to the sound of rustling wings ...
When I think back over the many unique things I've observed in nature, I have to cringe a little bit. So many of the times that a good photo opportunity "knocked", I simply was not ready to take advantage of it. Either I did not have my camera with me, or it was not "set" properly, or the subject discovered was just moving too rapidly for me. I'm beginning to learn a thing or two (I think :-). Now I try to keep my camera on a fast shutter setting (at least 1/1250th of a second) and set the ISO up to 400 (comparable to film speed - but digital). At least it lets me "be ready" for that shot that just "won't wait around". Such was the case recently when this mallard flew by me (not more than 15 feet away). The background was not that great (hence I isolated the subject with a new background) and felt the result prompts me to remember the sound of those rustling wings against the wind.
Uploaded on May 12, 2006