It was a beautiful autumn day here in Arkansas. I decided to take a quiet walk down one of the county roads that winds through the forests near the Ouachita National Forest. As I strolled along, breathing in the fresh air, I kept my eyes peeled for any little creatures I might spot alongside the road.
Land Snail Inching Across a Yellow Fall Leaf
That’s when I noticed a tiny land snail making its way slowly across the dirt path. Its shell was a mottled shade of brown, blending in with the fallen leaves and twigs around it. I watched as it inched along, heading straight for a bright yellow leaf up ahead.
Knowing this would make the perfect photo subject, I quickly grabbed my camera and crouched down near the leaf. As soon as the snail reached its destination and crawled up onto the smooth surface of the yellow fall leaf, I began photographing it.
The yellow background really made the earthy shell of the snail stand out. I love photographing small details in nature like this. It’s so easy to rush past little moments like these. Taking the time to pause and appreciate the small things can reveal a lot of natural beauty, if you know where to look.
I’m always keeping an eye out for small creatures when I’m out hiking or exploring the forests. They may seem insignificant at first, but they can make for really unique and artistic photographs. This particular land snail photo is one of my new favorites from recent outings. I’m glad I took a chance on this impromptu photo shoot along a quiet country road. You never know what natural wonders you might discover when you take it slow.
I was hand holding a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with the Canon EF 100 – 400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached. I was also using a Blackrapid Camera strap.
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Aperture f7.1
- ISO: 1250
- Shutter speed: 1/200 of a second
- Focal Length: 400 mm
