When I first saw this picture, the caption "Hoppin' Mad" immediately came to mind. But of course the bird is not stamping his feet in anger, the camera just caught him as he changed position on the branch.
It is tempting to impute human emotions and motives to wild animals. Movies, television shows and advertisements often depict animals as cute little humanoids. Walt Disney started it all and now we are surrounded by talking ducks and dancing penguins and adorable lizards selling insurance. Some of this is imaginative and fun, but as we become more and more distant from the natural world, we run the risk of missing out on the nourishing enjoyment of learning about nature through direct contact and observation. We miss out on the beauty of things as they are.There is more of interest and more beauty in the goldfinch outside the kitchen window, than there is in all the singing lions and dancing birds that the entertainment industry can conjure up.
I watched this goldfinch for several minutes. Alert for predators, he turned back and forth several times with a motion too sudden and quick to be seen with the eye, but a lucky snap of the shutter caught him mid-air as he hopped and spun around. Maybe he can dance after all.
Thanks for reading Photography In Place. This week is Third Sunday, so stop by on Sunday for a visit to a church in the Shenandoah Valley.
Your observations about the "make believe world" and how it distorts reality are agreed with by this reader.
ReplyDeleteRobert, "make believe world" is a good way to put it, and how often we choose the make believe over the real.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic capture
ReplyDeleteThanks, Don.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Edd. It is a fantastic photo... :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Glenn. There is more luck than skill in this photo, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I love the "action" shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt.
ReplyDelete