Adult American Robin portrait – Nikon D500, f9, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Three years ago today I drove up into the Wasatch Mountains to escape the summer heat and to look for birds to photograph. One of the birds I photographed on the June morning was this American Robin that was so close to me that I opted to take portraits of it.
When I look at this photo I am transported back in time and space to that June morning high in the mountains three years ago. I can feel the cool air, hear the birds around me, and remember the peaceful feelings I had as I made my way slowly through the canyon finding birds along the way to observe and photograph. I also remember how green everything seemed and how happy I was to have a rich green background behind this American Robin.
Looking at this photo also transports me way back in time and space to when I was a little girl of about six or seven years of age sitting on the branch of a tree in my front yard in Michigan watching adult American Robins feeding their nestlings in front of me. I can recall the sense of wonder I had as I watched those robins tending to the needs of their young and how connected I felt to them in that moment. Watching them changed me, I know that, and it helped me become who I am. Sure, I had seen American Robins before then but honestly I had never felt so connected to them until that day.
Every photo I take evokes memories of the day I took it, where I was, how I felt and more. My photos can also bring back the memories of when I first saw that species even if it had been decades prior or a particular moment that held special significance for me.
I have taken hundreds of thousands of photos of birds and animals over the years. My life is so rich and I am grateful for that.
This is a simple American Robin photo but for me it is also so, so much more.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Robin photos plus facts and information about this species.
Mia and April,
Thank you for sharing. I was also a feral child and turned the passion into a career as an ornithologist. I grew up on the Canadian prairies and nature was all around me. We raised our three boys in the city, but we camped and I did my best. I am amazed at how much they have retained and clearly value and are passing on to their children. My bird and nature photography really began after I retired. I have always said that my purpose is to capture the encounter so that I can revisit those moments when I can no longer get out there. They have kept me sane during the many months of Covid lockdown. I’m amazed how an image can instantly switch on a complete mental replay of the encounter, not only with the bird or critter, but of the great time we had if I was with a buddy. What a gift! So Mia’s reflections on that Robin were very special. Grampa has created many photo books for his grandchildren and they learn a lot from them. They are keen little naturalists. I’m thrilled, proud, and grateful. Thank you Mia for all you do.
I too was a feral child – for which I am endlessly grateful.
I feel my love of nature comes from two sources, one my temperament and two my upbringing as a feral child. Not saying I had bad parents, I had wonderful parents, who allowed my to explore and get dirty, and climb trees and mountains and build rafts in ponds and streams. I kept live insects, salamanders, lizards, frogs and snakes in jars and terrariums to watch, usually a month at a time then releasing back to their wild homes. I duplicating their habitat gathered natural foods for them. Sadly I feel the later generations did not have that freedom and thus the disconnect with nature and our wild neighbors. I know I tried to raise my children understanding and exploring the wild. My daughter is a good example of it working even though I saw the tide changing with her generation. But by the time my son came along five years after my daughter the social norms had changed. Children were not outside, even supervised. They were not allowed to get dirty, I was severely criticized by neighbors for my beliefs. Sadly my son is what he is, the disconnect with nature is present despite my efforts. He doesn’t like to get dirty and prefers city landscapes to wild.
April, I was also a feral child and did much of the same things as you did. I raised feral children and spent time with them in the “wild” as much as we could being transient visitors all over the planet. I’m happy to say both of them love, appreciate and are connected to nature. My oldest son has mentioned that his youngest son isn’t as connected as he was as a child but I still have hope that my grandson will be connected. He views my site often and even though we don’t live close I hope I influence him.