judy: thanks Judy - I did enjoy watching them at play for a while
@Linda: thanks Linda - glad you liked the photo.
@Sarah: incredibly cute !!! thanks for the visit and comment.
@john4jack: thank you Jack
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
faaabulous synchronicity!!! a superb and humorous shot!! :)
17 Jun 2009 3:03pm
@dj.tigersprout: thanks DJ - the pair together were having fun, which always makes a great image!
@Sugata: Thanks Sugata. I do believe this lens is one of my sharpest in the camera bag: it's definitely a top favorite of mine. It was my first day using a teleconverter with the lens, and I was very happy with the results. (300mm prime, with a 1.4 TC).
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
A superb shot, beautiful photo !
17 Jun 2009 4:03pm
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Thank you Marie-Helene.
B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States
Very nice shot of this cute matching pair. Like the shadow of the one too.
17 Jun 2009 4:04pm
@B. Thomas: Thank you Barbara - the symmetry of the two, with a little difference (the shadow) appealed to me.
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
What a fabulous matching pair!! Awesome moment to have captured Bill.
17 Jun 2009 4:34pm
@Mandy Provan: Thank you Mandy - glad you like this pair !!!
Roman from Thunder Bay, Canada
those guys are so cute !!! They lined up like soldiers on a parade !!
cheers
Roman
17 Jun 2009 4:44pm
@Roman: Both looked simultaneously at an unexpected noise - and I was quick to capture them... Glad you liked these little soldiers.
Ajay from Pune, India
Look at them, the way they are looking at one direction. Looks like something interesting was happening to their right. You really composed this shot very well, Bill.
17 Jun 2009 4:47pm
@Ajay: They did indeed look to their right - snapped to attention, and I took the shot when it happened. Composition was spontaneous, but it worked.
Srujan Chennupati from Hyderabad, United States
Good shot, Bill. They look like twins. They are so cute. No wonder why people love them.
17 Jun 2009 5:10pm
@Srujan Chennupati: They may be twins - they sure look the same size and weight.... I loved being able to photograph them at the zoo: they were fun to watch: always on the move !!!
Lambspun from Madison, Maine, United States
What cool little creatures captured perfectly!
17 Jun 2009 5:17pm
@Lambspun: Thanks Lambspun - they were fun to photograph.
@Loner: Thanks a bunch for the kind words on this image !
Dawn from Maryland, United States
Looks like double trouble! : ) This is awesome Bill! Great timing and capture indeed.
17 Jun 2009 6:32pm
@Dawn: Thanks Dawn - I really loved the image when I got home, and downloaded them for processing.
@Steve Rice: Super thanks x 2 !!
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
so cute love the expressions that you have captured on their faces
17 Jun 2009 7:39pm
@jamesy: Thanks Jamesy. Glad you loved their faces!
@roentarre: The bokeh was a nice benefit of the small f/stop - which I needed to keep the shutter speed up while hand holding the effective 600+ mm lens... (1.6 crop factor with 30D, and the 420mm lens/teleconverter) - but thanks, I like the bokeh as well ;).
@LauraS: friends forever!
StarCosmosBleu from Bedford.Qc, Canada
They are a curious species...somehow they are popular everywhere...they are just so cute...lovely shot...nice color tones
18 Jun 2009 4:43am
@StarCosmosBleu: yes, amazing how popular they are isn't it?
@Daniel: indeed they are, thanks!!!
Anina from Auckland, New Zealand
Awesome!!! These little guys are so cute! I love meerkats. :)
26 Oct 2009 8:52pm
@Anina: Thanks for following hte link - I love watching them: always up to something!
Canon EOS 30D
1/2000 second
F/4.0
ISO 400
420 mm