Photographer Niki Colemont has spent a considerable amount of time over the past five years photographing the red squirrel, and one of his focuses has been catching the little creatures in mid-air as they jump from tree to tree.
Colemont is a Belgium-based photographer finds peace through photography to help heal the wounds of a tumultuous childhood — Colemont was four years old when his late parents fled to Belgium to escape the Rwandan genocide.
A self-taught photographer, Colemont has learned everything he knows through trial and error over the years.
The photographer says that the best way he has found to capture these kinds of photos has been with a wireless remote, manual focus, and a shutter speed of 1/2500s. His lens of choice is a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary.
His squirrel photographs are captured in a private nature area located in a small village called Diepenbeek.
“Red squirrels are impressively agile,” Colemont says. “While jumping, the tail is held horizontally behind the squirrel and, although it does not act as a parachute, it helps improve the squirrels aerodynamically.”
“I wanted to see how I could capture a squirrel in the most difficult and intense way,” Colemont says. “I wanted to see their expression when they jump.”
Colemont says his goal is to both share the beauty of the red squirrel as well as to create pictures that brighten people’s days in uncertain times.
You can find more of Colemont’s work on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Image credits: Photographs by Niki Colemont and used with permission
Author: Michael Zhang
Source: Petapixel
