Tanis and I have been trying to find a cheap-but-good (doesn't exist) telephoto lens to share so that we can get better and closer wildlife photos (I need better, she just needs closer). Last night on the phone we were talking about how the pros can spend an entire day - or an entire week - just sitting and waiting for that perfect shot. I was bragging about my own, super-closeup bird photo that I had taken earlier that afternoon.
Of course, I let her think that it was an "in the wild" photo.
I was going to photoshop my hand out of the picture, and then superimpose the subject onto a natural looking background, and then change the bird into, like, a majestic eagle with a snake or something in its talons. But... I totally suck at photoshop so this shot actually has very little in the way of post-processing (just wanted to use that term).
I'm sure that Crystal will be along shortly to ID the species but, like a National Geographic photographer, I will share the story behind the photo:
Tyson, our four year old, came and told me there was something on the driveway. I looked and saw this little guy lying on its back with its feet in the air, hyperventilating. It couldn't fly or even stand up without falling over - maybe it was stunned from flying into one of our vehicle windshields? I took it in to show Heather and got a couple pictures of it. Cringer began showing an unhealthy interest so I took it outside so Tyson could hold it. As I passed by the bush in our front yard, the bird fluttered out of my hand, landed nimbly on one of the branches and with a couple of hops, totally disappeared inside the bush. I searched for a while but it was no use; there could have been twice as many birds in there and it still wouldn't have done me any good. And at that moment, a common proverb which had always seemed kind of dumb, took on a sudden clarity and became one of the wisest things I'd ever heard.
Well, there you have it fellow photographers, follow that simple recipe and you too will be able to take your own close-up bird photos.
- C
11 comments:
The moment I saw “the shot” I knew my comment would include a certain proverb but after reading your post I realized that you had made much better use of it without actually quoting it so I will resist the urge to be Captain Obvious and leave your superior allusion undisturbed.
I had a similar experience with a baby sparrow years ago in Banff. I found it lying in the grass of my front yard one day. It appeared uninjured and had most likely tried to fly just a bit to soon and ended up in its predicament. I took it inside and put it in a box with some water, bread and banana which it seemed to like or at least tolerate. I’m sure I would have named it Captain Jack but the movie hadn’t come out yet so it remained nameless. After a couple of days I came home to find it sitting on the window sill and a few spots here and there so it was obviously ready to fly now. It still let me pick it up (it must have like the bananas) and when I got outside it immediately took off and flew into a nearby Pine tree. I was surprised to suddenly be a bit sad and wished I had at least taken a picture of it but I hadn’t so now I don’t have one.
Very cool. Well, my id skills are what they used to be, and I can't see very much of the little bird, but my first thought when I saw it is that it was a wee wren...probably a House Wren.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Wren/id
Check out the website, and let me know if this guy look/sounds familiar.
Oh my goodness! I admit that I had something more "natural" in mind but that is a wicked cool shot!! How do you manage to get the photos you do?
Hahah Lorin that is so awesome that you were thinking the same thing. I am not surprised in the least, but it's still awesome. Your story is better because you actually nursed it back to health.
Crystal, I have total confidence in your identification. You know more about birds than anyone I know ie, you took bird classes in school, went owl-watching in your free time, and still keep audio recordings of bird calls on your coffee table.
Have house wrens ever been known to feign an injury as a means of getting inside a house to case it for valuables?
- C
Tan,
It is probably just dumb luck; but on the other hand any nature photographer can get a photo of an animal sitting on a tree - animals do that sort of thing. But getting the shot WITH your hand on the animal? That's something else.... that's 'ninja photopraphy'
- C
Hi Rausch! I just stopped in to take a peek at your family, they are beautiful. And that is a pretty sweet shot of the bird, I'll make sure and show it to Matt. Hope you are well! Love, Stacie Gruwell
Ninja photography for certain!!!! Ok, so I read this first thing this morning when I was typing at
6am. And it's DRIVING me crazy. What is the proverb? I feel dumb even questoning it? But it appears I won't be able to carry on with my daily routines without getting it OUT OF MY HEAD.
Here are my attempts:
Cats got your bird?
The bird "took a fly and leap"
It bit the dust.
The sparrow (or wren) doesn't fall far from the tree?
Something about "spread your wings and fly?"
I had better be close (or you'll have to teach me how to delete my own comments!!!)
Jewel,
I'm speechless
"Ninja photography for certain!!!! Ok, so I read this first thing this morning when I was typing at
6am. And it's DRIVING me crazy. What is the proverb? I feel dumb even questoning it? But it appears I won't be able to carry on with my daily routines without getting it OUT OF MY HEAD.
Here are my attempts:
Cats got your bird?
The bird "took a fly and leap"
It bit the dust.
The sparrow (or wren) doesn't fall far from the tree?
Something about "spread your wings and fly?"
I had better be close (or you'll have to teach me how to delete my own comments!!!)"
----------------------
I've quoted your comment because I feel it is important to preserve it as a record for future generations (if you figure out how to delete the original).
But out of respect for Kendall, I'm choosing not to make fun of you.
- C
"A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH 2 IN THE BUSH".
Ok. There you go. (Thanks Lorin).
(oh, and you should ask Tanis what SHE thought it was!! Apparently I'm not the ONLY one!!!!!!!)
And for the record, I have NEVER EVER heard of this silly proverb before. And frankly, if I ever hear it again, it will be TOO soon!
Hahah Alright Jewel I guess it's not fair to fault you if you haven't ever heard the saying before.
If so, I guess I would be in the same predicament as you because, previously, I wasn't familiar with any the proverbs you listed.
Have a great day and thanks for making the comments section of our blog even more interesting than the post,
- C
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