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Carrion Crow taking off from a field of stubble on Westhay Moor; 27 Nov 2014.
I have a great liking for crows in general. They are large, noisy and very successful opportunists, and to have one here standing on my desk – or perched on my shoulder – as I compose this post would certainly be one of Life’s good experiences.
Driving on Westhay Moor, I came upon a great field of stubble, with a black crow standing alone in it. The crow was quite far off, I had a big telephoto ready on the seat beside me, I could visualise a picture of this black bird amongst the pale stubble, the car window was already down, and I brought the car very quietly to a gentle halt.
But despite all of these things I underestimated my dear darling and, even at that substantial range, as soon as I’d stopped the car, he started waddling uneasily away and, as I raised the lens – which he may well have thought a shotgun barrel – he started hopping away and, before I could say knife, he was airborne.
Loud expletives filled the car but, remembering my camera’s good autofocus and up for the challenge, I started firing, panning the camera to keep up with this fleeing being.
And what have I ended up with? Well, pin sharp it isn’t, although the wingtip feathers could be far more blurred, but its the bird silhouetted – with its feet still dangling from having just leapt up into the air. Its flying just above the pale lines of stubble (which tend to bewilder my eyes when I look at them), and there are a pale gate and darker flanking fences in the backdrop, and a hint of trees further back again. Its an impression of the scene and I like the effect, and so its presented here.
And this is my 200th post from the Somerset Levels, a part of England that I love very much, and I feel good about that.
D700 with 70-300 Nikkor at 300mm; 800 ISO; Silver Efex Pro 2, starting at the Antique Portrait preset.
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FATman Photos 
Nice, again, I like the creamy colour.
Making plans for the end seems sort of comforting, but I don’t have a favourite resting place as such… I don’t seem to have found it yet… I have however, let it be known that I would like none of this wearing of black and sad faces, I would like a party with everyone enjoying themselves.
No flowers either, donations towards a bench maybe, not to be placed in a park, or with a beautiful view, there are already plenty of those, but to be placed half way up a hill where it can be used to stop and catch a breath or two before continuing. 🙂
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The creaminess is a tone, which I’ve used quite a lot – it often looks better, to me, than plain black and white.
I’m right with you re the wearing of black and the sad faces – I mean, let’s have a little imagination for a change, not people just doing the same old thing because its always been done! And I like your ideas about the bench; and you’ve made me think about the flowers thing too. Good stuff, Hallysann! A 🙂
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Ha, ha, I am not fond of them serenading me at 5 am right outside my bedroom window! Your photo, I like , particularly that you have that gate and fence in the background..compliments the whole feeling of the photo very well.
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That’s good to hear, my friend, thank you >>> but the gate and fence are fortuitous >>> at the speed I was firing I had no time to think of anything except trying to keep focus on the bird! A
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Amazing work!
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Thank you very much, iosatel! Adrian
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It has a deconstructed feel to it great shot and color.
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Yes, I think deconstructed is a good term here – thanks, Sheldon! Adrian
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200? You DO love it there!
xxx ATP
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I do, and as I’ve just mentioned to Meanderer, I’m planning on it being my last resting place. I was there again at dawn yesterday – rather unnerving amounts of water around, lots of flooded fields, and the sun glinting on yet more floods off in the distance. ATP xxx
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I just saw this as I was browsing the reader and was wowed by it immediately. Wonderful image, Adrian.
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M, thank you very much! OK, things to say. First, if you’re wowed, would you like a jpeg to add to your jpeggery???
Second, I was down on the Levels at dawn (OMG!!!) yesterday, but am still contemplating the carnage … I mean images …
And third, since I like Tealham and Tadham Moors so much and always feel so at peace there, I am starting making plans to have my last resting place somewhere in that area. I talked to some friends down there yesterday and they were – well, enthusiastic is not really the word, is it? – friendly and very willing to help, puts it better! Just how morbid and gloomy can I get??? And no, before you ask, I have not been diagnosed with anything awful, I am just being me, ie thinking around things. A
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It’s not morbid or gloomy. I know, it’s difficult to talk about such things because there is social pressure on us to be upbeat and happyhappyhappy. I’m much more interested in what makes us whole – so the dark bits as well as the light. Yes – you need to let people know what you want; it’s important.
The image is wonderful and gives a feeling of freedom.
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Yes, you’re right, social pressure to be upbeat and HAPPY!!!!! >>> maybe via an unending diet of football, Strictly Come Dancing and the X-Factor … apologies for spoiling your day with that … try vomiting … it’ll make you feel better …
But, massive cliché or adage or watchword or something, Life is not a bowl of cherries and, I agree, understanding the dark side is important. And thanks for endorsing my last wishes thing – thinking about it opens the mind a bit. One thing is, being a geologist and interested in astronomy too, I have a clear idea of how small and fleeting we are, and I’m sure that influences my thoughts.
Glad you like the image. Last call for a jpeg … oh I’m just going to send you one … move on down the bus please … 😉 ….
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Thank you, my friend 🙂
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