Day 2 on Campus: A Squirrel's Chronicles

Description: This is an Eastern Gray Squirrel who was returning an acorn to its home in a nearby Oak tree. I spotted this tiny squirrel while hanging out with a few friend at SIUC, near the campus lake. This little lady was being chased by another eastern gray squirrel which was a male. which my squirrel-loving friend and I found absolutely adorable.

Location: Southern Illinois University of Carbondale

Date taken: November 19, 2015

Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

Ready for The Winter Ahead

Description: I wish I knew the name of this bird so that I could give it the proper introduction it deserves but I suppose this will have to do.

This fluffy guy was perched in a tree at the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale, near their student center. I was walking around looking for shots to take so I could be done for today and could get out of the cold when I looked into a nearby tree and saw him. The only reason I even spotted him (or her, I don't know what species this is so I can't determine the gender) was because of how fluffy and big he was against the bare tree.

It actually allowed me to get really close. It was so busy trying to keep warm that it deemed it unnecessary to waste energy and warmth to fly away from me. but I actually found this bird unbelievably adorable not only because of it's fluff but because of its reaction to me.

You see, the camera I own is the Canon Eos Rebel T3i. It is an older model in the rebel line and unlike the newer ones in this series, the one I own makes a very loud and noticeable clicking noise while taking pictures. So this little bird caught on to me taking photos and instead of flying away kept tilting its head back and forth at me. it was very cute.

But after a few pictures, I left to give my adorable little friend time to relax and be alone.


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Photo taken: December 17, 2015 (today)

Location: Southern Illinois University of Carbondale

Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

A Waterfall's Beauty

Description: To me, there are few things that are more beautiful than a waterfall. They're so soothing and amazing to watch. I love them whether they are real waterfalls or fake. Even though I wish it wasn't, unfortunately this waterfall that I took a photo of is fake; meaning it is an artificial waterfall, but that doesn't make this shot any less lovely.

This was taken where a lot of my nature shot were, on John A. Logan campus. A friend of mine (who knew quite a bit more about cameras than I did) told me to adjust the ISO on my camera to take cool pictures of the artificial waterfall that was near our cafeteria. So I did as he said and changed the ISO and was able to take this beautiful shot that made the free flowing water look like solid ice. I love this shot but one day I hope I'll be able to take photos of a real waterfall and stand before its beauty.


REMINDER: If you are interested in owning your own copy of this image visit this site:
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Photo taken: November 13,2015

Location:  John A. Logan College

Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

A branches point of view (A Rainy Fall Day #2)

Description:   This is a branch from some species of flowering trees that I see often around here. It might not look like much now but in the spring and summer they bloom with vibrant color and beauty.

On this day, It was raining and had been rain all day. Actually, this was the same day I took the grass and water droplets photo. I thought these pods would look great if I could find the right angle to capture them, so I spent atleast 20 minutes in the rain trying to get a great shot until I decided to continue on in search of more subjects to take shots of. I didn't realize how much I liked this shot until a few days pasted and I moved my photos from that day from my SM card to my computer and decided to upload it to my blog.

Feel free to leave comments on any of my posts if you know the name of a species of a plant and fungi that I do not. It would be very much appreciated.

Photo taken:   November 16, 2015

Location: John A. Logan College

Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

Flowers that bloom in fall

Description: I took this flower shot on the campus of Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. If I recall correctly I was in their beautiful Japanese garden. I adore taking walks through there. I was with an undergrad friend of mine at the time when I stumbled upon this lovely tree with beautiful blossoms on it. I honestly wish I knew the name of this tree but I suppose as long as I was able to capture it's beauty that's all that really matters :).

Photo taken: November 19, 2015

Location: SIUC

Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad (me)

Mushroom, oh sweet mushroom (The unknown fungus species)

Description: This is a beautiful mushroom I found hiding beneath a huge Pine tree and a thick layer of pine needles while on campus. I went outside, earlier that day, and started walking around then I saw this mushroom, then I noticed there were a ton on them everywhere (I almost laid down in a group of them and got covered in their excretions trying to find a good angle for this shot haha.)

Not everyone has a love for these fungi but I can't get enough of them. you can definitely expect to see more mushrooms and different types of fungi on this page :)


Photo taken:  November 19, 2015

Location:    John A. Logan College

Photographer:  Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

Roses in November

Description:   This is a lovely Red Rosebush I found on my school's campus. I thought I had taken photos of most of the flowers on campus already but I realized while wondering around (like I do nearly everyday ) that I had missed one, this beautiful little rose bush in particular. I knew I just had to get a shot of it simply because the lighting was perfect that day. so I stood back, adjust myself slightly, focused on one rose, and snapped this shot. 

Location:       John A. Logan College

Photo taken:  11-19-15

Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad 

Day 1 on campus: A Squirrel's Chronicles

Description:       This is a Eastern Gray squirrel I found the other day just strolling through the beautiful campus of Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. I absolutely love this campus. After living most of my life just 5 minutes from campus, and consisting seeing it's beauty, I knew that I had to catch some wildlife shots here. Most of the year, there is usually an abundances of birds and squirrels, especially during the fall, and this day was no different.

I, myself, do not attend SIUC (although I will be transferring there sometime in 2016). So, to prevent myself from wondering around in circles, I had an undergrad friend of mine show me how to get to all of the pretty places on campus.

As we were walking from place to place, this little guy ran right at us (most likely because most squirrels on campus are use to being ignored and not bothered by being so close to people) but he honestly startled me when he ran towards me so I froze, which I suppose startled him in return lol. Not enough for him to leave the area but enough for him to stroll away from me, dig up a nut of his and climb this tree just a few meters away. This then left me the opportunity to take this shot of him.


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Date taken: November 17, 2015


Photographer: Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

Grasses Point of View (A Rainy Fall Day)

Description:     I woke up this morning to the sound of slightly heavy rain. which probably started sometime early that morning. I was so happy because I have a very strong love for all things rain and simply couldn't wait to got out and get some nice water droplet shots.

So after arriving at school and taking my first 2 classes, I went outside in the rain to find a subject, with water droplets on it, to take photos of. After walking around for a minute a patch of long grass caught my eye. I kneed down, trying not to soak my jeans (I did though, but I didn't really mind), and took this shot. This is actually one of my first times attempting this kind of shot. I mostly never tried taking shots like this before because of how common they are, especially with beginning photographers. but in the end, I just couldn't resist.


Date taken:   November 16, 2015


Photographer:    Aaliyah muhammad (me)

A Bug's World

Description:   I believe this is a Common Male Field Grasshopper. Ironically enough, I found this little guy hoping in some pine needles on my college campus; atleast 3 miles for the nearest field. but this little grasshopper did not like me anywhere near him. normally the grasshoppers I run across are somewhere in the later part of their life and usually don't care if I get into their personal space as long as I'm not approaching them head on but this jumpy fellow would jump as soon as I made one move towards him. but in the end I was able to get close enough to get this shot.


Date taken:  October 21, 2015


Photographer:  Aaliyah Muhammad (me)

Among Cardinals

Description:             This is one of my favorite photos that I took at the beginning of my fall semester. I was looking to kill time before my next class so I went walking around campus. but community colleges tend to be very small and mine was and is no exception. so I decided instead to just sat in one spot and waited for an opportunity to take a shot to arise.

Then, I noticed there was a small flock of birds around a berry tree. I really wanted to get a nice bird shot but I was afraid of scaring them off. The camera I had (and current still have), which is the Canon EOS Rebel T3i, makes a pretty loud noise when taking photos. so I ruled out a close range shots, grabbed my 50-250mm lens, and started trying to get a perfect shot of any of these birds. I originally was looking at the birds perched in the tree but then this beautiful little male cardinal flew onto a broken piece of concrete close to where I was standing and the rest is history.

Date taken:              August, 2015


photographer:         Aaliyah Muhammad (Me)

A Butterfly's Disguise

Here's my first photo I'm posting. I call it a butterfly's disguise 

description:           I captured this picture while just out and about one afternoon. I was walking in a little patch of grass near my yard and noticed, what I first thought, was a moth. After closer inspection, I realized this wasn't a moth but a beautiful butterfly with a very interesting wing pattern, which was probably used to detour different predators.

After noticing this, I then hurried, grabbed my Canon, and took this picture and was very pleased with the outcome. At the time of this shot, I still didn't know too much about basic photography and how to bring certain elements together to create unique pictures but somehow I was able to take this very nice shot.


REMINDER: If you are interested in owning your own copy of this image visit this site:
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Date taken:          July 18, 2015


Photographer:      Aaliyah Muhammad