We have now reached the dark, gray days of winter. The endless series of cold cloudy days threatens to weaken my creative energy, and subjects to photograph seem harder and harder to find. What can I do? What should I do?
For me, the key is simply to press on, even when I am not “feeling it” and even when the weather is less than optimal. I have to keep reminding myself of the benefits to my body and my emotional well-being that come from walking around in solitude with my camera. So I put on extra layers and push myself out the door.
As for the photos, I try to be grateful for whatever opportunities come my way. On Monday, for example, these perched Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were among a small number of birds that I managed to photographed. They were pretty far away, but I was happy to capture some of the details of the eagles’ feathers and the bark on the trees.
I could’t help but notice that the only bright colors in the image were the eagles’ beaks and talons, so I played around and converted the image to black and white. With the color removed, I can focus better on the shapes and textures of the elements in the image, but perhaps it draws too much attention away from the eagles that are, after all, the primary subjects of the photo.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I believe we all have similar problem. Fighting with the weather (cold/warm/hot), dragging the heavy equipments, and looking for objects. But these do not stop us from going out whenever is possible. Let’s keep shooting and appreciate whatever we can find.
Thanks for the encouragement and reassurance. We think that most of us who love outdoor photography do in fact share similar challenges and try to push on through whenever and however we can.
The greyness is indeed difficult. I don’t mind the cold but that greyness is energy sapping, for sure
Dear Mike,
Thannk you for featuring my avian colleagues.
I would like to wish you a very happy New Year. May you find 2021 very much to your liking and highly conducive to your photographing, writing, reading, thinking and blogging!
Thanks so much. Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and happy new year.
Your capture includes details beyond bark on the trees – ample colored berries defying “grey day” – do you know the name of these trees? Are those berries a food source for some birds? (I know eagles prefer non-vegetarian dietary modes.)
Appreciate your comments on making yourself get out the door …
Thanks, Jazz. Those look to be sweet gum trees and what looks like “berries” are actually spiky seed pods on which some small birds feast. The eagles that I see catch fish (and an occasional duck) from the nearby river and bay.
My preference Is the color, those beaks make a statement!
The grey and dark surrounding us now in so many ways is daunting. Good for you for pushing yourself out there, Mike!
Thanks for the encouragement, Ellen, and for providing your preferences on the two photos. I know which images I like, but I like to offer options that help me understand better what others like too.
You’re welcome 😀. Trying new things can help avoid a rut, too…although I don’t often go there. I should work on that for 2021.
Having a camera will always help keep the bogey man away. 😀. Stay safe and keep off the Metro
Thanks, Ted. I am doing my best to stay safe and avoid people as much as I can. (There is a painted bunting in our area at a time when it should not be here, which has gotten birds excited. I recently saw a photo of about 100 photographers shoulder to shoulder trying to get shots of the bird. Many were wearing masks, but it is the kind of scene that I try to avoid.
Yep, saw that. Happens here when the first migrations happen.
The pictures are great, even with the dark and grey weather. So nice to see that this couple is still around.
Nice Mike! Always fun to photograph Eagles!
Both have merit, but I agree that the color offers more.
Thanks, Eliza, for sharing your thoughts.
Not only the beaks, but also the red berries jump out to me. My vote’s for the color version too.
Thanks, Gary. The color one has won by a landslide. 🙂
Either works for me, Mike. I do think, if I had to choose one, that the colour would be my choice because of the strong identifier (not that an eagle is difficult to ID) of the orange beak. As I have mentioned before, I am seriously envious of your eagle sightings. We have them here but I don’t see one often.
Geography matter a lot in terms of the subject matter that we are able to photograph. I like the fact that we both tend to be primarily local photographers and capture images of the landscape and inhabitant that we see (and hopefully inspire others to see).
I am not big on traveling, obviously less so now, and am pretty sure my blog About page/Website says I mostly shoot within 50 miles and the long end of that is infrequent. On FB I do get a lot of location questions which I am not always sure I want to share. Aside from Acadia and and Baxter State Park in Maine I haven’t been out of state in quite a number of years. I don’t like flying which hinders travel.
I prefer the color, Mike, but I understand how winter photos lead us to thinking about black and white. Sometimes, I can’t tell the difference. But I like being drawn to the birds.
Thanks, Dan. We finally have a bit of sunshine today after a succession of dreary days. Assuming that I get out soon, my photos today should not be quite as monochromatic as the eagles yesterday. I think that virtually everyone liked the color version more.
Bob often shoots in black and white. His partial color blindness actually helps when it comes to B & W photography. In this instance, I agree with the crowds The color is best with the beaks and claws shining in the gloom!
Thanks, Molly. I don’t recall anyone saying they prefer black and white, but it was worth posing the question.
I prefer the color image also. The gumballs add a little color too. I recently heard that a bald eagle was spotted in a tree right on the court I live on! I hope I will see it one day. Yesterday a Cooper’s Hawk brought a kill to my backyard to consume. I hope it wasn’t a bluebird! I couldn’t see it to ID it. Gruesome but all part of nature, I guess. Everybody’s got to eat.
Very sturdy eagles, and a wonderful photo! How long were they settled in for?
Thanks. I think the eagles stayed on those perches for quite some time. I passed by that same spot about an hour later and they were still there.