Make the best use of the Opportunity

This week's chosen topic for the blog is going to be about how situations change and what to do when what you see is different from what you had visualised and wanted to get? 

This is one situation a wildlife photographer and more so a bird photographer comes across quite a few times. What we had visualised and envisaged of how we want a shot either based on images of others or how we have imagined and with that expectations when we go in search of the targets we see that either the weather or the presence of some movements or in general our luck the bird chooses another perch or patch or area and we end up being disappointed.

I thought this image I am taking as the showcase is a perfect example of it. For many years  I have dreamt of this bird and images of this striking blue in snow. Every winter I wish to make it to get to see them and make the frames I wanted. However till now I have not been able to. 

The fine winter morning was a perfect day for me to finally get those kind of shots I will be happy with. As I started to trek towards the tree where the birds were feeding out of no where a raptor surged the sky and all those dreams vanished. The birds took to the skies and kept flying away and did not come back to land again to feed. Nevertheless it is easy to curse the luck and head back but what I saw was an opportunity to make some frames that would show the wider frame of how these birds flock together and how they appear against the mighty mountains. What as a photographer you need is this visualisation element and always look for opportunities. A different frame tells a different story and it is important to see what you can make in the given situation.

I had to quickly react and to gain that elevation  had to run to higher reach so  I can be at the near eye level. What is important technically is to ensure you change your settings for these situations on the aperture so that the whole frame is in focus and a wider perspective is created.  This is all about creating a visual story to the viewer and make them imagine how a scene is through the images or in simple terms make the image speak .

Do feel free to add in the comments of such situations you have been in.  

The bird in the picture is Grandala, a winter migrant to slightly lower reaches of the Himalayas whilst in summer they move further up. The best places in India to see them are Lachen and Lachung in Sikkim, Sela pass in Arunchala, Harshil in Uttarakhand. Brave the cold and you will be mesmerised by the sights. 

Image shot in Lachen, Sikkim in Dec 2022 . Thank you for taking time out to read this week's content and I hope these blogs are helpful