A week or so ago I posted a pic on FB of a Wood Duck that would have made a remarkable picture, except for the fact that there was a small branch directly in front of the bird! I was very frustrated at the bird because if he had walked a short bit to my right he would have been in the open, making for the mythical “perfect shot”
Well, as Paul Harvey would say, I’m here to tell you “the rest of the story….”
I spent a considerable amount of time waiting for him to finish preening and move up the log so I could get a clear shot. Ducks in general are quite fastidious, which is a fancy word that means they spend a lot of time looking good! And before he got up on the log he gave me a few decent looks in the water.
He thinks he’s hiding…..
Patience….
So here he is on the log, doing everything he can to stay in front of the branches!
Shake it off……..
“The Look”
Stretching Out…
Then he starts to move up the log a little bit….. I’m thinking “just one more step”…. actually I’m thinking he should get his ass in gear and move up the log!!!
Move it!!!
Story of my life…..
Well, he did oblige me and moved alright…… right back to the water!!!!!
So I figured it was over. I gave it another half hour to see if he would come back, but it didn’t look good. But then the photo gods looked down and must have taken pity on me because here he was, swimming back towards me! And unbelievably he hopped back up on the same log, farther up, where I could get a clear shot! And he proceeded to put on a show for me, giving me all of his best poses. It was like he felt pity for the poor photographer …..
I’m not sure if he is stretching or farting…..
I like this last one the best….. I’m thinking of printing this one…..
Stylin’………
So I guess the moral of the story would be…….. Patience. Without it this all would have happened. I just wouldn’t have been there to see and photograph it. And for that, I consider myself lucky.
Thanks for looking!!!!
