21 January 2013 Reflections

January 21, 2013 / Harry Selsor

I like to think outside the “dock” sometimes. You know, the whole time, space, relativity, other dimensions kind of stuff. Who needs a space suit to be a time-space traveler. All I need is a dock, a cup of coffee, a folding chair, and a camera (but don’t forget the fabric dryer sheets to ward off the evil gnat villains). I just have to be careful not to go over the edge.

I am sitting in my chair, my camera ready, just quietly observing the movements, the sounds and creation before me. It is clear and cold. A Great Egret lifts up out of the marsh. All I see is wings of white filling the sky as it silently glides overhead. I can feel more than see the wings slowly rise up. The wings, backlit against the sun, clouds, and sky seem as if they are transparent. The fluid movement of tendons and feathers and skeletal structure are mesmerizing. The eyes of that bird stare straight into mine (catch the eyes they teach us in class). Still mesmerized, it seems as if I have wings too. The cool air ruffles through feathers pressing them down as the wind streams above and below the wings creating the miracle of flight. I feel the rush of wind beneath the wings as the powerful downbeat lifts me higher. The rising current of air pushes upward on the wings, directing them towards the sun. “PUSH THE DOOHICKEY” a voice in my head yells! Suddenly I am back on the dock, staring thru a lens. Then I remember why I came here in the first place, to catch the moment. But is it gone? As I fumble with the buttons and displays, the little LCD view proves to me I was there. I did catch it. But I was transported through a portal in time, if only for a moment, right there on the dock.

We all have those moments I think. Something takes your breath away. How do we share them with one another? Ansel Adams did it in black and white. His photographs of works and wonders of God are frozen in time for all to see. I am certainly no Ansel Adams but I can go down to the dock each day and share with you. Take time to share a moment this week with someone you love. Take a photograph. Most important of all, cherish the time together in your heart. You never know when the moment will be gone. For you Missy. Be blessed, Harry

**A Bird lifts up out of the marsh unseen.**

**Great Egret glides overhead, the wings translucent against the sky.**

"Beam me up Scotty!" — "*Beam me up Scotty*!"

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18 January 2013 Reflections

January 18, 2013 / Harry Selsor

The predawn sky told me it would be a bright sunny morning. I ventured outside to set up my blind. Old Man River was fishing in the stream. I disturbed him again. This creature of God is a solitary one. I said I was sorry and hurried away. Got my editor to work and walked down to pray. I was feeling lower than the tide.. The barnacles of life were clinging to me. I recently learned one of my credit cards had been hacked. Although the deceit was reported and had quickly been fixed, those worrisome barnacles of life still clung to my back.

I sat and I sat. Not one bird appeared. An hour went by “ Seems there is just not much life here today”. The marsh was clear and the sky was blue, but nothing would stir save the wind in my ear. I then heard a small bird in the marsh but could not see a thing but the movement of the grass as it chirped out of sight. Some days are just meant to be ordinary nothing days, I suppose. Determined to leave, for some unknown reason I stayed. I began to think about one of my favorite Gaither’s gospel singers, the late Jesse Dixon. Soon I was singing one of his songs in my mind “Ain’t no body… gonna rob me of my joy! Suddenly I heard a familiar “sqrawck” behind me. There above me was that same Tricolored Heron from yesterday. He had perched again on his favorite pole and looked around and gave me a glance that seemed to say “Don’t worry about those barnacles”. I watched as he deliberately faced the four points of the compass and looked out with his eyes, much further no doubt than I could see now. Facing first to the north, to the south, to the east, then finally the west, he cleared his throat, ruffled his feathers and seemed to loudly declare “No worries about. I’ve chased them away”. The barnacles of doubt were now gone and in their place I now felt JOY! I clicked and I clicked as he eyed me below and I knew now why I had stayed. A snowy white egret swooped in and jauntily said hi. A little sandpiper, on stilt like feet, comically walked the mud bank. I clicked away till my camera rang “MEMORY FULL”! My spare card was in the house. Oh Dang. I deleted some frames and tried to shoot some more. Then I heard that familiar sound as the Tricolor flew away. He glanced over his wing as if to say, “See you later friend. It’s time to go”.

Don’t let the barnacles of life get you down. We are like pilings supporting life’s dock, driven deep into the firm bedrock below. But this dock of life still sits over mud, where the barnacles cling. When they get too heavy just remember words that Jesse sang. “Ain’t no body gonna rob me of my Joy!” Be blessed. Harry

Sqrawck- a bird like expression that is as close I can express!

Then finaly to the West , he loudly proclaimed " No worries about, I chased them away". — **Then finaly to the West , he loudly proclaimed " *No worries about, I chased them away*".**

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17 January 2013 Reflections

January 17, 2013 / Harry Selsor

The sun was already rising and bright today. I was a bit behind schedule as I walked to the end the neighboring pier. My blind had been set up there earlier as I had hoped to be there at first light. Already there to greet me was my tricolored friend (see 10 Jan blog). He seemed unconcerned at my approach and just watched me as I watched him. Then he slowly flew away.

Today I made sure my stabilizer was “on” in my quest for the light. Before me is an island of marsh grass with channels on my left and my right. The tide is inbound, just beginning to turn. The backlit scenes to the left are bright. Some small wading birds walk in the bog like on stilts. A soggy raccoon appears and swims through the stream, then slowly drags himself up thru the sunlit mud blight. It looks to me as if he has been up prowling all night. The view to the right is more soothing to me. With the sun from my back it seems so crisp and clear that you can almost see around the bend. A red-winged blackbird lands close by and begins to sing. I have been trying for days hoping to catch the red flash of its wings. Today I caught it at the approach of a rival. Suddenly more movement catches my eye. It seems as if I am in a racetrack for egrets. One, then two, fly low from my left and around the bend at eye level. My shutter, though quick, catches only the reflection zooming by. I glance overhead and catch a great egret in flight. Those wings seem so graceful, reflecting the light. The sun rises higher, the honk of Canada geese fill the air. They fly towards the sun as distant silhouettes against the sky. Ah if only I had my new lens. Yesterday is not soon enough for me.

I gained some new perspectives today. Some lessons were learned that I must remember to file away. To catch the sun one must practice each day. Observe movements. Keep the sun on your back. It was getting late as the mid morning sun arose higher making ” jewels” in the ripples. They shone like bright diamonds with a glistening shimmer. I remember those gems as I pack my gear and began to write (and re-write). Be blessed. Harry

View to my right.  The sun from behind. — View to my right. The sun from behind.

Red-winged blackbird flashing. Natures Stoplight.

**Great Egret overhead catching the sun.**

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16 January 2013 Reflections

January 16, 2013 / Harry Selsor

The new lens should ship today! My editor in chief told me to look outside. There was a predawn layer of fog over the river beginning to rise with the sun. It was peaceful to see. Got my editor off to work and grabbed my gear and ran to catch the light before the fog melted away in the sun. Click Click. I then decided to go to my neighbor’s pier and catch a better view of the sunrise and whatever bird-life flew by, as they too followed the tide. Be careful when you try to catch the sun.

The swirling mist of fog was highlighted by the first rays of dawn. The sunrise turned golden as it arose through the trees. It looked at times like molten lava glowing like fire through the leaves. Checked my settings (I thought), then exposure, and began to shoot. Click Click. The winged silhouette of a stork could be seen coming upriver as the sun rose over the trees. I thought it would melt like the fabled Icarus (flying too close to the sun ) as it passed through the glow. It flew on by. Click Click. Old Man River was feeding upstream and slowly rose as the stork flew. He skimmed over the marsh in the mist of the fog. Click Click. He circled around and flared his mighty wings to drop in and see what the snowy egrets had found in the tide. Click Click. I was hand-holding the camera and stopped and reviewed my shots. The auto-focus had followed the birds as I panned. There were no “blinkies” in the sky, my histogram looked great. Why were some of these shots so blurry? Focus is everything in photography. Then I saw it. There is a little switch that turns ON the stabilizer for moments like this. AHHGG!!!! It was OFF! I switched it on and caught a pair of mallards as they flew by. Life looks so much better when your stabilizer is on. Alas, not much else wandered up my tributary today. A lawn mower roared to life, and startled the birds (and me). I walked back to my pier, still wanting for that illusive shot of the day. I spot focused in on a distant egret but my 135 mm lens would just not reach that far away. We photographers (whether novice or pro) like to see life up real close and personal. My friend Max said that photographers will never have enough millimeters.

I know. You are wating for me to do my Forrest Gump imitation. "Life is like a box of chocolates.." Well here goes. You can chase the sun but you can't catch it without your stabilizer on. You will never have all you want, so do good with what you have. What are the stabilizing things in your life today? Without them things can get out of focus real quick. Enjoy the sunrise. Be Blessed. Harry

Swirling fog in the rising sun.. — **Swirling fog in the rising sun.**
.

**Just dropped in for breakfast said Old Man River**

**A pair of formation flying Mallards silhouette the sky**

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