Back to our feathered friends again.

No matter how many subjects I share on these pages, it often comes back to birds. When I was in the field, often it felt like birds knew I was making images of them, so they modeled and performed.

They are pretty, they are interesting, and are natural performers for our cameras. It doesn’t get any better than that.

This female hooded Merganser like some water birds, would begin a take off and seem run on top of the water.

The image was made in southern Wisconsin.

Some might argue that the above image needs more light on the side showing to the camera. I disagree.

I spent and most photographers spend, a lot of time making images that are sharp and properly exposed as to tell future viewers what the subject looks like. To the point of being able to make good IDs for publication.

Nothing wrong with that. That does not mean that every picture needs to be only an ID image

Interpret the light in photos for impact, even if they do not meet ID standards. The direction, the color, the intensity and the mood provided and provoked by your photo can be just as important, whether the subject be an animal, a mountain, a flower or a building.

The American Avocet is a classy bird. I mean, they’re just classy. I captured the two images below at a New Mexico wildlife preserve some time ago.

Bird pix do not always need to be close-ups. Note that there are a couple of Great-blue Herons and a couple of ducks in the photo as well as the Great White Egrets.

Flybys This Double Crested Cormorant struck a nice midair action pose for me. Panning is a necessary skill in such pictures. Before I began bird photography, I had spent no small amount of time panning high speed race cars for publication and/or sale. Skills translate from one subject to another.

Great Blue Heron dancing on a dead tree.

This might be an immature Herring Gull. Or maybe not.
All birds need to preen, or they will not be able to fly. Those facts make for great opportunities for photographers.

Female Ruddy Duck tangled in marsh grass.

Male Greater Scaup. It’s hard to say whether the duck or the reflections and water are the more spectacular here. Between the edges of a picture, everything matters.

Male Yellow Warbler. Ok, this guy knows he’s good looking. He posed like a movie star.

Personally, if I had to choose between a movie star and this little Warbler, the bird would win every time.

God Bless,
Wayne