I wasn’t sure whether to include this one – it looks somewhat industrial and utilitarian, but in fact is very rural and agricultural. As regulars in the countryside will know, it is a bird scarer, which at least adds a bit of colour to the winter hedgerow. Gas trickles into a chamber, and is ignited at irregular intervals to provide a very loud bang, frightening off the “crows”, which in practice are generally pigeons, feeding on the crop. I knew this one was around somewhere – the bangs have been clearly audible form our home. The dogs and I discovered it when we took a naughty shortcut across the frozen field, and this beast announced it presence just after we had nipped through the gap in the hedge next to where it was hiding. I leaped out of my skin, but the dogs were not in the slightest bit phased. In my youth I did casual farm work and had the job of moving these. This is terrifying. You lurk at a respectable distance waiting for it to explode, and then dash forward in the hope of turning the gas off before you are deafened by the next unpredictable bang. Excellent fun if you happen to be an adrenaline junky.
We have one in the field behind us. Our dog (a would be gun dog) is terrified of it and has hot legged it back home when she has spotted it. We also have farmers letting off very loud rockets to scare the pigeons. Great composition. I can imagine you had a been adrenaline burst as you approached through the gap. I think I would have run away!
LOL! This really made me laugh out loud! Imagining having to move one!! We have them around us and it des ometimes ake walks nerve-wracking! I posted a shot of one back in the summer I seem to remember. Quite daring of you to grab this excellent shot, even though it had just gone off . . . you can never be quite sure!
Fun adrenaline shot!