I confine myself to local nature photography.
As I look around the websites of nature photographers, I detect a pattern: purchase my picture. Now, I am not suggesting that this is the only, or even primary, reason the pictures were taken. But, this seems to be a major reason that nature pictures are posted on personal sites: look at my work and buy. Well fine, and why not?
Yet, that is not the reason—the monetization of my delights—that I take pictures. I take pictures so as to better understand my surroundings. Consider the following (which will make no sense at all to those who view everything as a commodity to be sold).
Last Sunday, I went for a walk in a marsh. During that time I observed (what I then believed were) sparrows. Certainly, they looked like sparrows. The only challenge I faced was to decide just which of the various types of sparrows they were out of the dozen or so possibilities.
Yet, I took pictures and it was those pictures that chastened my assessment—not the original observation—it was the uncompromising pictures. After about five hours of on-again, off-again checking, I learned that these were not sparrows at all, but a lookalike: a female Red-winged Blackbird.
The pictures were grounded in a reality that my more casual observations failed to achieve.
Some female Red-winged Blackbirds visit the marshlands of Kokanee Creek Park.
And by looks of the second frame they may include some juveniles. I am only guessing in that the 2 birds in the second frame don’t look exactly alike and my guess would be that the paler one on the left may be a juvenile.
Great Shots ! !
By the way, my reasons for taking pictures of birds is virtually the same; just trying to get them to hold still long enough and get a closer look at the many many birds I’ve obviously written off as “sparrow”, “robin”, etc.
Bill, I suspect that you are right about one being a juvenile.
Well put. However I’m curious about one thing. Being an amateur photographer myself, I’m curious as to how you would react if you were to see one of your photographs on someone else’s website and they were selling it for a profit. Maybe this has already happened to you as you have so many good photos?
Regardless, I agree with your philosophy. Unfortunately, I don’t get out into the wilderness often enough to try photographing wildlife … I will be out your way this weekend to close up for the season and will be able to bring my gear … Just depends on “whether” the “weather” is cooperative …