Not Yogi

 

It was where a large branch had been cut off but in the late evening, with the shadows playing their tricks, it looked as if an animal was hanging onto the trunk of the tree.  Add to that, my imagination, and suddenly there was a small bear in my backyard.

Not wanting to startle it, yet wanting quickly to snap a picture, I quietly went back into the house to grab my camera.  Fortunately, when I returned, it was still there hanging on.  Ever so slowly I eased myself around to where I could get a good shot of the thing.  I knew for sure, however, that if I used my flash the bear would get spooked and either climb higher up the tree or drop off and come charging at me.  Either way, I was ready to run as soon as I pushed the button on the camera.

The part I had forgotten about was the part when my camera sends out a little infrared light, so it can judge the distance and control the intensity of the flash.  That momentary pre-flash was enough to show me the bear was nothing more than the stump of an old branch.  Had this been a selfie - you'd see a picture of an idiot here.

Boo Boo