Patience …

Today’s mission and this weeks missions are similar… the first to gather images for this seasons talks based on a new theme which will be something along the lines of “What is it really like to be a wildlife photographer” but of course with a catchy title and more thought put into the content! The second is to gather images for up and coming exhibitions and fairs to produce into prints.

I have found recently that you should never predict what the public will enjoy looking at or would be interested in purchasing and i find myself starting to create almost an educational theme to my print boxes… just to tell the difference between a goshawk or a sparrowhawk… the difference between a black grouse or a capercallie is also often a discussion topic at fairs.

The point in this blog… that no matter what i do patience is one of the most important qualities a wildlife photographer can have. If you are patient you can often win yourself special moments with an individual animal, its not all about the photography its about the memories and about learning.  Sitting quietly watching, learning and observing no matter the species… black grouse, Striated Caracara, Capercallie, Red deer and even in general every day life can teach you more about a species than just machine gunning your trigger button!

The next time you in a park why not try it… sit and see what is around you and i bet you soon enough youl have a squirrel friend or a dog come to say hey!   or why not try the next time your in a hide clicking away – take the camera away and watch just even for a moment, i find it is those moments that make it all the more worth while!

This little Striated Caracra is not yet of breeding age so hangs around where food is more plentiful.. I was just lying on my belly taking pictures of the previous post when he came to join me… in the end he followed me around for about two hours sitting next to me sleeping! its only afterwards now i wish i had the sense to take a video!