Photos and thoughts

Lately I've been letting my photos speak for me, so I think it's time to let a few thoughts ooze out...just a few. But first I'll start with a picture and a story about my mini adventure. :)

Nutria, 1/28/11, Nob Hill, Carrollton

On friday afternoons if we are not busy at work my boss allows me to leave 30 minutes early, which means I get an extra hour of light for photography. I almost always head straight to one of several nature areas in my city. Recently, I had purchased a pair of rubber boots so that I could go deeper into the woods. So here I was last Friday afternoon standing at the edge of the pond in my trusty new boots, not afraid of a thing. I had been shooting a timid little woodpecker for a good 30 minutes. It was getting near dusk, and he was being extremely shy, staying in the shadows of one particular tree. I was using manual focus because the light was so dim, and my 55-250mm lens does not focus well in low light. Suddenly I heard a rustling sound. I looked down and four feet to my right was a beaver! Well, I thought it was a beaver, but learned the next day that it was a Nutria. A rodent! Glad I didn't know it at the time because I am really terrified of rodents. It's the tail, y'all! *shivers* Anyway, I was able to overcome my fear, get my camera back on the right settings and shoot away. This was the only decent shot that came out. I think he was more afraid of me and my clicking sounds than I was of him. An exciting way to start my weekend.

Hairy Woodpecker, 1/28/11, Nob Hill

This is the bird I was shooting when the Nutria appeared. Dadgum low light caused this picture to be kind of grainy, so I embraced the grain with a wonderful texture by Jerry Jones of Shadowhouse Creations. His button is on the sidebar of my blog. Anyway, this makes me more determined than ever to save up for that 400mm lens. Although I know that once I have that I will be lusting after the 700mm. I really need to get my lens lust under control. I think it's a sin. 

Hairy Woodpecker, 1/29/11, Nob Hill

The next day I had better light, but it's still not as sharp as I'd like.

Now for thoughts...I did promise those, didn't I?

• I love my church and I love our priest. He makes me feel special, like I'm worthy to be loved...as though this is the way Jesus himself loves. It's nice. I'm a little afraid of the feeling, yet I'm drawn to it at the same time. It's so refreshing to have a clergyman practice what he preaches. He has stood at the altar on more than one Sunday and told us we should make others feel as though they matter, that they are the most important person in the room. That's the way he makes me feel. Perhaps he senses my need.
• My mother was overly emotional yesterday, but I refrained from crying with her as I usually do. I felt a little more in control, talking her through it, although my voice cracked a couple of times because she's becoming like a lost child, and that's hard to deal with.
• I wish I could start a career in nature photography, somehow. When I'm out in nature seeing all of creation and capturing it with my camera, my soul is at peace. I feel closer to God than at any other time. Sometimes I pray when I'm out there—out loud—and it feels right.