Chasing Fog

Ever since I found the charm in fog, winter does not seem to be a drag for me any more.  It is a bit challenge to get out and shoot a few in a subzero temperature, but desire usually overcomes all.

The shot that I have always in mind is the layers of mountain ranges vaguely hidden in the cloud or the fog floating among the foothills. And the best, if I can be above the cloud and observe the majestic mountain peaks. I did have a few above-cloud experience, but I was not equipped with a DSLR then and I was shooting without any basic knowledge about photography.  Below is one of the above-cloud image taken at Haleakala in Kula, Hawaii. I simply 'framed' a picture without thinking about 'composition'. But, that above the world experience was impressed on me, forever.

Not much an adventurer, I desire and yet expect any dramatic images either. Just being able to capture that dreamy look behind the reality, I am happy enough and myself entertained. As simple as a row of trees would hook me there for a good half hour in spite of misty rain and chilly temperature. And, I come back here more than once. When love is formed at first sight, it seems to persist, longer.

On a solo photo walk, I ran into a lady who was heavily shielded from weather like me and had a DSLR in her hand. When we came across, she mentioned something like "The fog has made this place out-of-the-world". Exactly that, I was there. We ended up chatting. She has a whole load of family responsibilities but she was utilizing a few hours of freedom to pursue her hobby. She was there before me and still there when I left. She was my inspiration for the day.

The surroundings are the winter destitute. The reflection looks lifeless. But the distant trees in the fog soften the bareness and the monotone. My eyes kept pointing me to the subjects veiled in the fog. How I love fog.

Unexpected in this cold chill, I spotted this heron standing by the edge of the pond. As I moved forward, he flew away. I did not have enough time to set my shutter speed right and he disappeared. My few attempts ended up some blurry shots. I have enough heron images, but I have not given up wanting that BEST shot. While I was ready to walk out of the area, I saw something on the top of the broken steam that does not seem to belong there... It was too far to get a good eye shot, but I was chasing fog, not the heron. Heron is good, but I was looking at the foggy background.

I live in the tree country. Would I get tired of shooting trees? No. Never. I think I have taken lots of landscape pictures. Trees are all inclusive, but they are not what I called tree images. Perhaps I should begin to shoot trees, a very common subject but in great varieties of species and they look different in various seasons and environment. Nothing dramatic, but I just love the ambiance.

Up Close

Today is the 5^th day since my return from Taiwan. My day and night are still upside down. I was dozing off at church Sunday morning service and wide awake past midnight. I went on a photo shot at Ridgefield wildlife refuge on the second day of my return, crazy enough, and majority of the images turned out blurry. I may have been day dreaming while I was shooting.

Heron and Egret are very common, but I have not had much luck getting clear pictures.  First of all, I am sensitive to weight and too lazy to carry a large lens. And, either the subject is too far away and I don’t have the right lens with me, or, I am not ready when the birds show up unexpectedly.  I know I have to be better and more dedicated if I want to be a wildlife photographer.

Since I had my eyes on birds, I have seen couple of egrets and herons dwelling in Eugene Delta Ponds. I have walked by the ponds many times, but most of the time they are too far away for me to fetch a decent shot.  Completely unexpected, I ran into both of them within 20-50 feet away in Taiwan and my 200mm lens did the job fine. How thrilled I was if you can imagine!

Little Egret

Years ago in Hawaii, I was desperate to photo cardinal and a red cardinal showed up singing about 10 feet away on the day of my departure.  I was so stirred up by that crisp voice on my daily walk path and suddenly, that sparrow stopped right in front of me. I could not get good shots of egret and heron, and now they are within reach. How do you explain that? Coincidence happened every once a while, but I can grab a handful of examples that occurred continuously and unexpectedly. End of the day I have to make a conclusion that it is the Almighty who has graciously granted my desire and I am absolutely grateful.

When I looked at egrets from distance, they are white like snow and elegant like a fairy. I particularly like their fine and silk looking feather. But the one below was wading in a water lily pond where he was the sole inhabitant. He circled around the pond and worked diligently to fetch his prey. I have never seen one so close and for at least 45 minutes I was there, he did not stop hunting his victim. All of a sudden, my elegant fairy turns into an aggressive predator.

Blue Heron has that solemn and stately look. They usually stand on the edge of water bank motionlessly and appear to ignore people’s presence, but immediately when you come a bit too close, they pull out. Their large wings flap graciously in the sky and I have always thought they are well-mannered as they seem until….

This guy flew from his spot to where three black-crowned night herons were perched. He was down low and three night herons were up high on tree limbs. I saw him moving step by step closer to the tree and in a split second, he attacked one of the night herons right on the back. Night Heron flew and hid, and I was left in shock.

Great Blue Heron

Blue heron and night heron are obviously from the same clan. Now blue heron has called for the battle. My sympathy is with night heron. I understand they are aiming for the same preys in the pond, but come on, there should be equal opportunities. Don’t attempt to kill your competitor before the competition even starts.

Black-Crowned Night Heron

My day of bird discovery had not ended, I spotted another bird hiding in the bushes to consume his prey, bugs. I have never seen this bird and I was attracted to its colors. He was just about 5-6 feet away from me and I got to click no stop. When the images were displayed on my large computer screen, I saw his large and pretty eyes, at the same time, I noticed his mouth was filled with bugs. OMG. They look so gross to me. I prefer to see them distant in their elegant silhouette, I don't want to know their true nature. I only want to remember its colorful crown, beautiful feather and its sparkling eyes.

Malayan Night Heron

I am glad that I captured this red dragonfly that I have never seen before, but I have learned my lesson. I don’t want to see them closer than that. 

Just recently I have been debating if I should get a longer lens to shoot wildlife and get clear shots. Now I have got what I wanted, do I enjoy more? I am not sure.  I seem to rather open one eye and close the other.

I cannot see well when they are distant and now I refuse to see the truth when they are up close. Art is invented to enhance our life. I am interested to explore the truth but I choose to only report the beauty not the beast.

I went to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial to photograph a friend, but I did not catch him at right time. Instead, I found egrets and herons there who have altered my course for the day and also adjusted my prospective. I have always liked to plan ahead and aim closer to my goal. But what can I do, when the direction is geared from Above and I have no control over it? Expect the Unexpected.

Discoveries bring up positive and negative truth. I just have to take whatever it comes, and not to agonize over little things.  I am thankful enough that I am given what I desired for regardless the outcome.

Thought you may be curious about CKS memorial in Taipei, Taiwan, below are few shots for representation.