After nine days of not posting about birds I felt the need to get back into it even though I’m still in Florida and have more important things on my mind. I’m beginning to realize that for me blogging about birds is therapeutic. This is actually the post I was working on when I received the call at 5:28 AM about Shannon’s accident (I saved the preliminary post as a draft so I was able to retrieve it while in Florida).
For me an image with significant weaknesses can sometimes be saved by an interesting or hard to get pose. The second image below is an example.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this Savannah Sparrow a couple of weeks ago at Farmington. I’m not particularly happy with the cluttered setting or the shadow on the tail but I enjoyed watching the bird through my lens and popped off a few shots anyway. It’s a cute little sparrow and it’s happy with its surroundings so I probably should be too.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When it took off I got lucky and caught a pose that I’m seldom able to photograph for two reasons:
- Little birds generally take off faster than human reflexes can react (if you’re close enough for good detail) but this one gave me a little twitch just before launching and I was able to capture the moment.
- In the relatively few times I’ve been able to capture a small bird at takeoff I almost never get this wing position, especially from the front. I think it’s an interesting pose, especially with the head turn and eye contact.
Obviously the image has weaknesses but I must like it because I keep coming back to it, largely because it’s a pose that I seldom get in my images. I guess I like the novelty.
Ron
As a proud owner of innumerable images of out of focus tails of small birds, I really like these! I also like the background a whole lot because it’s where these guys live. Nice work to catch that wing pose!
You continue to be in our thoughts. Hope you got my note and will let us know if you need anything.
wonderful detail in the wings … very sweet!! beautiful little face … that gold over the eye and hint of gold beneath is so lovely. Was thinking about you guys a lot today. Sending love.
I pray you can continue to engage your creative impulses for therapeutic purposes even as you, and we, continue to pray for healing for your lovely daughter.
That is the best photo I’ve seen in a long time! I love this little bird in action. These small creatures are so amazing. Thank you for sharing it.
It’s a wonderful image of a bird seen here at Bolsa Chica. Actually I love both poses. You may be addicted to blogging but that’s okay since I and many others, I am sure, are addicted to your blog. All the best to you and family.
Ron – bird observation is somewhat therapeutic. I find it a zen moment. Sometimes sharing those moments with others but mainly just by myself. The bird and I living in that brief moment of encounter.
Nice to see you recharging your batteries! Thinking of Shannon!
Ron, great clarity on these shots of the Savannah! It’s almost like one could read its mind! It’s wonderful to hear the news about Shannon’s progress getting off the vent. Know that you have huge support from this group of your followers. All the best to you and yours.
Great shots Ron! I totally get what you mean that posting can be very therapeutic! That’s what my birding is to me. Hope Shannon improves daily but be prepared for bumps.
Charlotte
HA! Yes, they do act faster than we can think…even the big hawks. If you’re not following their rules, BAM! Suddenly you find a bunch of talons stuck into your hand and you couldn’t even see it happen, let alone think about reacting and moving fast enough to avoid it. Humans are just too slow on the uptake.
Sometimes, technical flaws just aren’t a bad thing because the overall composition overrides them. This is one of those cases and the technical flaws just don’t matter. They’re insignificant. Don’t be your own worst critic! Your photography rocks! And hear that from someone who worked with professional photographers attempting to catch other fast folks doing what they do fast–race cars (although they’re nowhere near as fast as birds). The really good ones will tell you it’s 99% luck–the definition of luck being where preparation meets opportunity 😉
Just delighted to hear of your daughter’s progress and keeping you, your daughter and your family wrapped in my heart.
I love this Sparrow. Mid March, my Hubby and I were out taking pictures of the spring flowers near the Alfalfa Fields in Lancaster Calif. We stopped the car trying to figure out which direction we should head to next, when I noticed a bird not far from us, staring at me. I took one picture, then it flew off. It was a Savannah Sparrow. I had no idea we had that Sparrow in the Antelope Valley. Your pictures are great. I especially like the 2nd shot. Such a beautiful little bird.
Cool! 🙂 Really caught the personality and nice, sharp face. Glad you’re aware that the photography and blog are therapeutic for you. Always helpful in stressful situations to have something that does that – helps keep ones perspective and gives something to do besides worry and fuss even tho those things are very much there. Hope you all are doing well
Ron what a great image. I can feel it start to fly. Thanks
Glad to see these lovely sparrows and to hear you’re taking care of yourself. What could be a better ‘companion focus’ than birds, those gifts from above whose delicacy and fragility are matched only by their toughness and endurance? You and Shannon will continue to be in my thoughts, and I hope the gentle weather (if it is gentle) is soothing, too.
Love both shots…such a cute, vivacious-looking little bird…but, best of all, seeing you ” back in the saddle” and all that implies. Welcome back, Ron! Recovery Road is looking oretty good….
Damned evil iPad sees no reason to be kind and cooperative anymore, so is back to its old tricks…not appreciated!!!
I LOVE this bird’s teeny, tiny, itty bitty feet!
Those itty, bitty feet have pretty long claws for scratching up seeds.
Ron, thanks for the great pose in the second shot and for taking care of yourself so you can care for others.
Excellent shots Ron! I personally like the subject in observable habitat pictures. We see Savannahs here in the spring and fall. Suspect they nest here, but have not seen that as yet.
Thanks for sharing.
Sometimes being with birds is just what the doctor ordered…
Well said, Deborah.
It is a gorgeous LBJ. And a great pose.
Blogging is almost shamefully addictive (and therapeutic) isn’t it? I have blogged for stress relief when my partner has been in the midst of medical mayhem.
I, as everyone else does, still have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed for you and your family. In fact, it is clear that your family has been extended. We all claim you. And feel for you.
I’ve seen some of the support you’ve received from your readers in times of crisis, EC. It helps, doesn’t it? To think that that many folks, many of whom we’ve never met, would go to the efforts they do to bring us comfort is, well… comforting.
Have never met, probably will never meet. And it doesn’t matter. It is a community, and a family. And lovely.
Well said, EC! I agree with you completely.
Hi! You got a wonderful bird taking off! Love the colors and you did great shots! Heard the good news about Shannon! Our prayer are with you and the loved one always! Sybill
Thanks so much, Sybill. We’ve had both good news and bad news, it’s going to be a long haul.
Beautiful Images Ron! All the best you and your family.
Thank you, John – on both counts.
What Arwen said! 😁
Yup!
These are not the highest “art” photos but are important because they show the habitat of the sparrow. And that capture of the takeoff is wonderful. Hope you daughter continues to improve.
I’m glad you liked it Marilyn. Thank you.
Love the bird. Love that you are doing for you. That’s a hard thing to remember when you are in the middle of a crisis.
Thanks, Arwen. And you’re very right…
I think that despite their ‘flaws’, these are both nice photos. I especially like the second one, both for the pose, and for the feather pattern details. When observing birds in the field, it’s not always easy to find them sitting still long enough and close enough to you that you can figure out what they are. I understand your desire to get back to blogging. It is therapeutic to do something you love – apart from the frustrations that come with publishing a blog, sharing the birds and getting feedback from your readers helps with stress relief. And I would imagine you need a lot of that right now. Continued prayers for you and Shannon and the rest of the family.
“apart from the frustrations that come with publishing a blog”
Ha, you sure have that right, Susan – blogging can be very challenging and frustrating but in my case the rewards have certainly overshadowed them. My unusually knowledgeable (and kind) readers are a big part of that and I’m very grateful.
Ron, when our youngest son deveoloped epilepsy (of unknown etiology) when he was sixteen, I was scared to death he was going to die. For months. I remember wishing I could just have one hour of “normal”, an hour thinking about something else, not if he was going to die. So what you are doing now is a good thing. We have to take breaks, to keep going. Sending hugs and prayers for your daughter and all her loved ones, your way. BTW: our son is fine, is in his 40’s now, has two small sons. Is doing fine. Your daughter sounds like she will be fine too.
“We have to take breaks, to keep going”
That’s it exactly, Betty. I needed to do this post just like I needed to visit the Audubon Center For Birds Of Prey a few days ago. I guess we all have our own types of therapy – birds are mine.
I’m so glad your son has done so well, for you and Dave and for your son and his family.
Great shots. I love not only the pose on the 2nd shot but also the lighting and amazing sharpness of the head and eye. Beautiful. Who knew blogging could be so addicting?! Hope you are doing well and Shannon and her family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks, Larry. Agreed, the face sharpness makes a big difference.
I suspected that I was addicted to blogging but I think this trip has confirmed it.