I'm surprised by most of what I photograph. Which is to say I seldom head out on a photo shoot with any clearly-formed concept of what I want to capture. I like being surprised by things -- a little feather stuck in the crook of a branch, an unexpected migrant duck swimming in the harbour, a geometric pattern I never noticed before, an early morning cloud cover that billows onto the horizon, a lit park lamp with a gull sitting on it.
I have a weekend routine. I get up as soon as I awaken, do a quick wash, have some coffee and cereal, feed the guinea pig, grab my camera bag and tripod, and walk to the harbour, about a mile from my house. If I arrive before dawn, I check for interesting sunrise possibilities. One morning I moved to the pedestrian bridge over the river thinking the sun might rise over the breakwater ship Ridgetown. I was surprised, and delighted, to see it rise right behind the defunct forecabin.
Sunrise over the Ridgetown
(click on image for a larger view)I was recently walking along a stream beside the harbour in Saddington Park, looking for some macro photo possibilities. Catching a slight movement out the corner of my eye, I spotted a muskrat on the far bank. I moved very slowly, setting up for a possible shot. At that very moment a pair of mallards swam up near the muskrat and, startled, put on the brakes. The muskrat, deciding enough was enough, decided to swim away, presumably to its den. Its exit swim took it right towards me so I started snapping off shots. I seldom see muskrats. Another pleasant surprise.
Muskrat, Saddington Park
(click on image for a larger, clearer view)The harbour is a natural home to aquatic birds and I enjoy seeing all the regulars -- the gulls, terns, ducks, geese, swans and cormorants. The main ducks are mallards. They feed close to shore, and have become good at begging food from the humans. Farther out, and wilder, are scattered groups of buffleheads. I was startled to see what I thought was a female bufflehead in close to shore, so I took some shots. It wasn't until later, when I returned home, that I realized the markings didn't match up correctly. What I had photographed was a female harlequin duck, a rare visitor from the ocean. Another happy surprise.
Harlequin Duck (female)
(click on image for a larger, clearer view)Although less exotic than muskrats and harlequins, it's often bits of the everyday that surprise me into fresh photographs. This bit of feather -- down feathers from some bird -- caught my eye because it was fluttering rapidly in the wind like a flag on caffeine. Such a tiny bit of fluff, but so surprising to see in this setting.
Down, stuck in a branch
(click on image for a larger, clearer view)It's the element of surprise that pleases me in literature and art, so it should hardly surprise me that I prize surprises in photography as well.
(4-Dec-2003, Revised 17-June-2004)
www.NorthernJourney.com -- gene@wilburn.ca