Birds
Read MoreContemplation
Dickcissel Spiza Americana This young dickcissel seems both calm and confident. It inspires me to remain hopeful about the future, even when, as now, the world seems to be flirting with disaster. What Rachel Carson said in Silent Spring remains true today: "Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."
Immature Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina Caerulea
The blue grosbeak is one of my favorite birds. To see what a male adult looks like, just go back nine images from this one. This young bird is immature, and must be considered a work in progress. As you can see, however, from the blue breaking out on his flanks and back, he is designed to be quite beautiful.Gray Catbird
Dumetella Carolinensis This is a gray catbird that I photographed recently before sunrise in the South Carolina Botanical Garden. In the post-production process, I used the vignette tool to wash out some of the background, thereby creating a "high key" image that draws more attention to the contrasting colors between the catbird and the foliage upon which it is perched.