Serendipity

Friday, January 4, 2013

San Antonio River, Mission Reach, Roosevelt Park Trailhead downstream

Today's photos:

This series of photos is from the end of my walk today. There are two more sets of photos from the walk that I will post separately. This particular series came about, as so often happens in photography, serendipitously; purely as the result of a coincidence of timing and proximity.

In order to get the photo of the honey mesquite tree on the opposite bank of the river from the angle I desired, I had to get right up to the edge of the water and crouch lower to the ground. As I was getting into position, the mockingbird flew up and landed on the electrical line high above the opposite side of the river channel. Concerned that it would fly off, I took its photo before taking the photo of the tree.

I have photographed this mesquite tree before from other angles. The curve of its branches, typical of mesquites, has always fascinated me. This particular angle highlights these curves more effectively than my previous attempts.

When I first approached the edge of the river to position myself to photograph the tree, the mallard couple swam to the opposite side of the river. Mallards are monogamous. Once they have paired, the male and female usually remain in fairly close proximity of each other. Being crouched down at the rivers edge placed me at the perfect angle to photograph this couple.

As something of a side note, almost all, if not all, of the photographs I have taken and posted while on my walks have been from a full standing position. Given my lower extremity weakness, it is difficult for me to return to a standing position if I crouch down, so I try to avoid it. That is one of the greatest frustrations I have in doing nature photography.

Finally, after I managed to get back up to a standing position and was preparing to return to my car, the snowy egret flew in and landed a short distance upstream, almost as if to say, "Wait a minute. You can't leave without taking my picture."