The “here’s looking at you kid” portion of today’s title, comes from an old detective move with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

All of today’s subjects are wild and free. No zoo shots or captives of any sort.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. While I do not agree with that, I surely understand why some might think so. The eyes often either make us feel warm and fuzzy, or scare us half to death.

It is not that often that we can get serious eye contact in our wildlife images, but when we do, it is always a bonus. With or without direct contact, the subject does become personal in a sense. With eye contact, it becomes intimate.

Direct contact where the subject is looking straight at you, is the most powerful. When the eyes or an eye are in the photo, it adds a sense of humanism.

The first is a Snowy Owl telling me that it is not intimidated by me. That stare, borders on a challenge The subject wants me to know it is watching me.

This next one says “I am sneaking a look at you”! I was watching too, and as usual back then, I had a camera to prove it.

Assorted stares right into the eyes of the camera. Or the photographer.

It even works to a degree with the magnificent, complex eyes of insects.

The jeweled eyes of frogs are very photogenic.

No doubt, this straight on stare into the camera lens, allows future viewers to feel they have a personal relationship with the subject.

Side views are less powerful but still they work.

We are mammals and eye contact, even in a photo, feels as though there is a meaning to it. Mammal to mammal.

Even when the eyes are nearly closed and we can barely see them, we know they are looking right at us or through us.

The eye of the Chipmunk.

Even somewhat distant behavioral pix, have an added feeling of life when an eye is showing. Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel.

An eye, keeping check on me as I make the photo.

Kestrel, vole, and an eye.

A moth on a flower. Once again, one eye is better than none.

Sometimes dark birds have dark eyes that do not show up in a photo. Still, just the fact that it is clearly staring right at us due to the position of the head, we feel a connection to the creature.

Below we have a comment by someone who most of us know today.

We all have a right to our opinions, and someone who speaks for those who cannot truly speak for themselves, is okay by me.

We could only hope that those who do this to vulnerable children, whether they do it thinking that this is a great way to reduce population growth, or they get off on the power of life and death, or it is a hospital or doctor that are just filling their pockets, that at the very least, they sterilize themselves and relieve the rest of us from their bloodline.

Gee, somehow I think they will not.

That last paragraph above is not a very Christian way to share an opinion. I will not apologize to the world for it, as I meant what I said. I will however ask God for forgiveness.

God Bless,
Wayne