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DaRk AnGel : Why Home : February 2006 : More Stuff

More Stuff

It is a lousy rainy damp cold gray day. Yesterday and yesterday's yesterday were the same. Tomorrow, the same again. This is our coldest weekend, the first real bite of winter. And it bites big time. Not the cold or the damp or the rain, but the dreary gray is the problem for me.

Everyone knows that I count birds on the weekend. Well this weekend I am counting Friday and Monday as well. No matter how many layers I have on the dampness is pushing through. Todays high was 31 and there was a persistent wind. The good news is that we did not get as much ice as feared. The last ice storm here left me without power for six days. That was bad enough, but if it occurred now I would go into MySpace Detox and probably lose my sanity!

This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count. An important project and one anyone can participate in. The minimum time is 15 minutes a day. I also participate in Cornell's Project FeederWatch which is two consecutive days a week from the late fall through early spring. As the bird populous' health goes, so goes the health of planet. These are important scientific studies. If you enjoy sitting outside, either of these gives you a great reason to goof off and do something good while doing so.

I started taking pictures of birds in June of 2004. Previous to that I was not into photography. I was just someone who took pictures on special occasions or get-togethers.

In fact previous to that time I was ignorant about the birds I had around me. Sure I knew a Blue Jay or a Cardinal. I knew a woodpecker when I saw one but not the exact type. Being in New Orleans I also knew what a pigeon was. Anything else, was alien to me and although always there, never seen or noticed.

Why did I start all this? I needed to lose some weight. (Still do, but not as much as I used to.) Since I could not exercise, and I was a failure at dieting I was searching for something to help. I decided that the heat of the summers here would help. I would sit outside and sweat. And sweat I have through two summers.

I had one small feeder up at that time I started my sweat off. I began to notice the birds. I realized that I could not identify most of what I was seeing. So I got a bird book.

It was a Cedar Waxwing that arose the desire to photograph what I was seeing. This bird is beautiful, but indescribable.

I began with my Sony Digital. The pictures were ok, but I wanted closer. So I bought a Clearview lens. And the results were phenomenal. So close were the birds that one could see the individual hairs that make up the feathers. Well I will not keep on this detailed of a history but I am many feeders and four camera upgrades later.

What should I do with all these pictures? I found Cornell's site and began looking at the pictures they were using. It was evident to me that mine were as good as, if not better. I submitted a couple of pictures and was sure I would never hear anything back. But I did. They were excited and very encouraging. They had a project coming up where they needed pictures of Gold Finches. I was asked what I had. I sent in a few and the next thing you know they were in a pamphlet. I was sent a email that asked how it felt to be a published photographer. (Pretty cool is how I felt.)

Flash forward to today. Soon I began getting requests from other non profit groups to use some of what I shot. So what I finally did is create a web site, and monthly put up what I am willing to part with. Different groups browse it and email me when they want to use something. I have been published nine times as well as having pictures used on web sites.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is having a photography contest this year. And I have entered. In fact there are four of my pictures up on their site now. The best one I submitted is not up there. I am hoping they are keeping it aside for a reason! The competition is very very stiff. I wish I had some of the prettier birds but all I can do is work with what I have.

Now you understand my dilemma with the weather. I need light, sun, but not one ray since Thursday. It is also hard to take a picture of something that usually does not sit still for more than a second. Harder still when added to that one is shivering. So the darkness forces a slower shutter speed, and also the colors are blah.

There will be five winners, each receives a certificate and a book. Not much monetary value to the prizes. I want to win. I would be happy without a prize. To win validates that I am infact a decent photographer. I have gotten a lot of compliments from people that I do not know, but this is recognition.

This is one of the paths that my life has gone down as a result of my disability. The birds have taught me so much and brought me so much entertainment with their antics. If the course of events not occurred as they had, I would still be someone oblivious to what they have available in their own back yard. Even though I would much rather not have gone through the physical changes that I have, I have to admit that I have had several opportunities that I never would have had otherwise.

I am trying to come to a clever way to say that there is always something to be thankful for in life. Even during an event such as I went through, there is always the proverbial silver lining. And it really is up to me on what I want to center my life around, what I used to be able to do physically and career wise or what I have gained as a result of the physical sacrifices. I can either stay swathed in anger about what isn't or accept what is and find ways to make it work for me. I can dwell on the loss or see what there is to gain from every event in my life.

I have been very lucky.

Oh and I am forty pounds lighter from just sitting around.