One morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I saw a big crawdad trying to cross the road in front of my truck. I stopped, picked up my camera, and walked over to it. Even though the crawdad was small, it felt like a special moment I wanted to capture.
My friend Mia McPherson, who is also a photographer, was with me. She took a picture of me sitting on the road with my camera aimed at the crawdad. We both knew this was one of those cool wildlife moments you don’t forget.
Taking a Closer Look
When I looked through my camera, I noticed a lot of neat details. The crawdad’s claws looked strong like armor. Its long antennae glowed in the early light. Its dark eyes were shiny and focused on me. One of my favorite photos showed the crawdad holding its claws up high, ready to defend itself. It was a small but powerful pose.
A lot of people think wildlife photography is only about big or rare animals. But sometimes the small and common creatures can surprise you. It’s fun to notice the little things.
Moving It to Safety
After I got my photos, I carefully moved the crawdad off the road. Cars drive by often, and I didn’t want it to get hurt. Helping it get back to a safe place felt like the right thing to do.
Even small actions like this matter. Saving an animal and getting a good photo is a win-win.
Why I Enjoy These Moments
This crawdad reminded me why I love taking pictures of wildlife. It helps me slow down, pay attention, and care more about nature. If you spend time outside, try to notice the small animals too. And if you get the chance, help them out.
Camera Settings
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Aperture: ƒ/10
Shutter Speed: 1/500
ISO: 6400 (Auto)
Exposure Compensation: +1.0
Focal Length: 500 mm
Related Post
For a similar moment from a few years ago, check out this post: Crayfish Crossing the Road
Photographing you photographing that crawdad was as much fun as photographing the crawdad for me!