Wildlife photography is a serious pursuit. Except when it’s not.
Oh sure, there is highly refined gear to master, an artistic and technical learning curve, and it really helps to have luck mixed with whatever patience I can muster. The eagerly awaited results can be jaw dropping or mortifying – both only add to the hopelessly addicting drive to get better images. Science is searching for a cure.
Don’t you think she looks cuter with just a bit of tongue peaking out?
I may take myself too seriously but it never happens during wildlife photography. It all feels rather important and exciting until that climactic second when I press the shutter and wonder if I just took a photo of a creature relieving himself. There is a complicated mathematical formula to determine the odds but somehow the answer is always yes.
Other less serious moments include trying to take a photo without a tongue wandering around the photo. Did these wildlife conspire to ruin my photos or just pose for selfies – for the life of me I can’t tell the difference!
Once I started to take note of the preponderance of tongues in my photos, I was quickly impressed. Some of these animals have world-class tongues! The only obvious course of action was to post my first tongue collection. I’m only surprised it took me this long.
So what’s your least favourite tongue in this group of unusual suspects?
Click on any photo to open a larger gallery view with captions.
Krahnpix 
Priceless what a collection had to Tweet this blog Lyle – round of applause
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It’s always great to have someone amused by my eclectic posts. I just couldn’t resist this one.
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Haha! What a theme!
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I’m glad I’m not entirely predictable.
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Great collection of shots, capturing these perfect portraits ~ and better captions. A great, fun read for the day, thanks Lyle!
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Fun is what I was aiming for so I’m glad it hit the mark.
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I didn’t see this until after I posted my latest post, but clearly you and I are on a similar psychic wavelength! These are hilarious.
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That’s fantastic. I missed your post but the timing was remarkable. And, of course, you provide much more useful information and a whole different set of tongues.
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A really fun post …. What a collection!
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It is a rather odd collection and I’m glad you saw the fun. It just seemed like a waste not to do something with them.
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These are great, it would be fun to make a slide show with music
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I’m sure the wildlife would love the attention!
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I’m glad you choose to feature this aspect of wildlife photography, this is the kind of stuff that needs to be explored! Tremendous photos all but I especially like the bison. Now I’m off to get an ice cream cone.
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Sometimes when I go where others don’t, it’s like where did everyone go? I might have guessed the bison had your name on it. The subliminal ice cream effect – that’s why I craved it even when it was snowing here!!
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What an awesome collection. You really do have quite many of them! I think I enjoyed the woodpecker-tongue most, because it was nicely different from all the mammals’.
I guess all these creatures walking around licking their lips must mean that they find their food really delicious – or that they’re thinking about what you’d taste like…
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Hmm – thankfully most of them are herbivores as for the rest, you might have a good point!
I have been chasing wildlife for a while so it helps to grow the collection. I agree that woodpecker has a tongue that that is wildly different. Apparently they shoot it out and back really quickly so I was fortunate (read lucky) to get it.
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Ah, finally a niche we can all point to and say, now there’s something I haven’t seen before. A tongue collection. In some ways alluring and in others, frightening. It is a bit of behavior that is common enough, but one that rarely is featured. They are all well done, Lyle.
I am afraid to Google “tongue collection”.
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You make an excellent point about there being so many things the same. I was pleased to be able to provide something a little different. They certainly elicit different reactions from people.
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Lyle, this is your funniest post ever. What a great compilation of photos. You have such talent.
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When I go into uncharted waters (I’d never seen a tongue collection before) I’m always interested in how others like what I do. I sure wasn’t expecting that compliment!
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Ha! It’s fun to imagine all of these creatures being annoyed at the photo shoot and showing their disapproval accordingly. I’m amazed that you have enough for an entire collection. [I may or may not be sticking out my tongue at you out of envy. Deal with it as you may.]
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I’m dealing with it by laughing out loud!! When it comes to gathering collections of animal photos in poses I didn’t want or outtakes I do pretty well. I’m also pretty good at disapproving looks from people and animals.
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I have a pretty impressive collection of every kind of teen-agerish face but smiles from my daughter. Do those count?? 😉
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Absolutely!!
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An interesting collection of mug shots. Do pronghorn antelope really have black tongues? Or had that animal been eating licorice??
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It’s the only tongue I’ve ever seen from them so I’m happy to go with the licorice theory. The bison might have have gotten into a couple of flavours.
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They are all really good, Lyle. Hard to choose! But I’ll take the buffalo…
My favorite tongue belongs to the humble honeybee. They are quite long!
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I don’t recall seeing that one. I’ll have to check it out. I appreciate your comments.
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These are all so comical. Love the young deer and the bear. Sorry Mr. Mule, but your tongue is my least favourite. 🙂
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Who knew tongues could add comedy? They are as different as the animals. I’m glad you enjoyed that motley crew.
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Least favourite: the big tongued moosey thing. Favourite: the bear – though I do seem to be developing a fondness for bears from reading you blog.
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That’s excellent. It’s all the encouragement I need to post more bears!
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I just simply didn’t need to know that bison used their tongues as hankies! But as always, the photography is excellent along with the content. I think you’ve got this category licked. Can’t wait to see what comes on the tail of it… 😀
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Well I wasn’t sure if anyone would be lapping up this post. I’m happy to note you overlooked the useless and enjoyed the trivial. And you are right – it has been a while since I did a butt collection. I appreciate the creative feedback.
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Ha, I bet you were licked after putting this post together! Great shots Lyle.
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It certainly felt that way!! Glad you enjoyed them.
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I love this group of tongues even more than your periodic butt collection. My favorite might be the last one–I think you caught him practicing some tongue-twisters.
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The funny thing about that last photo was that she was standing there looking at me then started swirling her tongue at me. It really looked personal! Glad you enjoyed this latest collection. I wonder what other sets I have hiding in plain site?
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LOL.. love this.. I love the bird! I started to chuckle when I read “It all feels rather important and exciting until that climactic second when I press the shutter and wonder if I just took a photo of a creature relieving himself.” Happens to me all the time.. The most embarrassing was the following: http://theinsatiabletraveler.com/2013/11/06/wildebeest-poops-photo-kenya/
Mostly because I was so enamored of the lighting and the way the curve of the slope made the wildebeest look that I completely didn’t catch the obvious.. OY…
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I’m glad I’m not the only one. I’m usually surprised when reviewing photos later and wondering what that odd white streak is behind the hawk. They are sneaky! As for the woodpecker, I had no idea that was the tongue until I checked with someone. Apparently it works well to grab the little grubs in tight spaces.
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Quite the impression collection of tongues. I think I like the top photo the best (pronghorn?) because it looks as though he is sticking it out directed at you and I can’t pick a least fave…. all gorgeous shots of beautiful animals.
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And to think I was doing my best to avoid getting this collection – maybe I need to change my strategy. I too like the pronghorn antelope photo the best. As for sticking out the tongue at me, I try not to take it personal. Glad you enjoyed this unusual group.
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