• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

Armadillo Interrupted

© Michelle Alton

Armadillo Interrupted

Uploaded: February 17, 2010

Description


--------
On a rural Arkansas road, driving from Russellville to Petit Jean State Park, a small kettle of Turkey Vultures were lapping up the last edible bits of an unfortunate armadillo, when our car interrupted their meal.
-----
It was a weird, eerie scene on this drizzly, overcast morning, with patches of sunshine occasionally peeking through.
---------
A peculiar bunch of friends dining together!
---------

Exif: F Number: 13, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/125 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 160, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 50.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Comments

Michelle Alton February 17, 2010

The rest of the story... #1239703

Tammy M. Anderson level-deluxe February 17, 2010

Fantastic story telling images, Michelle. Well done. #8388355

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe February 17, 2010

Everybody has to eat... Excellent capture and story Michelle! Turkey Vultures are amazing to watch - They are one big family when they are out flying together! Jeff #8388373

Douglas Pignet February 17, 2010

Nice story and kewl capture on this back road. #8388382

Aimee S. McMaster February 17, 2010

...the circle of life...what a find Michelle...your shot looks like a scene in a movie.... #8388403

Jack Gaskin February 17, 2010

No question a DARK SCENE as if from a S. King Novel.
If you dine at The ROAD KILL GRILL you can not afford to be PICKY about the Menu. The carcass shot would look good on a TEE SHIRT= Arkansas BBQ


Happy Shooting
Jack #8388436

Gord MacEachern February 17, 2010

You captured the mood perfectly Michelle, very well done. We have lots of turkey vultures up here but no Armadillos. Up here the vultures fav road picnic is the Ground Hog. #8388442

Carolyn M. Fletcher level-classic February 17, 2010

There are no live armadillos..Too cool shot! #8388445

Ken Smith level-classic February 17, 2010

I like the first two shots... not so sure about that last one! LOL I used to live in Russellville for 7 years...many, many years ago. Nice mood in these shots, Michelle! #8388484

Jyri Vissak February 17, 2010

Nice shot! Well done. #8388537

MELODIE C. ROBERTS February 17, 2010

Morning Mickey
I'm Tettering on The Edge ;0)

Fantastic Chronicle!! #8388547

Colette M. Metcalf February 17, 2010

Excellent capture!!!! #8388579

Courtenay Vanderbilt February 17, 2010

You have captured that eerie mood exquisitely, Michelle! Love the foregoing comments! #8388590

Carolyn Morgan February 17, 2010

The sense of mystery and impending ???? permeates your image. As always I appreciate (and look forward to) your behind the scenes comments and images.
Sorry - you can keep the road kill - tooooooo much for me :) #8388616

Agnes Fegan level-deluxe February 17, 2010

Wow...I hope you got out of there fast lol! Terrific images Michelle! #8388643

Vickie J. Jenkins February 17, 2010

Think I like the second shot best. It, too is a little mysterious. We have to trap Armadillos all the time because they tear up the yard and flower beds, so it's good enough for them! #8388806

Amy M. Wilson February 17, 2010

Wonderful eerie, moody capture, Michelle! #8388973

Monnie Ryan February 17, 2010

Interesting, very moody scene, Michelle -- I had no idea there are armadillos in Arkansas (and now there's one less, I guess...)! #8389120

Ellen Hodges February 17, 2010

Wonderful moody awesome shot(s), Michelle!! #8389282

Jack Ryan February 17, 2010

Great find and an interesting image of it. Very creatively presented...love the moodiness. Nicely done. #8389430

Betsy Labuschagne February 17, 2010

Excellent capture Michelle!! #8389486

Tiia Vissak February 17, 2010

great tones & mood! #8389520

Tamara K. Walker level-classic February 17, 2010

Looks like they pretty well had it picked clean.
#8389750

Kerry Hill February 17, 2010

Excellent moody scene and capture Michelle!! Nice work!! #8389859

Stefania Barbier level-classic February 17, 2010

love the mood and PS work... beautiful! #8389947

JudyAnn Rector level-classic February 17, 2010

Love the eeriness you have captured, Michelle... excellent!
#8390071

Laura E. Swan level-classic February 17, 2010

Ok. SO MUCH for finishing my lunch. Photo # 3 did me in!

HA!

Actually this is all very cool and yo do write like a novel writer.

You had me at "It was a weird eerie scene on this drizzly, overcast morning..."

I WANT MORE! Loved the comments on this thread! Especially, JACKS! Too funny.

-Laura #8390118

Shelly A. Van Camp level-classic February 17, 2010

Beautiful image, Michelle!! #8390237

Joao Martinho February 17, 2010

I like the gray and cold tones of this composition, Michelle. Also the sense of photo report of wildlife as it is (in the nature nothing gets lost...)! #8390240

Barbara Waldoch February 17, 2010

Yes, ears are very attractive :-)
Terrific capture, Michelle! #8390362

Ron McEwan February 17, 2010

Boy that is a familiar scene here in the mid west Michelle. We laugh here, in that we never see a live armadillo. #8390402

Tammy Espino February 17, 2010

LoL On Jack's comment!! I always think they know something when I am walking in the desert and I see them circling overhead me.ha! They are kinda scarey big birds.
Love your capture of these guys and the story. I noticed those big armadillo feet!! Yikes! #8390519

Laura L. Gonzales level-classic February 17, 2010

WOW Michelle, great capture of "natures clean-up crew"!!! Nicely presented, and the color, tones and mood are excellent!!!! Great job! Laura:) #8390655

Tommy E. Burgess February 17, 2010

Outstanding capture of nature playing out it's daily show of survival Michelle!! The do have a face only a mother could love but like Laura said they do serve a very valuable niche in our ecosystem. Wonderful find, capture and mood!! #8390735

Brett Dolsen February 18, 2010

Gotta love country roads you never know whats gonna be around the next bend!Great Mood and treatment Michelle!! #8390824

Yulianto Soeroso February 18, 2010

dramatic #8390840

Nadia Paul February 18, 2010

Outstanding wildlife capture Michelle! #8392922

Robert K. Bemus level-classic February 19, 2010

Great MT entry and very eerie indeed!! Nothing like a little roadkill armadillo to start out the day!! #8393372

Derek D. Dafoe February 19, 2010

Cool shots Michelle!! #8393488

Amanda J. Tanner level-classic February 19, 2010

Wonderful wildlife capture and story Michelle except for what Douglas calls Road Pizza...LOL! Nice work ! #8393535

Mariann Kovats level-classic February 19, 2010

Wonderful wildlife capture, Michelle! Nice treatment too. #8394237

Manuel Barrera February 19, 2010

They help maintain the balance and prevent the spread of disease, wonderful nature capture. #8398107

Dick W. Wyatt February 20, 2010

Just think what our roadsides would be like without the "cleanup" birds.

Fun shot. #8399966

Mike F. Anderson February 20, 2010

Nicely presented mood, Michelle! Looks like a candidate for a cover photo for a book; possibly a mystery or suspense novel; something weird & eerie as someone has described it ... #8402001

Mitch Spence level-classic February 22, 2010

I had to look at this one closely not only because it's interesting in itself but because it looks like here. We've gotten armadillos migrating up from more southern areas in the last few years, and boy do they do a number on gardens digging for food. And of course I had to survey their meal closely. I've seen lots on the road being chomped on by buzzards but never saw closely what the result was. Boy, they do a number on that armor, don't they? #8407198

Beth J. Orick February 27, 2010

I LOVE This!!!! #8421083

Amanda Haddox March 01, 2010

Wow, what dramatic image, Michelle! This has such a dark feel with the stormy sky above, the birds hovering around the kill on the road and those in flight leaving after completing their desecration. The tones and your composition with the lonely country road and what is taking place upon it, a haunting scene. Very gripping and emotive capture! Well done!! #8423455

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.


 

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.


 

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

You &

Love It!


Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Michelle Alton.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.