That's right, my hike along the lake this afternoon turned interesting pretty quick. I'm going along the shore, not paying a whole lot of attention. The camera's out, I'm aware for good shots, but mostly I'm just de-stressing and enjoying myself. Walking, talkin' to myself, basic review of how the sensor chip in the camera works (yes, I'm a dork, I know.)
"It's like a bunch of those egg cartons, with the little pockets. The light is like water. Black is empty pockets, and full ones are pure white. Of course, purest white means that the pocket is supersaturated and results in blown highlights. Blown highlights suck, but happen a bit more than we'd all like to admit. I wish there were...what's that noise? Holy shit!"
Three good steps away, there's a goose, lying on the ground, giving me a really nasty look. First reaction? Camera up, of course! Wow, this is really cool. Look at that, I'm so close! I can't believe it let me get this close. Why isn't it moving away?
..........wait a second..........
Oh boy, this is a mama goose! She's on her nest! Camera back up, clickclickclickclick...buffer full...writing...writing...click...click...
Hey, look, it's another goose! Geeze, why is he swimming with his head so low like that? clickclickclick...click
....wait a second (See, the delay is shorter this time, I'm getting good at this now!)....
That would be papa goose. Oh, maybe this isn't such a good thing...
So I say to the geese, in a real calm, quiet voice (as if they can understand me), "Okay geese, I'm going to take a few calm steps back, okay? I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to watch a moment." So I take a few calm steps backwards up the hill and squat down and of course, click...click...click...clickclickclickclick...buffer full...waiting...finally...clickclick...click.
When I figure I have enough goose shots (to last a lifetime, even though this is darn cool!), I start talking to the geese again (thank goodness no one was around to hear me - I'd be in a padded room by now). Mama goose was still on her nest, watching me, and papa goose was standing in the shallows with his eye on me. So I stand up, "Okay geese, I'm going to go across the hill here and back to the trail, and I'm not going to bother you. And thank you for letting me take your picture." So I edge away, and they seem to relax and go along as normal - whatever normal is for a goose.
After, as I'm walking away, grinning like the fool I am, I think that I'm pretty lucky to seen that. It made my day, validated my existance, was worth the hike. I'm also darn lucky the stupid goose didn't attack me! The last time I was at the Vermont State Fair, I got bit by a goose (don't ask) and since then, I have a certain waryness for them (can you blame me?)
On the other hand, what a story that would have been to tell in class tomorrow: "What'd you do last night?" "Oh, I went downtown and got plastered. You?" "I stepped on a gosse and it attacked me." **Insert strange look here**
Oh, the adventures of my life. Your faithful corespondant is signing off now, so until next time, keep the cameras handy and watch your step. Good shooting, and good luck!
|
|
