the day after the wedding, i slipped out for a walk along the cape cod canal. i wanted some photos of the bourne bridge. when i started walking, it was almost "golden hour". when i returned, it was dark. i got my photos of the bridge, but the main reason i was gone so long was due to the bird you see here. (i was told its name, but have since forgotten it.)
i saw the bird perched on the pole and could not get over the colors: the warm color of the bird, the orange beak, the warm color of the wood as it absorbed the golden light, the rust, the blue sky. after snapping some photos, i decided that it would be perfect if i could get a shot of the same scene as the bird flew away.
except that bird would not move. it sat. and sat. and sat. every so often, it would lift its wings as if it were going to fly away, but then it would drop them again. i walked closer. and closer. and closer. nothing. the bird sat.
i decided that it needed some encouragement. i waved my arms. i picked up some leaves and threw them up in the air. i did a silly dance. i waved my arms again like i was throwing something at the bird. (note that i was also trying not to be too noticeable to the other canal walkers in case they thought i was terrorizing an innocent bird.) i walked closer. and closer. and closer. still nothing. the bird just sat.
by this time, i was at the pole, looking up at the bird. i decided that i would pretend to climb the telephone pole; surely that would work. as i tried to figure out how to pretend to do this (while still looking up), i saw a huge squirt of white shoot out the back side of the bird and land on the ground in front of me.
i left the scene immediately.
bird: 1, girl: 0.
(when i returned, i did learn that these birds won't move for anything. i felt much better.)
Oh, that must have been a funny scene! Your photos are so rich and beautiful.
Posted by: Gayle | 10/26/2009 at 05:36 AM
what a stunning series of bridge shots..Atlas would have given that bird a run!
Posted by: elk | 10/26/2009 at 06:07 AM
Simple gorgeous photos, Elizabeth! I love all the shades of rust, gold, blue and green... And thank you for sharing your fun story. Happy Days :o)
Posted by: Tracy | 10/26/2009 at 07:21 AM
I laughed out loud. :) Love your determination to capture the perfect photograph.
Posted by: Meredith | 10/26/2009 at 09:56 AM
...that was a great story elizabeth! i could read a whole book of stories like that! (hmmmm...good idea huh?!)
chrissy
Posted by: chrissy gardner | 10/26/2009 at 03:08 PM
ah, it is supposedly good luck if a bird "hits" you.
Posted by: margie | 10/26/2009 at 10:10 PM
Love your accompanying story - made me laugh!!!
The Cape Cod canal is such a beautiful place. Wonderful series of images!!!
Posted by: Marcie | 10/27/2009 at 04:54 AM
@marcie: i loved it - so very beautiful.
@margie: i have heard that - would prefer not to "get lucky" though. ;)
@chrissy: i have tucked it away in my idea folder!
@meredith: determination or folly. ;)
@tracy: thank you. happy days to you too!
@elk: i wondered if he might have actually gotten the bird to move! alas, he was thousands of miles away.
@gayle: i could see it in my head and it looked very funny. ;)
Posted by: elizabeth @ retinal perspectives | 10/27/2009 at 09:08 PM
My eyes hit on "I did a silly dance." and my heart skipped a little beat. How can we not love a woman who would do a public and silly little dance for the benefit of a bird?
Posted by: Relyn | 10/27/2009 at 09:11 PM
Hee-hee! That made me giggle. :D
Posted by: Julie M. | 10/28/2009 at 08:57 PM
OMG, that's hilarious! At least it didn't land on you.
Posted by: Toni | 10/29/2009 at 11:37 PM
@toni: i was afraid the next one would!
Posted by: elizabeth @ retinal perspectives | 10/30/2009 at 08:34 PM