Bird Day #5

purple gallinule
Purple Gallinule – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
purple-gallinulle
Lunch – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“I am always doing what I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso

A couple of purple gallinule among the spatterdock. The 2nd guy was munching away on the flower. This weekend I will try to get some good pictures of the flowers. They are interesting in that they never seem to fully open. Another pic I’m looking for is a full face of the gallinule, the beaks are yellow, then red, with a blue shield above it. Oh and the bright yellow legs are cool too.

Quote found in the book The Zen of Creativity by John Daido Loori.

The Zen of Creativity

duck potatoes
Duck Potato – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” Albert Einstein Just finished The Zen of Creativity by John Daido Loori, He was a Buddhist monk, photographer, and artist. Very insightful book. Great follow up study to Frederick Franck’s work. Perhaps in a couple of months if I get over the wonder of new discovery I will be able to focus more on the art side of photography. Info on John Daido Loori can bve found at http://www.mro.org/daido/ . More on Frederick Franck https://picturethisbyfrank.com/2015/01/14/more-inspiration/  and  https://picturethisbyfrank.com/2015/01/30/the-awakened-eye-by-frederick-franck/ The quote was in the book.

Chillin

Alligator
Sittin on a Log – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
“I found photography was a great way of relaxing on the set” – Jeff Bridges
I love taking photos and find it a most relaxing activity. Jeff Bridges has some great portrait work he has taken on sets over the years. Some really nice monochrome work. See it at http://www.jeffbridges.com/photomay08.html. A man with many talents.

Motion – Photo 101

Tree Swallows
Tree Swallows in Flight – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
Tree Swallows
Many Swallows – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
Tree Swallows
Tree Swallows – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015 

Well, the pictures aren’t great but the idea is there. If you look at the flying birds you can definitely tell they are moving. Even though they appear still I think the random positioning shows the motion.

Tree Swallows are among the more difficult birds to catch in flight. The pictures with the birds in the air are taken at 1/2000 of a second, the tree is 1/500 and you can really see the blur.

Bird Day

glossy ibis
Glossy Ibis – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
green heron
Green Heron – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Zigler

Love these guys. The glossy is in breeding plumage, I think that the green is somewhere in between.

Quote found at  http://www.quotegarden.com/perseverance.html

Rivals

Great Egrets
Rivals – Gatorland – March 2015
greategplume
Great Egret – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“He that falls in love with himself has no rivals.” Benjamin Franklin

Both these pictures show great egrets with some indication of breeding plumage. Note the green feathers around the face. I’m starting to see a pattern here – like the ibis it’s facial feathers that attract. Hmm, perhaps we men should be growing beards.

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/rivals

Peek a Boo

otter
Otter – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
gator
Gator in the Grass – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness” – Allen Ginsberg

Both these pics made me think “Peek a boo, I see you” The otter was swimming and enjoying life between the cells at the park. He was diving and actually appeared to be playing peek a boo. The gator on the other hand, was simply looking and choose not to move.

Quote found at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hide.html