Today I randomly selected a group of images that are among the most popular subject with nature photographers, our avian friends the birds. Most of those images but not all, just happen to be water birds of one sort ar another.

I have always been an all around nature photographer. Everything in the natural world has been my subject. In fact, most subjects out of nature have filled my viewfinder at one time or another as well.

That said, photography is “for the birds”.

No matter what the subject, photography is also about the capture of light.

Male Red-winged Blackbird. Beautiful light, beautiful bird.

Great-horned Owlets. There’s that light again.

Male and female Mallard in early light.

Gorgeous light and a gorgeous bird. Male Barn Swallow.

If you cannot photograph the entire bird, capture their most important feature. This male Northern “Pintail”, is showing us that feature and displaying the bird’s dabbling skills at the same time.

Reflections. Female Northern Shoveler.

Cleanliness is important. Male American Goldfinch.

Follow the leader. Male Greater Scaups

Preening. Male Common Goldeneye

First winter, immature male Common Goldeneyes. They sort of mesmerized me as they swam to and fro. The reflections in the water add to this photo. Everything in an image is a part of that image.

Most birds fly, therefore imagery made when they are flying, can be important. These guys were flying at what seemed like ridiculously close quarters. They did so without incident. They are American White Pelicans.

In any form of wildlife photography, or for that matter people photography, eye contact can be a powerful factor. When our eyes meet, we gain a kinship with the subject. They come alive within the image. The bird below, is not like a picture of a stuffed bird. It has life via its eyes, despite the fact that there is no movement.

This Snowy Owl became like a special friend to me. I photographed him many times over several weeks. He went from trying to pretend like he did not even see me, something owls often do, to giving me an almost knowing smile. No alarm, but both an acknowledgement and acceptance of me.

The Cedar Waxwing is a fascinating and unique bird. I was thrilled to catch this one just above the snow, with a smidgeon of that snow on its beak, and a beautiful catch light in its eye. If I were able to pose this bird, this would have been my choice.

I did the best I could to get down to eye level with my subject. A long lens will help with that, as will actually backing up a bit.

Honey I’m home.

Bout time!!

It was good to photographically stop this male Osprey in mid air, with a shutter speed of 1/640th sec doing the trick, while the female looked up as to seem to say, where’s dinner!! You know, the sushi!! The kids are hungry and so am I.

If memory serves, and sometimes it does and other times it does not, he did bring back a few catches that morning.

It is no wonder that bird photography is always near the top of the most favorite subjects for nature oriented image makers. Their beauty and their fascinating behaviors, keeps them near the top.

May God Bless,
Wayne