April 2024 Best in Color Category
Being in nature is what inspires me whether it is pursuing some outdoor adventure sport, traveling to remote locations, or taking photos of wildlife and landscapes.
“The Conductor” was photographed at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. I have spent a good deal of time at this rookery over the years watching the birds and their behaviors at various times of the day. This photo was taken during a three day visit where I spent all of my time every morning in one spot looking up at a tree which is an essential part of the bird activity there; particularly for the Roseate Spoonbills. This tree seems to be some sort of communication hub for the birds which are constantly flying in and landing, squabbling, and flying out and the morning light is beautiful. I’ve tried using a tripod which is awkward at best but if you position yourself well you can lean on the fence to help steady your arms while looking up. Most of my favorite captures that I have taken of spoonbills tend to be of a more serene nature; pruning, wading, and so forth. What appealed to me about this spot is the birds are very active resulting in all sorts of different poses. I took many photos over those three days but when this one particular Roseate lifted its wings and acted like it was in charge, I pressed the shutter down and hoped I could capture something very different.
At the time the photo was taken, I did not have the skill set to process it properly but knew it had potential and saved it for a future date. My Photoshop skills have improved a bit and I was able to use layers and Camera Raw to selectively enhance the image.