Writing creative narrative for my nature photography can often represent a greater challenge than actually capturing the images.  Sometimes it's easy to tell a story with them, other times it isn't as clear what I should write.  I guess this particular photo essay is about morning sights, but that's not very original.  As a kind of pilot, I suppose I might imagine you as a passenger on an airplane, looking out the window as I fly us above the clouds.  To you, these photographs might appear like views of the countryside below:
- The moon is in the bluest part of the morning sky.  
 - Ruby-throated Hummingbird preens through dense tangle.  
 - Black-throated Green Warbler searches a pinecone for insects.  
 - Monarch Butterfly warms itself in the morning sun.  
 
But what's actually going on in the cockpit?  Tripod adjustments, white-balance check, light angle, compose, focus-lock, release, re-focus, adjust, move, check, shutter speed, exposure, exposure, exposure, post-processing, uploading, etc.  Steps have been repeated thousands of times; the ride for me is a little different from yours.
It was a thought.
Anyway, enjoy the view!




All images © 2008 Mike McDowell