Awareness Archives - Dream Catcher Images by Bruce Finocchio

As A Female Jaguar Rolls Over She Intently Checks Out Her Surroundings

Whispers of the Wild

In the embrace of nature, where the vibrant greens of grass meet the fading light of a day’s end, a moment of pure magic unfolds. Here lies a female jaguar, alert and poised, her raised paw a testament to grace and strength. This captivating image invites us to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the sacred moments that nature so generously offers.

As I observe this magnificent creature, I am reminded of the delicate balance that sustains our ecosystems. The jaguar embodies the wild’s untamed spirit with its striking coat and watchful gaze. She rests not merely as a predator but as a guardian of her realm, reminding us of the importance of preserving these majestic beings and their habitats.

As an artist, I strive to open doorways to these enchanting experiences. Each photograph I capture is more than just an image; it’s a portal into the soul of nature. It beckons us to experience a child-like wonderment, to feel the pulse of life that courses through every blade of grass and every creature that roams the earth.

This alert yet serene jaguar embodies a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of life. She invites us to reflect on our connection to the natural world. Are we taking the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us? Are we nurturing our spirit and allowing ourselves to be enveloped by the awe of existence?

Through my work at Dream Catcher Images, I aim to instill a sense of harmony and oneness with nature. Each click of the shutter reminds us we are all part of a more remarkable tapestry woven together by the threads of life. The sacredness of this moment, captured in time, serves as a gentle nudge to protect and cherish our wild places and the creatures that inhabit them.

Let this image of the alert female jaguar inspire you to seek out your sacred moments in nature. Embrace the stillness, listen to the whispers of the wild, and allow your spirit to reconnect with the earth. Together, we can foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty surrounding us and work towards preserving it for generations.

“To me, cruelty is the worst of human sins.” ~ Jane Goodall.

“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” ~ Jane Goodall.

Pantanal’s August 2024 Jaguars
(To see larger images, click on one)

Along The Banks Of A Muddy Ciuaba River Tributary, A Female Jaguar Deciding To Enter Its Waters

As She Looks Downstream, A Female Jaguar Steps Off The Bank Into The River

Female Jaguar Crossing A Pantanal River During Shallow Level

Female Jaguar Intently Looks Past The Edge of Water Hyacinth Floating Patch For A Caiman

Female Jaguar Keeps Her Head Above The Turbulent Water As She Swims

Female Jaguar Leaps Into Water Hyacinth To Surprise A Hidden Caiman

Female Jaguar Looks Around While Rolled Up From Her Back To Her Side

Male Jaguar Pops His Head Out Of The River Vegatation

Male Jaguar Pauses His Walk Along A River Bank To Look Downstream

Male Jaguar On The Hunt Along The A River Bank

Male Jaguar Cross A Tributary Of The Cuiaba River With A Caiman In His Jaws

Male Jaguar Climbs River Bank Showing The Species Camouflage

Looking Into The Eyes Of A Female Jaguar In Her Water Hyacinth Habitat

Female Jaguar's Cat Instincts Kick In As A Pied Lapwing Walks In Front Of Her

Female Jaguar Uses Long Pink Tongue To Lick Off The Top Of Her Paw

Male Jaguar Walking Along A Crumbled River Bank

Male Jaguar Walks Down A Crumbling River Bank

Male Jaguar With Caiman In His Jaws Recently Caught Along The River Bank

The Intense Stare Of A Huntress, A Female Jaguar Portrait

With Claws Ready A Female Jaguar Springs Out From Water Hyacinth To Capture An Unsuspecting Caiman

With Her Pinkish Tongue, A Female Jaguar Laps Up Water From A Cuiaba River Tributary

With Whipped Water From Her Tail, Female Jaguar Stretches Paw And Claws As She Hunts Caiman

All these factors contribute to a Sunday where I was still very tired. I wasn’t about to miss a morning shooting in my blind at the Upper Pond. However, during the morning in the blind, I kept nodding off. A couple of California Quail came up to the perches that surrounded the pond; it was their constant chuckling that woke me up.

The female and the male flew up to my raptor perch. I took several images of them both. The female quail stayed longer and started calling out. Photographically, I was having a hard time fitting her image into the frame. My 600 mm IS f4.0 lens is sometimes just too tight, and this was the case here.

Female California Quail Calls Out From Behind A Old And Gnarled Oak Branch

I had my 100—400 mm lens with me in the blind just for this case. As I took my camera body off the 600 mm lens, putting on the shorter lens, I looked up and saw that the female quail flew into the little blue oak tree that’s right behind the pond, and out of sight. My frustration was high, for it appeared that I changed the lens in vain, and for nothing.

With the 100—400 mm lens and camera on my lap as the minutes ticked by, I noticed a change in the quail’s chuckling coming from the little blue oak tree. It was different, and I was instantly alert. For these calls were their warning calls that a fox, bobcat, or some other predator was nearby. I had heard them many times before.

I looked out toward the brush line where the jeep road goes up the mountain and walking into my sight line appears a beautiful bobcat. For once I was prepared with the right lens, for all I had to do was raise the camera up from my lap. It has taken many years of coming close and many missed opportunities, I finally had my chance to capture a good image of Bobcat. I have seen them around the ranch many times over the years. My clients have got images of them from the same pond. Somehow my luck and fortune through the years weren’t good.

The bobcat might have come up to the pond to drink, like the Gray Foxes, have over the years. However, I think it heard the clicking from my camera shutter and after about thirty images it turn around and disappeared into the brush. For next time, I need to use the silent shooting mode that’s available on my Canon 7D Mark II camera body, for this mode really reduces the noise coming from closing and clicking the shutter. Then, I might get that coveted drinking image.

Bobbed Tail Up As Alert Bobcat Searches For Prey

The male and female quail were still giving their warning calls, so I knew that the bobcat was still around. After a few minutes, I looked up through what I call the breezeway towards the big metal water tank. There was the bobcat next to the tank sniffing the ladder I have there to check the water level in the tank. It was between the tank and the ladder. I took a few more images before it moved off into the thick brush. As the minutes passed, the quail stopped their warning calls; I knew that the bobcat was gone, and no longer in the immediate area.

Thrilling moments, after a lifetime of disappointment. This beautiful bobcat is now forever close to my heart. I will remember and cherish these moments, every time I look at these images. I am so happy and glad I awakened just in time!