Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition

I’ve been visiting the local state park over the past few weeks since several bald eagles have been spotted in the area. So far, I’ve not “captured” the elusive bird, but there are thousands of Canadian geese in open water at the mostly frozen lake. Last Monday, I was taking some pictures and spied a rodent approaching a group of geese, who were sitting on the ice at the water’s edge. They were somewhat wary of this foraging muskrat and eventually took flight. So, here is the “juxtaposition” between land-bound and winged creatures. Obviously, the geese don’t have much “Muskrat Love.”

“That muskrat is getting a little too close.”

“Let’s get out of here!”

“To the safety of water.”

“Ah, the ice to ourselves.”

Feasting on underwater vegetation it just pulled up

After watching this muskrat’s intrusion on the gaggle of geese, I spotted what looked like two rocks on the water’s edge about 100 yards away. Through the lens I could see that they were, indeed, muskrats, who were feeding on something. Since this was my first time to see muskrats in the wild, I was intrigued at watching them eat, submerge into the icy water and then emerge with some underwater vegetation to continue their feasting.

For more examples of “juxtaposition,” click HERE.

15 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition”

Lovely pictures!

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cspindler on January 25, 2014 at 6:24 pm said:

Thanks for stopping by, Stefan. Enjoyed my romped in Sweden through your photography.

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Pingback: WP Photo Challenge : Juxtaposition | Cacophony of Contrasts | 1 Click 1000 Words

Nice pictures Chuck! Seems the geese along with the duo that made Muskrat Love a hit (Captain & Tennille) back in the 70’s have parted ways as well.

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cspindler on January 25, 2014 at 8:36 pm said:

Thanks, Tom. I heard about the split this week…and they were married over 30 years and are both in their 70’s! So much for “Love Will Keep Us Together.”

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“Love Will Keep Us Together” was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, so maybe it worked better for them than the Captain and his Tennille. The “split” is disappointing, as they were the only married couple I could think of who stayed together, even through all their popularity, with the possible exception of Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme.

Anyway, while your patience was not rewarded in the area of the eagle, you were able to get something I’ve never captured—a muskrat. I didn’t even know what they looked like. Nice job.

Meanwhile, come check out my Crossed Wires Juxtaposition:
http://fstopfantasy.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/weekly-photo-challenge-juxtoposition-crossed-wires/ 🙂

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cspindler on January 25, 2014 at 10:24 pm said:

Thanks for your comments, Cris. When I first saw the movement of the muskrat, I thought it was a rat. It was fun to watch three submerge and pop back onto the ice to eat the vegetation.

I liked your “juxtaposition” of energy sources!

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- cspindler on January 25, 2014 at 10:58 pm said:
  
  By the way, I liked the way Captain and Tennille gave homage to Sedaka in their cover of “Love Will Keep Us Together” with “Sedaka is back” in the fade out of the song.
  
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- Cris on January 26, 2014 at 12:14 am said:
  
  Thanks, although I hadn’t thought of it like that. Thanks also for being my brain which was out to lunch. That was a lucky catch for me, I must admit.
  
  I didn’t know muskrats were water creatures. Learn something new, even at my advanced age. LOL
  
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