Before the sun fully rose above the mountains, I was already walking across the Brevard College campus with my 600mm lens over my shoulder.
The grass shimmered with morning dew, birds called from the treetops, and the cool air carried the earthy scent of damp leaves, old bark, and fresh mountain soil. Somewhere among those towering trees, Brevard’s most famous residents were already on the move.
The white squirrels are much more than local wildlife. They are part of Brevard’s identity, appearing throughout the community and even inspiring the annual White Squirrel Festival each May.
Photographing them is another story.
One second, I would catch a flash of white racing across the lawn. The next, I was trying to lift a heavy lens, find the squirrel in the viewfinder, lock the focus, and compose the image before it disappeared behind a tree.
More than once, I was ready to press the shutter when my subject suddenly launched onto another branch. So I followed, waited, adjusted my position, and tried again.
Then one of these curious little creatures began climbing headfirst down the trunk of a massive tree. For just a moment, it paused. I found the frame, focused on its eye, and captured the photograph before it darted away again.
That brief moment made every missed opportunity worthwhile.
I believe every animal, from the great elk of the Smokies to these playful white squirrels, is part of God’s beautiful creation. I was thrilled and deeply grateful to spend that quiet morning chasing my furry friends around the campus and capturing a little piece of what makes Brevard so special.
