This morning, on my daily walk, I started thinking about the image in relation to the stories that photographers tell. For instance, these stories may materialize as they show the image to a friend or participate in a critique. They are as important as all the other forms of storytelling that go hand-in-hand with taking photographs.

The most recent photos (attached) are of Rover the Goat, aka, Bruce. (Bruce is what he’d like to called.) Rover/Bruce is a head case. We butt heads a lot. It would not be this way if I didn’t attempt to interact with him to the degree that I do. Every day now, we go for walks.

Rover (aka Bruce)

I had a bit of problem with him getting into the tack room/food storage area. This began occurring in the mornings, prior to our morning walks. I made a behavioral comparison to dogs. Leave the garbage in sight and they’ll go for it. This is just what canines, and apparently caprines do. I told Pete what was going on and he put a bolt-type latch on the door. Problem immediately solved.

Bruce sill body slams on walks. But less so. When he forgets, I kneel down and tell him that I am not a food source. He then leaves me alone.

What we have here is a case of good goat/bad goat behavior. Rover’s buddy Ranger is always on his best behavior. The same is true of Peaches. The two trot along nicely, and never, ever get in my way. Why, I wonder, can’t Bruce be more like his herd mates?

I decided to take a photo of Rover before writing about him. I got the camera and went outside, and looked around, and then zoned in on the axe by the chopping block. I’d previously taken several photos of it. The light bulb then went off, as I put goat and chopping block together. The chopping block best typifies the adversarial relationship that people have with goats. It also, at times, typified my relationship with Bruce. Oddly enough, the communicative pathways between he and I are the most open.

Now, about the photo’s technical details: ISO 100, should have been 200 or 300. Shutter speed between 60 and 125th of a second, leaning towards 125th since I was attempting to catch movement. (Goats never stay still.) My aperture setting was mid-range. I tried a few shots with a more open aperture, and they were blurry.

The light was flat, there was little contrast. I don’t think I’ll attempt to reshoot this subject in this particular setting. This photo does an adequate job of emphasizing what I’m getting at.

Next: 102. 3/20/12: Sporty