Our recent icy weather spawned an idea and I acted quickly to put the details of my photo shoot together. A little water, a little ice and a beautiful model could make some magic.
This is what happens when I try to tell a model what to do!
I arrived dressed for the occasion in a comfortably warm down jacket and I noticed that she flaunted a politically incorrect thick fur coat. It looked so natural too!
I was hoping for a model with that timeless slick-back look preferably complemented by an ample girth and some distinguishing features. I wanted a beaver but the beavers’ model union had forcefully declined and, alas, I was stuck with the muskrat they had offered up instead. They claimed I had made some disparaging remarks about beavers in the past. What a sensitive bunch! I tried to hide my disappointment but the shoot must go on.
Initially, I was put off by the muskrat moma’s big feet, untrimmed nails and yellow teeth. I also noticed her whiskers could have used a trim but I’ve learned not to make any suggestions about these matters with temperamental models. One wrong word and the pouting begins and the next thing you know she’s locked in the underwater dressing room!
As we started to work together to make photos, I gained a new appreciation for Melicia the muskrat. She moved with poise and grace and wasn’t afraid to slide her large body in and out of the frigid water.
Melicia posed like a pro and I had a great time capturing all her amazing looks. She seemed unaware of her natural beauty. She was so comfortable with me that she stopped regularly to eat. Then she’d go back to posing and just generally showing off.
We worked well together that day and I’m pleased with the results. I just sent the photos to the beavers’ union to show them how good Melicia looked. That should teach them a good lesson! Score one for me on the beaver feud.
Melicia seemed to have a voracious appetite and stopped regularly for vegan snacks.
They know when they look good!
Krahnpix 
What a wonderful post, excellent writing and amazing photos! I’m going to follow You because I need more of those ☺ cheers!
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Happy to have you along for the ride! Glad you enjoyed the post.
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That is one sexy model you have there. I have to ask: did you pose her, or was she a natural?
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I posed her all right, giving lots of direction which she totally ignored and did her own natural thing.
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Models are so difficult to work with sometimes. A lot of them are crazy, I have come to learn.
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The only one making that coat really look good!
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And it’s a perfect fit!
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What a beauty that Melicia is! You were lucky to find a model that knows her angles so well. Were the reflection shots her idea? They are gorgeous!
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Oh yes – she kept admiring herself in the reflections. She knows she’s got the look.
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A fascinating creature, great post Lyle – I’d take a beaver over a muskrat as well but you do this beauty well (I suppose being out in the lonely wild after a while, everyone tends to look more beautiful). 🙂
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I think you hit the nail on the head. When a muskrat is the only creature I see on an outing, it starts looking pretty amazing!
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Awesome captures Lyle – the reflections are just perfect! Melicia is quite a beauty queen;)
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She’s a beauty all right. I hope this all doesn’t go to her head!
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🙂 🙂
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Marvellous blog post, yet again. It’s always a joy to read your posts and pure happiness to see them!
There are also side-effects to reading your posts, though, and not always of the appreciated kind. Like now, I’m walking around singing “The shoot must go oooooon!” to myself… and everyone around me. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your muskrat meeting! 🙂
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Well the muskrats are inspiring you too! It’s contagious and funny. Glad you enjoyed the post – side effects and all.
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Fantastic shots.
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Thanks. I had fun!
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Great opportunity that you made the most of, Lyle. Great story as well. Truly a series of glamour shots with a gorgeous model. She’s a natural.
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I’ll be sure to tell her – I’m sure she will be pleased! She’s a beauty in her own special way.
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I didn’t even know you were feuding with the beavers union! Love the water and the shot where she’s got her feet up on her head is adorable.
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Take my advice and don’t mess with them – they mean business:) I was fortunate to get off a few hundred shots and got some different poses.
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Really great photos and story. I enjoyed both very much.
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I forgot to ask. What lens were you using?
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I used a 500 mm lens with a 1.4 extender.
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Happy to hear. The muskrats can be inspiring – who knew?
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I loved (and laughed at) your story line, Lyle, and your photos are simply spectacular–the details you were able to capture of the fur and the rest of the muskrat’s body are incredible. The scenario you imaged with temperamental models is one of my personal nightmares and one of the reasons I don’t like to photograph people–imagine how much work you would have had to do in Photoshop if this mode had been human!
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I completely agree with you when it comes to the potential nightmare of dealing with temperamental models. It definitely fuelled the inspiration for the story. I think I’ll stick with wildlife. Your comment about PhotoShop made me chuckle. Happy to hear you enjoyed the post.
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Love the attitude. Is that Tony Orlando and Dawn that I hear singing in the background?
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It most certainly is!!
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Notice how he turns to the side and dips his chin slightly to hide his problem areas. And if I’m not mistaken, that’s how a muskrat makes duck lips.
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Exactly! And there definitely are a few problem areas!
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Yeah, that tooth whitening regimen really needs an overhaul.
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I was quite surprised at that. I thot sugar was the problem!
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Sorry, Melicia, but your hands are really creepy. Especially when that photographer dude managed to capture them upside down in the reflection of the first shot. Really, get a manicure! Your feet are nothing to write home about either. Nice coat, though, and the camera does seem to love you! 🙂
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I heartily agree with you on all counts! Great comments. There is quite a contrast between her hands and feet.
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What a look. What a face. What a coat!!
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And the coat fits so well!
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What a superb series and that wonderful light.
Love the DOF too.
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I knew the ice was partially covering the lake so I hoped to find a beaver or muskrat and was so pleased to get some time with one. The good light helps especially with that wet fur. Glad you enjoyed them.
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There is a striking resemblance between mouth and claws on its front legs? With a bit of fantasy (and a little good will) you’d be seeing two animals sitting on the top of each other?
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It’s amazing what a person “sees” with a little creativity. Perhaps the unusual look of the muskrat helps.
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Hilarious post, Lyle. OMG.. she’s so cute! Great read. 🙂
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I had a little fun with this one. Glad you enjoyed it.
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I did. 🤗
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Those are amazing!!
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Thanks. I appreciate that.
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Looks like we could all take a lesson from Melicia–she seems to be “very comfortable in her own skin”! Smart the glamour photographer who could see past the “issues” and accent her natural beauty, highlight these and let the other stuff just diminish in significance. I hope to see you work together sometime in the future! You have brought out the best in each other!
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I’m certainly game to work with her again but we’ll have to see if she is willing. I am quite intrigued by her unusual features – it’s hard to make things like that up.
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Now that’s a real muskrat, and a beautiful one! You are too far north for Nutria.
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Interestingly I had never heard of nutria so I had to look it up. Looks like an interesting creature.
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I just happened to post a photo of a nutria as the feature photo this month. Although nowhere near as nice as your photos, it shows a young nutria wandering through the orchard at night. We don’t see them very often here. I posted a link back to your post so people can see the differences between muskrats and nutria, as at least a couple of people thought the visitor was actually a muskrat. The muzzle is the first dead giveaway.
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It certainly looks like a mini-muskrat! Good to learn about new creatures.
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The City of Portland, Oregon, has a good side by side description of beaver, muskrat and nutria, and the differences. We have all three riverbank dwellers here in Oregon. I had a few farmer friends who are quite familiar with these rodents on their own property check the photo as well. None of the three are critters we normally see wandering through this far from the river.
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/article/348260
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Good to have some facts. I just assumed it was smaller than the muskrat from the photo. Thanks for following up.
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