A post inspired by a comment from a viewer made on yesterday’s edition of Feathered Photography.
Yesterday I made the observation that I sometimes feel like I’m invading the privacy of birds when I post photos of them pooping. In response to that statement, long-time blog follower “Arwen Professional Joy Seeker” said “The poop shots don’t feel invasive to me. The mating shots however!!!!! snicker I am a 14 year old.sometimes”.
Arwen’s comment made me think, and realize that I don’t feel like I’m invading their privacy when I post mating shots but I do feel that way when I post pooping shots and that disparity seems inconsistent of me. It also seems illogical and I can’t explain it but for some reason my perceived inconsistency exists.
As I pondered my silliness I thought of a series of mating shots I took of Red-tailed Hawks in May four years ago. I remembered how much I liked them and also remembered that even though I’ve posted some of those photos in the past there are several very nice ones that have never seen the light of day.
And they deserve to, so here’s one more.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I love the behavior, the authentically natural setting and the quality of the photos in the entire series. As they often do, in this shot the male was having difficulty gaining his balance atop the female’s back before completing the act. Eventually he was successful but it took a while, long enough for me to take dozens of what I consider to be very nice photos documenting the behavior.
The only difficulty I had with them was how to crop them for the composition I liked best. This vertical composition emphasizes the height of the rocky outcrop they were on.
A horizontal crop puts more emphasis on the lateral structure of the outcrop. I like both versions but I gravitate toward the vertical crop, probably because the hawks are larger in the frame and show more detail and because one bird on top of the other, with its wings in the up position, naturally lends itself to a vertical composition.
In the past I’ve posted several photos of these mating hawks and never once did I give a thought to the possibility that I might be invading their privacy by posting them. So why do I sometimes feel that way when I post poop shots?
I dunno. It flies in the face of my clinical, scientific background.
Ron
PS – my blog went down for about a half hour this morning – the cache needed to be cleared. All’s good again.
I don’ think either shot is shameful but when the bird poops, it’s usually before it flies away and I feel a little guilty that I disturbed it.
This image would be one of the most often looked at pages in a middle school/jr. high or high school science text book. Of course, so would the pooping shot. Perhaps we don’t entirely escape from being adolescents. 😉
Definite yes on the vertical crop. Definite NO on post-coital talon scratch marks.
You’re right about middle-schoolers, Marty. And it starts earlier than that.
My mother was a nurse and when I was in about 4th grade I found her obstetrics textbook from nursing school hidden high (almost ceiling high) in a bookshelf in our living room on the farm. Every time I was left in the house alone for a while after that I found a way to climb up and retrieve that book. I could… not… believe.. what I found in there!
Eventually she figured out what I was doing and that book mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth.
If you were standing right next to them shooting your photos while they’re engaged in either act — and if they weren’t out in the wide-open for the world to see — then I *might* think about an invasion of privacy, but that’s not the case in any of your images. So rest easy. Voyeur, perhaps, but not a criminal one! 😂
PS — I remember these hawks from back when, loved them then, love them now. Vertical, for sure!
“Voyeur, perhaps, but not a criminal one!
Now that’s a relief!
“Hey Buddy, watch the talons, OK? Romance, remember?”
Ha, just adds a little tension and excitement, Mikal. And maybe a few scratches…
Sweet shots. I like both crops. I have never been lucky enough to catch a raptor mating, ducks and small birds a few times only. I do feel a bit intrusive when I witness it, but I keep snapping away. Raptors pooping just tells me to get ready for the take-off so I never even thought about privacy.
“Raptors pooping just tells me to get ready for the take-off so I never even thought about privacy.”
The instincts of a bird photographer, Ann!
Perhaps seeing the product of a bird defecating looks too familiar to our own and evokes a feeling of intrusion and embarrassment that we associate with that body function, natural though it may be.
Conversely, the reproductive act in birds shows neither the organs or fluids involved in the act, ergo we somehow don’t feel the discomfort of the former.
Interesting point in your last sentence, Lyle. Perhaps that’s it, or at least part of it.
Both activities are just part of the natural world and you are documenting the life of birds. If the birds were capable of being embarrassed then perhaps there would be an invasion of privacy but I don’t believe that’s the case. Both are interesting to see and have the potential to help us better understand how birds lead their lives.
I don’t think I’m invading their privacy either, Dan – not on a logical level. But it’s still a reaction I sometimes have.
While I appreciate (and have marvelled at) shots of birds doing both, I do feel a bit of a voyeur on both counts. Which doesn’t stop me looking.
Vertical crop for me.
And I am with Arwen on the ouch factor.
I get that “voyeur” bit, EC. Sometimes it just seems like I’m sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.
Maybe it’s a question of “identification” ? Most of us humans have
pooped or peed outdoors, but not so many of us have had sex there–
plus there’s always a little bit of fear–if necessary, a quick getaway
isn’t so easy with the latter–especially if you don’t have wings !
You bring up some interesting, and potentially hilarious, points, Kris.
Love the first shot Ron! Personally find the poop shots educational, however would never want to hang one on the wall. Mating shots however are frame worthy!
Kathleen, I think the way at least some of us react differently to the two types of photos is interesting.
It is an interesting subject Ron. I have taken many shots of the eagles pooping, but of course it is always accidental. It just happens while I am taking a shot. And now interesting to me because now that I think of it I have never kept a pooping shot.
I have taken a few shots of birds mating and have never thought of it in terms of invading their privacy. Nature shows often show us various animals mating, and vet shows do the same.
Of course the vast majority of us would never want anyone taking shots of us mating.
These are excellent photos of the Red-tails – thanks for posting.
Thanks, Everett. I deliberately take photos of pooping birds. My trigger finger instinctively goes into action whenever I see something a little different through my viewfinder, including defecating. It’s posting those photos that I sometimes have mixed feelings about.
I think that, as they mate, and poop, in public, they have less ‘shame’ and therefore I feel it’s ok to watch. If they didn’t pose on an outcrop, discretion might be more advisable.
Vertical photo crop for sure.
My opinions.
Cheryl, I don’t think my reaction to posting poop photos is logical. It’s just there.
!!!!!!! Those claws on her back make me wince.
Arwen, just another version of a scratched back as a result of sex…
I can understand why you’re so pleased with these photos!
Perhaps birds have it over most of the animal kingdom when it comes to looking beautiful while mating. But we may never know whether they have as much fun.
Excellent point in your last sentence!
It IS funny as to what we think of as and invasion of privacy or, possibly offensive…… xD Beautiful shots of the hawks both vertical and horizontal appeal to me……
so much for emotion keyboard shortcuts…… 😉
“so much for emotion keyboard shortcuts”
I know what you mean, Judy,. Using them makes me nervous.
Thanks, Judy.