You guys might like this (action photos and duckboy diatribe)

[duckboy]

I posted this in the General forum, but since it involves ducks and death and marsh drama, figured it would be something you guys could get into.




Decided to go out on what was supposed to be a day of rain,

decided to take a chance.

broke out the big lens,
the camo jacket,
Olive drab baseball cap.


Bag of nasty rotted Leaf tobbacco that sat in the hull of the Duckbomber. Soaked in the Columbia's water (Like my hound dog, me, and my buddies all do each fall and winter)

&
Prayed for good light to shoot.



See,
a camera is a funny thing.

It has the ability to capture something that is "truth".

Almost as though it is something that can reach up out of the water, wrap its arms around your neck,
and pull you right under the gloss you were entranced by.

It lays things out "plain and simple".


A snapshot can explain everything,
With never a whisper of a word.

Use of the camera is as addicting as any drug,

That "want", that takes control of everything.
That overwhelming urge to
go there again,

do it again,
do it better, do it more.

Do it,
and it only,


Renders proficiency merely a half measure.


Some call it a "sickness", others say it is "drive",

But those that endeavor to better understand things of "essence", know what it is
that takes us to these great and desperate places.


What we need most of all is good lighting, lighting enough to see the subject and freeze it with the snap of a fast shutter.
This is tough to do in the Pacific Nw, with all of the gray days we endure.

Somehow, visiting the fringe, the border of life and death
helps me calibrate better to my own surroundings.


Somehow it makes sense to see life unfold when it is broken down into its basic compents:
Life,
Growth,
Reproduction,
escape from the force of death,
or consumption of the life in some other being.
And finally,
Death itself.

It makes sense.



The wet ground may give when you lay your foot to it,







But if you try your best to tread lightly






No one will know you were there.











The marsh grasses sway in the first breezes of spring,

You'll need to learn how to sway with the breeze too, to blend in.








You'll need to learn how hunt.



You'll need a few other skills too,

You'll need to know how to sing,



& A bit of luck and good timing.



You'll more than likey have to find a place to stand your ground.




Shot at 2008-03-18



You'll need to know how to get along with others.




Even if it means you have to share a space with someone that reminds you of all of your worst attributes.






You'll have to stick together in the smooth times,

Shot at 2008-03-18





Watch out for each other in the day and the night.









and the roughest of times too.








How to make a good impression, and really stand out.




And how to act like you're not upset that no one is paying attention to you when you are wearing your best colors.





Youll probably go down a few paths that just dead end, and then you'll have to turn around and start over.
May even get your face scratched up by another of your own kind.







This Marsh hawk was working on a snake, and kept looking up,




I looked up and saw nothing.

Again, She worked on the snake.. paused and looked straight up.
I looked where she was looking and far off (maybe 1000 feet up) was a lone eagle. A solitary speck floating in the sky.
As I watched it, I was thinking that the hawk was worried for no reason,
I was wrong.

And as she bolts down from 1000 feet with her wings pulled in tight,

After nearly an hour of gliding and climbing,

she'll peer through slits of her eyes at nearly 100 mph.
Her Primaries will hum at 40 mph,

start to whistle at 60 mph,

At about 80 mph, her brain is able to turn everything into a slow motion series.
And she becomes "hypertuned" and able to make immediate adjustments to her descent.

And her body will ache fron the friction as she pushes the limits of her design.

the flock below her will get wise to the scene as she approaches the
strike point nearing the sheen of the water


the moment she's worked for.






This is as simple as it gets.

This moment is the "Essence"




But it may cost her all she's got,

every ounce of energy is needed to raise that brood of hers.

She'll need to fight and fly and twist and turn,

She'll have to fly hard and low into the wind and somehow use it to her advantage.








She'll need to judge the slowest bird in the flock from a mile out,
& need to know how to descend out of nowhere,


With the sun hard on her back,
they wont be able to see her until she is right upon them..


The smart ones in the flock she's falling to will scatter.

She'll have to swing out and wide and into the wind,

And her wings will strain.







But this is what she has to do, and with a few power strokes she's split the flock
looking for a cripple.



This is how the system works.

The marsh makes sense!

sometimes it is the only thing that makes sense.

It is simple to understand,
and sincere.



The weak, slow, and incapable

feed the swift and sure.

they become the counterbalance on the fulcrum.


Life is made even here.

All things are equalized without a vote, or a political caucus.
There is no radio or televised address.


You live,
to live another day.

And then you'll need to get back up to 1000 feet again,
and again.


And the doors of feelings stowed away since the sun last shined will swing wide and awaken the marsh,
& life will begin again.











bonus photos:
Banded Hawk


Shot with NIKON D80 at 2008-03-20

Banded Kestrel

Shot with NIKON D80 at 2008-03-19

[quackerjack]

Truly the wonder of nature captured in your artistic shots. I can feel your word through each photo. Thanks for sharing!
Travis

[lentz]

Thanks for taking the time to write that. As always....nice read and great photos.