Musings Of A Fellow Adventurer…Florida

Susan Akitt

Several years ago I had the pleasure of taking one of Laurie’s workshops, in Tampa.  I had enjoyed taking pictures over the years, having been a fan of photography from the time that I was given my first “Brownie” camera!  I improved, as did my cameras.  I took pictures on vacations and of special events but, it wasn’t until I began photographing birds with Laurie that I truly fell in love with photography.  First, because I loved the subjects – so many beautiful birds; and, second, because I learned how to take beautiful photographs.  I had never shot pictures of birds before.  Now, four years later, they are still my favorite subjects and I only wish that I could spend more time in their world…

Great Egret

Earlier this year I contacted Laurie to ask if she ever had time to give private lessons.  It’s difficult for me to get away and I hoped that I might get another chance to learn from her.  I was so excited when she wrote to say she was going to be in Florida in late June and she’d be able to get together with me afterwards.  We set the dates and I made a very long list of things I wanted to try and cover.  The best laid plans…

Here in south Florida we haven’t had much rain for the past six months – in fact, almost no rain at all.  Well, the day before Laurie arrived we had a big storm.  The first day Laurie and I met to shoot – we had a big storm.  The next day – we had a big storm!  We did manage to go out a few times but, instead of taking pictures, we spent most of the time running for cover while soaking wet.  Still, the times we couldn’t be out shooting, Laurie was teaching me a better workflow; how she sets her in-camera menus – and why; and she was critiquing my pictures to help me improve my ratio of “keepers”.  My biggest problems were in losing focus and framing the subject.  Laurie both showed and explained to me how to fix those problems (and others) though I didn’t really get a chance to practice — until today…

Snowy Egret

Late this afternoon, once again Laurie checked Radar Scope on her iPhone to see if there would be break in the storm. YES!  So Laurie, my friend, Tim, and I headed out – though just to a large pond behind the condos in my neighborhood.  (After our past experiences we weren’t venturing far from cover!)  What a wonderful time we all had.  In just two hours we photographed: two Ospreys; a Great Blue Heron; a Great Egret; a Snowy Egret; a juvenile Little Blue Heron; and White Ibis.  We saw Moor Hens, an alligator, a vulture and more common birds.  As dusk settled we enjoyed a magnificent sunset with what Laurie called “reverse God beams”.  I’ll leave it to Laurie to explain and share one of her pictures.  We took pictures of the moon.  Laurie filmed one of the Osprey as it ate a fish we had seen it catch.  We all shot pictures of a Great Egret eating a small turtle.  And we watched, and photographed, dozens of Ibis and a few Tricolor Herons as they flew directly overhead to roost for the night…

White Ibis

As exciting as our shoot today was, because of all the beautiful birds we saw and photographed, what made the time even more special for me was when I looked at my pictures on the computer.  Almost every one – sharp!  Almost every subject – framed properly!  These are a few of the pictures that I took today.  All are as-shot, with no post-processing done…

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Tomorrow we hope to get out for more practice.  But, even if the weather keeps us indoors again, I know that Laurie won’t stop teaching, helping and encouraging me.  I am so appreciative and very grateful…  Susan Akitt

Osprey