I'm going to try to make the banner images on this blog somewhat reflective of what's going on in my life at the time. Since it's spring, I am thinking about the garden a lot, even though I am spending much less time in it than I would like. Most of the time I do get to spend outside, I spend zoning out, watching various creatures go about their business. Eventually I snap out of it and do some weeding.
March 2006
This is a picture I took on January 4th, when M'hijo was one week old. That was the day I finally got out to take a look at the birdfeeders that Abu and Sahsez put up in the backyard on his birthday, while I laboured loudly inside the house. The feeders consist of large pinecones smeared with peanut butter and spattered with birdseed. The birds went insane over them. We even managed to attract a Cooper's Hawk to the yard.
Photographing sparrows is difficult, not least because they can hear the click of the shutter and fly away immediately. Patience is the key. I find that if I stand still long enough, they seem to forget I'm there and go about their business normally.
April 2006
I am a big fan of bees. After reading A Countrywoman's Year, I had a real yearning to raise bees, something I have yet to act on, much to the relief of everyone I live with and near. This photo shows one of my buzzing garden-helpers hard at work in the penstemon on March 31.
Bees are less nervous than sparrows, so they're easier to get close to, but there is the risk of being stung. This makes it all the more fun to take the pictures, because I get to feel tough, like a real photographer. War photojournalist? Pshaw. Big deal! I photograph BEES. With STINGERS.
