My trip to the bird refuge in January produced some favorite images of 2016 so far. The day began with a lot of clouds, then a slight clearing and a rainbow, then back to clouds for some time, and as I drove around the levee road, I thinking I’d go explore elsewhere, when the sky brightened just as I came upon a stilt. They are one of my favorite wading birds, and I took it as a sign that I should stick around! I worked with several birds for a while, trying to time their movements, and get them in position for a catchlight in the eye, and single them out. Finally, this one bird was in the perfect spot, and as it lifted its leg I clicked the shutter. The drop of water on the bird’s beak, and the drop rings in the water all added to the moment for me, and the gesture and the reflection yielded magic!

I’m heading out to the refuge again in a few days to try for great light on a mass liftoff, but if that doesn’t happen I know there is always something of interest and I’ll work with what I have.

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda Tharp is an award-winning landscape and travel photographer, international photo tour leader, workshop instructor, inspirational speaker, fine art photographer, and writer. California photographer, landscape photographer, nature photographer, travel photographer, people photographer, worldwide photographer,fine art photos, for sale, fine art, photographs, travel, landscapes, nature, trees, oceans, mountains, deserts, wilderness, wildflowers, western, usa, morocco, ireland, italy, namibia, myanmar, bhutan, alaska, people, cultures, cultural, photography, international, cities, villages, lifestyles, traditional, outdoor, outdoor photographer, award-winning, cultural photographer, photo workshops, photo seminars, photo tours, photography workshops, photography tours, keynote speaker, photography teacher, author, photographic artist, photography books, photo books, photography tour leader, tour leader, workshop instructor, inspirational.