Creating the Image after a long wait!
Having patience is a needed virtue with nature photography. However having to
wait for over a year is a long time, as this was the case when I tried to catch
my resident male Bullock's oriole on my Red Hot Poker flower.
The Kniphofia hirsuta Fire Dance has a short flowering period that is contingent on the heat, dryness and wind at Walker Lake. So last year the flower was in bloom for a short period. Furthermore, the birds made a quick feast of the blossoms, leaving only the stalks.
The afternoon of May 3, 2014, I happened to notice a male
on the flower. I rushed inside to get my Nikon 500mm 4.0 lens that I had left
attached to the camera just for this opportunity. As I walked outside with
camera, lens and tripod, the bird flew off. I waited with finger on the shutter
release button, hoping that he might come back. Sure enough my tenacity paid
off because he did fly right back. Since I was at least 30 feet away, the oriole
was unaware of my presence and began to eat away on the flower.
Upon eating
his fill, the oriole then flew over to the pond for a nice afternoon bath.
I
continued to click away as the bird submerged his head and then the rest of his
body in the cool water.
After each submersion, he would shake off and then go
back for another dunking.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!
Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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