DAY 354

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Be Prepared

THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

The old Boy Scouts’ motto, “Be Prepared,” is a valuable phrase to remember. It’s useful in all manner of situations, including nature photography. Having your camera with you and ready to shoot is one way to be prepared.

While driving, it’s an easy matter to have your camera where you can get to it rapidly. Carrying it on the seat beside you, in a case or covered with a cloth so it doesn’t get dusty, means it will be available at a moment’s notice. That way, if you happen to be in just the right place at just the right time, that memorable shot is yours for the taking.

This shot of a rooster pheasant was taken that way—on the fly, so to speak. The bird was huddled in a bush adjacent to the driveway. Although it was camouflaged by its surroundings, the rooster’s colorful plumage made it noticeable.

Training your eye to be aware of anything out of the ordinary, and keeping the camera close at hand, could prove to be the difference between capturing the shot or telling your friends about the rooster that got away. —WTD