I love nature. I love being in nature, listening to it, smelling it, learning from it. Yet, I spend a lot of time venturing the streets of the city with a camera. Light is what gives our images power. The direction and reflection of light will show us the lines and curves of a building. These lines will hopefully direct the viewer to see, and feel, what we felt at the moment of capture or bring forth whatever feelings from their life’s experiences. Now add a bird against the blue sky and everything changes. But it’s still all about the light.
I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner. – Alex Webb
Morning walks are good exercise for us, plus they get us out of our four walls. We then have the opportunity to see, smell, feel, hear the natural world we really live in. Each time I put my belt on I’m reminded of the need to get there. Each time I feel like something is amiss in my life, I need to be out there. Morning walks are good.
These birds make their presence in our western wetlands. They usually breed in loose colonies and build their nests over water, attached to cattails and reeds. Along with its cousin, the Red-winged Blackbird, they seem to pose for me on my walks around our lake.
I sat on a bench to watch these six pelicans feeding. Pelicans often fish in groups. They will form a line to chase schools of small fish into shallow water, and then scoop them up. Large fish are caught with the bill-tip, then tossed up in the air to be caught and slid into the gullet head first. Quite comical to watch but efficient.
‘Tis a time to be thankful for all that we have, even if it is not very much. For me I can say I’m thankful because I’m healthy, game-fully employed, have a wonderful family. I can even say I have some great friends or at least 2 that I know of. I’ve also got $20 in my pocket, half a tank of gas in the car and my internet bill is paid (for this month). Right now I’m in Phoenix with my parents and my two sisters and a darn cool brother-in-law. So, there is much to be thankful for.
But not everyone is as thankful. There are those who have no food, no home, no family, no job, no money. Or maybe they’re in some outpost in Iraq or dealing with a death in the family. For me this is also a time to remember them. I can’t help all of them but will reach out to those I can. I hope we don’t quickly forget those in need and then move on to our next helping of turkey or take that first piece of pumpkin pie? What is it we can do for those in need?
Now, as for these guys above in the above image, I don’t think they’re quite as thankful about this time of year. If you look closely you’ll notice how they seem to be edgy, checking things out, not trusting me or any one else. Each step is deliberate. Cautious. Wonder why?
It was cold yesterday morning, 5 degrees at 6:00 AM. Yet, with the sun shinning brightly in a blue sky we warmed up to about 28 degrees. And, tomorrow we are predicting more snow. Outside my living room window is a small courtyard with a half dozen small trees with berries. I found this robin moving from branch to branch and puffing his feathers to keep warm. It’s not a day to be out and about for this old photographer, so I shot this one through the window. 🙂
