Luck seems to play an enormous role in photography and for that matter life. This week I am having my own very personal bird drought. There just doesn't seem to be birds anywhere. I have tried all the usual spots and they seem devoid, even the regular stilts, ibis and pelicans are in short supply. I am sure the drought will break, it is like everything, only a matter of time. In the meantime, my mind has been wandering back to more abundant days...........like a few weeks ago..............
I dropped down the river after work and walked across to the shoreline. It was a heavy thunderous day and the sky was dark with storm clouds. My attention was caught by movement and in an instant a Black Shouldered Kite emerged from some thick tangled undergrowth and landed on a nearby pole. I have only seen Black Shouldered Kites in this spot a few times before, it is unusual! Not expecting such luck I was still wearing my work garb, a dress and high heels. The Kite was about thirty meters from me surrounded by shallow muddy pools. The draw was too great, so the shoes came off, the dress was hitched up, I jumped the fence and very slowly moved toward him. My bare feet sank into calf deep mud and I tried not to think about what might be down there. The Kite seemed to be as curious as I was and sat on the pole tilting his head from side to side as if trying to figure me out. I got closer and closer and was able to position myself in a spot where the last of the sun caught the bird's intense red eye and the reflected light from the overcast sky provided a light clear background. Then I waited, and waited, and waited, eventually he took off and I was able to photograph him alighting from the perch and flying away. When I looked at the shots on the computer later I was very happy, they captured the power and grace of this bird and his intense red eye spoke of wildness and made a dramatic contrast to the shades of white grey and black in the bird's feathers and sky.
