BRANDON, FL – What may be the most famous squirrel in the world makes his home in Mary McGowan’s back yard in Brandon, Florida.
McGowan has dubbed the squirrel Stanley Sir Fancy Pants-less. She figures he deserves a title after winning her international acclaim and a grand prize wildlife photography award that includes a safari trip to Africa.
“I’m an amateur photographer and take my camera everywhere,” said McGowan.
One of her favorite subjects is the wildlife in her own back yard.
“I always feed the birds but was having a problem with the squirrels stealing their birdseed so I set up a little area just for the squirrels to come and get nuts,” she said.
She was photographing the frenzy for nuts one day when Stanley did something unexpected.
“He was making these crazy gestures like a nut went down his throat the wrong way or something,” said McGowan.
McGowan said she had only seconds to capture the moment on camera.
“I took just three shots, and one of them ended up a winner,” she said.
In the photo, Stanley is holding his arms up as if to warn a fellow squirrel to stop invading his nut turf.
McGowan captured the photo: “Stop right there!”
It proved the be the “decisive moment,” a phrase coined by French humanist photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
On a lark, McGowan decided to enter it in a photography contest.
To her shock, her photograph was a worldwide hit.
Last month, the Born-Free Foundation flew McGowan to London to accept the Overall award, Best on Land award and People’s Choice award in the foundation’s annual The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Her photo, which was among 41 finalists, beat out a picture of a polar bear looking through a telescope, hugging lizards and a hyena with “wings.”
“I’m on Cloud 9,” she said “My family and friends just can’t believe it. Out of thousands of entries, my photograph won.”
The grand prize for the overall winner included a “trophy of a silly monkey,” a camera bag and a luxury safari for two through Kenya led by Alex Walker’s Serian Creatures of the Land Safaris.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’ve always wanted to go to Africa,” she said. She and her husband, Ed, are in the process of scheduling their dream trip.
Since winning the grand prize, McGowan’s famous photo has appeared on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the BBC and on the National Geographic website
Although McGowan said her photo of Stanley is probably a once-in-a-lifetime shot, she continues carrying her camera everywhere – just in case.
Photos courtesy of Mary McGowan
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