Reeding Answers

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.

Bob Dylan pondered many questions in that iconic song. And of course, there answers were, well, blowin’ in the wind. And that in turn conjures up images of things blowing in the wind, and what better thing to represent that than a simple reed?

We hum (or sing if we are so inclined) that song quite a lot, but often, with a surprisingly cheery lilt. Yet, when it comes down to it, the song isn’t really about cheery things at all, and the questions it asks are not easy ones to ask or answer. Mountains washing to the sea? Cannon balls flying? Doves “sleeping” in the sand?

This tune was indeed running through my head as I was composing this shot. I didn’t, and don’t, have any answers, but it seemed to me that this shot represented the song quite well. The wind for me continues to blow: perhaps one day it will carry to me the answers.

There are different sizes of this photo available at our portfolio. Reeding Answers is available for purchase, as well, and you can have this print framed and delivered right to your door.

Saw-Whet Pose, originally uploaded by ifringe.

I’ve been sorting and collating photos over the last couple of days (it’s that dreaded “organization” thing–I try to avoid that as best as possible but every now and then slip up and accidentally get it together) and out popped this little guy.

This is a rescue Saw-Whet Owl, taken at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Plenty of fantastic groups are out there taking care of nature when it needs help, and this little guy is a rescue from one such group. They were kind enough to let folks meet this little guy and he was quite a charmer. In fact, for all the world he seemed to know what a camera was and how to strike a pose–my finger never has hit the shutter button so fast. He just sat there, very willingly, and very happily (I think. Come to think of it, how do I really know the owl was happy? I’m guessing it was. And if you know differently, please be gentle when you burst my bubble. Anyway.) turning this way and that in the sunlight. He was enjoying the afternoon, enjoying the sunlight (well, it is usually nocturnal, but one must make exceptions now and then), and enjoying it all.

When it comes down to it, is there anything better than spending your afternoon with a posing owl?

Crane Flight, originally uploaded by ifringe.

I’ve been known to live on the edge of focus. And, more often than I would care for, I fall off that edge. In this case, however, I achieved what I set out to–namely, getting those three geese in the middle spot on while leaving the rest tantalizing out of focus.

How did I get this shot? By being completely against my nature, which is to say, patient. Just outside of the Bosque del Apache, there is wonderful pond–it’s not a big pond, but nor is it small. And best of all, there is nothing whatsoever preventing you from walking right up, and into it. Naturally, this was like a siren call to me once I saw the pond was full of Snow Geese. Grabbing a camera I headed down to the shore and plopped myself down to wait and see what develops. For no explicable reason the Snow Geese started swimming my way from across the pond. “Wonderful, I though to myself,” as I continued to sit there. Then, to my utter astonishment they started getting out of the pond pretty close to me. At this point, there was no moving, no getting up, and no way to think about any other piece of equipment save the nice long lens I happened to get (which made sense at the time, since they were across pond, not next to me. Anyway, one makes due with one has and thus was born my idea of very selective focus.

Time passed, and eventually, the snow geese did, too. But between the time they landed to my right, then passed me on land to my left, this particular shot presented itself. The Three Honketeers led the way from there to here to there. What an incredible experience to be part of and the memory of being in the middle of a gaggle of geese wandering around will be with me for a long time to come.

Owl Eyes, originally uploaded by ifringe.

One of the great thing about the Festival of the Cranes in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Reserve is that it is all about the wildlife there, and as such, lots of folks come to exhibit and talk about the various wildlife. And when folks exhibit, therein lies opportunity.

Lots of birds were there from various wildlife rescue groups. These groups do incredible work–they care for those who need our help and often work diligently to reverse the effects of man on our fragile habitat. Support these groups, for our help (that’s you and me, you know) is desperately needed. OK. I’ll get off the soapbox.

Anyway, not surprisingly, many of the groups were all about various birds…and there in a corner were… owls.

Owls are way fun. They are bright, inquisitive, not camera-shy in the least and definitely interact with you. They watch you, too, which can be a little unnerving because of those eyes. The eyes! Here’s a hint: don’t try to win a staring contest with an owl. You won’t. And this is the voice of experience talking. It’s the eyes, you know. That and the fact that they are really sure your name tag says, simply,

“Dinner”