vLENS continued from page 22 kept taking the fish off their lines. With a little help from Ryan and our large fishing net the culprits were pulled out of the water one by one. First a large soft-shelled turtle the size of a small car tire and the second a snapping turtle whose shell and claws looked prehistoric. Keeping a safe distance, I captured with my camera such amazing details on both turtle’s shells and faces, and the jewel colors that reflected off them when the sun hit them just right. A little talk with the young boys took place that day to allow the turtles to go on their merry way with out any harm coming to them. Several other times I was blessed and fortunate to capture great interactions with many different breeds of birds along the way. I’ve captured some in midair, resting on a branch or a weed, and some even as they walked past me. One of my favorite moments was an enormous Eagles nest along the shore line of the river that had baby Eagles in it. I set up with my camera on a tripod and sat on a fallen tree’s stump to camouflage my presence. I had my longest zoom lens on my camera to capture these babies peeking out of the nest that was well over fifty feet in the air. Both mother and father Eagle work together in feeding and watching the nest, never leaving the young ones alone. I sat in silence for nearly two hours listening and capturing with the camera their interactions and conversations with one another. I thankfully was not dive bombed by either Eagle as I left and headed back to my truck, like many birds they are very protective of their nests. During the spring time I didn’t need to go very far but out my own front door of my home, to my yard to capture up close and personal the insects engaging in their routine of collecting pollen, building a home or even looking for a mate. I simply just watched the different plants and flowers in my yard and was amazed at seeing a lady bug in the center of a dried-out dandelion, or the bumble bee fluttering along the cherry blossoms. Even a moth resting on the side of the shed is picture worthy seeing the pattern on his wings so vivid up close. And the spider weaving his intricate web even gets a place in my photo book. I am lucky I don’t have a fear to any bugs or snakes or even most critters or I would not have any subjects to photograph! There are going to be distractions throughout our lives, from work to family, but let not the digital world that we live in consume us that we lose the personal connections with one another, how to have conversations with each other, listening and hearing each other. Taking the time to listen to the sounds and conversations in nature and seeing the intricate details in the creatures big and small each one unique and beautiful. Once you get up close and personal with mother nature you will find a connection that no digital device can give you. n HISVOICEvSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018v23