@kathyboyles what photography meant to me when I started this project and what it means now are so different. Because photography has opened my eyes. I brought a bird feeder because of 365, and now spend long periods shooting birds outside my window. Today I was shooting some bluejays (they make lovely captures) and something red popped into the viewer. I captured the bird and then had to look up on line what it was because it wasn't in my Maine Guide to birds. Come to find out these have only recently been coming to Maine (recently being a relative word). Then I captured a couple of morning doves (I haven't seen any all winter). Then coming back from the grocery store I saw ducks in #1 pond. So when I went to pick up my gf I left early with my long lens on my camera to get some Canadian Geese and some other ducks though not sure what they were. Well I shot them but with my naked eye couldn't identify them but when I enlarged them in the view finder I almost fainted. I had captured Hood Merganser ducks male and female. They are known in Maine but in all my 60 something years I had never seen one. Then later coming out of my nieces house my nephew looks up and says look at the huge bird. Well, I had my camera and caught it. A turkey vulture (and it would have been a better shot if my feeble brain would have remembered to fully extend the lens) the wing span was 3-4 feet at the very least. Gorgeous bird in flight. So what does photography mean to me - well because of it I saw two birds I have never seen, another one (the vulture) I really never paid attention to and without really trying had a wonderful birding day. I will bore you for the rest of the week with my shots. So this is what it means to me - enjoying what I can see in my town water shots, bird shots, mill shots, etc, etc. Photography used to be something I did more on vacation or on a road trip. Know it is what I do because there is an amazing world in my backyard.
PS. This is what Maine snow looks like this time of year, sorry.
@kathyboyles not sure I did what you meant either so if this isn't what you have in mind then you certainly have the right to say something after I beleaguered you. LOL Just ask my mentor @vignouse I am not an easy person to put up with.
@kathyboyles She likes to say 'Boo' rather loudly and we're all supposed to jump but she's a big old pussy-cat really... but like all pussy-cats, she does have claws ;-) Sounds like you had a great day Joan: this woodpecker was a good spot, although I'd have liked this better with another half a stop of exposure and an off-centre crop.
@vignouse Oh did I forget to mention I forgot I was still in bracketing and was frustrated with my shots. LOL It wasn't until after he flew away I figured out why I was having a exposure problem. I am suck a feeble minded Twit.
@joansmor Joan, your post is very appropriate and I love it. I understand it completely as I too acquired a bird feeder after I got a camera but only sparrows would come to our yard and the neighborhood cats liked to catch them. I had to close it down and now I go to the zoo to photograph birds. Your story is touching and shows the benefits of being a photographer. You can tag this as a good answer to my get pushed challenge. Kathy
I read your post with great delight. i've discovered new birds by seeking them out for 365. It's such great fun. Glad you're enjoying. We have a red bellied woodpecker that stays all year. i've only seen the male once last summer. Keep an eye out.
I was really surprised when I read that the Red Bellied isn't native to your area. I have a pair in my back yard and I'm pretty sure my trees are similar to yours. Put some suet out and he'll be your friend for life! Nice shot!
@olivetreeann I have a feeder that holds bark butter bits which are made up of suit, peanut butter and other goodies. Have had that out all winter and is what the woodpeckers are eating at the feeder. This guy was eating corn I had thrown on the ground.
Joan, loved your little essay on what photography means to you! So true! You must have a veritable bird sanctuary in your backyard. Few birds out at the lake yet - can't put up a feeder, with a move looming....
