AzarÉl Greetings’ guitar photography sessions turned out to be one of the most time-intensive sessions I’ve ever done. It took stick-to-itiveness, tenacity, and sheer stubbornness beyond the realm of sanity! Usually, a scene is photographed for several hours in a single day. Sometimes I’ll work on the same scene a second day. However, determined to get a gorgeous guitar photo with a bird, it was photographed for more than twenty-one hours over seven days. That’s about 2,361 photos. (I keep track of the count because curious folks like to know.) These photography sessions usually started around 6:30 in the morning with multiple cups of coffee. Most sessions ended around 10:30 am. Remember I said I was determined?
While the tale of “Garfunkel” the guitar-playing squirrel is entertaining. I know the opinion on squirrels is about 50-50 out there. So, for those who grimace at squirrels, the story ends with bluebirds.
Enjoy the video behind this tale. (It looks best in full-screen mode.)
Where’d the Idea Come From?
“The Earth has Music” is a lovely AzarÉl photograph that features a tiny violin. George Santayana said, “The earth has music for those who listen.” Those of us who enjoy the outdoors know how true this is.
One day at a craft show, I was talking to a dear woman who has become a friend. “I’d like to photograph more musical instruments. Maybe a guitar,” I said.
“Well,” She said, “I work at a guitar company and can get one for you.” She generously gave me two half-size guitars and even had one of them restrung. They weren’t cheap guitars either; they were big-name guitars. (Sorry…I can’t name the brand.) Though beautiful instruments, they were slated for disposal. It was very hard to put these guitars outside.
The background scene went through a lot of changes. I like simple and elegant scenes for musical instruments. That means lots of green moss and ivy. A single red rose always makes a beautiful accent. The white blooms in some photos added a nice airy accent.
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The hardest thing was positioning the guitar. Viewing from the side gave it a lower profile. Its ungainly shape, with the long skinny neck, made it hard to balance the body of the guitar. It wouldn’t stay in position. I remember considering putting stones inside the guitar to weight it. I struggled getting it to remain in place, but finally managed to make it stable.
Many times, the birds and critters have no problem getting used to the object on the feeding platform. The size of the guitar kept them away for a while. Of course, you know the first ones to the food: squirrels.
Day 1 – After almost two hours, a squirrel finally showed up. His name? Garfunkel. If you recognize the name, we’re probably from the same generation. ;-) Garfunkel’s size was a better match to the scale of the guitar than a small bird. Garfunkel was not what I’d imagined, but I’d play along with him.
Day 2: Garfunkel was back with two of the boldest of birds: blue jays.
Day 3: More Garfunkel photos.
Day 4: Today, Garfunkel was a rainy-day guitar player, and it looked like his paws were in motion as he played. I wondered if I should I keep on taking photos.
Day 5: Garfunkel smelled the rose. Aaaaw! So cuuuuute!
Day 6: Garfunkel played the guitar!!! I heard it! …and he came back to do it again! Crazy squirrel. Imagine pulling on a guitar string with your teeth. That’s cringe-worthy! A dentist would not be happy about this. The information below kind of sheds light on how Garfunkel could play the guitar:
“The incisor teeth of a squirrel grow continuously. Annually the teeth will grow 6 inches however the constant use and wear keep the teeth short. Relative to its size, the squirrel’s jaws are the most powerful of any animal.”
(Fun Squirrel Facts from the City of Olney)
Day 7: More Garfunkel photos and a nuthatch.
My tenacity had finally run out. Mid-May just didn’t seem to be the time to get photos of a beautiful bird on the guitar. Garfunkel had made the experience memorable and delightful. I hope he’s entertained you too!
P.S. About a month later, I did three more days of photo sessions with the guitar. This time I got bluebirds! That’s another story. Check out the guitar with bluebirds:
Music Gives Wings to the Soul
12″ x 18″ giclée canvas print
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Music Gives Wings to the Soul
Small Triptych: 20″ x 33″ wide
Three10 1/2″ x 20″ panels
Music Gives Wings to the Soul
Large Triptych: 30″ x 49.5″ wide
Three 16″ x 30″ panels
Original Photography
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Giclée Canvas print, 20” x 30”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
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Giclée Canvas print, 16” x 24”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
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Original Photography
Giclée Canvas print, three panel triptych, 20" x 33" (w/ 3/4" gaps)
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
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Original Photography
4" x 6" handmade photo block, Original Photography
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Giclée Canvas print, 16” x 24”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
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Giclée Canvas print, three panel triptych, 30" x 49 1/2" (w/ 3/4" gaps)
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
| 2999 Left in Stock | ||
Giclée Canvas print, 16” x 24”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
| 3000 Left in Stock | ||
Giclée Canvas print, 20” x 30”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
| 3000 Left in Stock | ||
Giclée Canvas print, 16” x 24”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
| 3000 Left in Stock | ||
