A good variety of shorebirds frequented the sandy beaches around Puerto Villamil. Ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) were one of the most obvious species, partly because of their distinctive plumage. Photographing them wasn't easy because they moved rapidly and almost continuously, pausing only for an instant. Fortunately, they'd sometimes venture close — but then the problem became keeping them framed and in focus.
[15 September 2011 , Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/4000 at f5.6]
All content © 2011 Pete McGregor
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11 comments:
Looks like three birds, the head seems too small, the legs gorgeously disconnected, and the body unrelated to either.
I have always loved the name of this bird and wow, you caught it in the act!
I'm glad this ruddy turnstone paused (great name, by the way) and that you captured it so well. Gorgeous. As for me, with autumn's approach (my favorite season) I have been mooning over shades of brown and gray like the turnstone's plumage ... so double thanks;0
I'm always amazed how you always get close enough to birds to see their pimples. And then manage to get great focus! Great portrait.
Zhoen, the way they moved so rapidly and erratically made it seem as if different parts of the bird were competing for control.
Patricia, it's a striking name, but then the common names of so many birds seem so bizarre.
Barbara, many shorebirds can appear nondescript, but this one certainly catches the eye.
Miguel, thanks. I think the key is being prepared to spend time with the birds, allowing them to realise I'm not a threat.
One of the problems with hiking is that you end up wanting to get from "here" to "there", and often that leaves little time to stop and see. You also end up scaring all the wild things away. When I was younger, and wasn't so much into hiking, I would go to one place and just spend the entire day there, not caring about time or getting somewhere. It gave me time to look, feel, smell, listen, and even taste. I always ended up feeling erased of myself and feeling more merged with the places I was in. And I used to do a lot of drawing. It's hard to draw when you only give yourself 5 minutes to sit down. I really miss that aspect of spending time in the natural world. I don't know anyone around me who does it. Ideally I'd like it to be like that 100% of the time, even the home that I live in. That way I'd be able to sit still as much as I need to but also get out for the hikes without feeling guilty. I have a feeling you've found that balance, which is one of the reasons I love reading your blog and witnessing the way you see the world. You actually take the time to be in the world as it is.
If there is one great regret that I have from my life, it is that I've amassed a great amount of knowledge about things that I've never felt were worth much (computers, using software, surviving in a city), but not much at all about what I've always felt were the reasons for my being alive (animal habits, names of trees, where those mushrooms might be found, why raccoon dogs cry like babies at night, how to move like a praying mantis). Knowing the natural world as if it were an extension of myself is, for me, the greatest knowledge I could ever have acquired.
And now there just isn't enough time left in my life to truly become knowledgeable anymore about what I want to know.
Miguel, thanks for those excellent insights. You seem consistently to be able to put into words things I feel but have only a vague idea about. I certainly share your feelings about the value of that kind of knowledge, and I'd like to share your exceptional drawing skills (or those of my younger brother).
Now maybe I'll take the time to get out into the real world instead of sitting in front of this little netbook!
Exactly what Patricia said! Remarkable and amazing shot, Pete.
Thank you, Lydia :^)
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