In the right place at the right time

 Being in the right place at the right time and being ready to take the shot are just as important in wildlife photography as having the right gear and camera settings.

Squirrel looking at me from the nest. See EXIF by clicking on the picture. 

I took the above picture while hiking at Crews Lake Park in Pasco County. As I was walking away from the pier, I noticed a squirrel running toward a tree and disappearing into a hole. I thought that was the end of it until I saw its head sticking out of the hole, looking right at me.

This experience highlights an important lesson: you can’t make animals pose for you. Instead, you need to be ready to seize every opportunity nature presents. Knowing your camera and its settings is crucial—you should be able to adjust them quickly, almost instinctively, to capture those fleeting moments.