How do you choose the images that you will include in a posting? Generally I will post photographs within a day or two of taking them. Sometimes, though, I get backlogged, either because I have gone out frequently or because my “catch” for a particular day was particularly good. If I were better organized and more objective in reviewing my photos, I might be better at making sure that I always post my best images. However, I suffer from a phenomenon known as “recency bias.”
What is recency bias? Recency bias is a type of cognitive bias in which you give greater weight during evaluation to things that are recent than to those in the past, even in the recent past. How does that work in practice for me? Yesterday I posted a photo of a bald eagle couple that I had spotted this past Monday, the most recent photo that I had taken of a bald eagle. I was excited to share it, because every single eagle sighting is special to me.
When I was trying to figure out what to post today, I realized that I had run out of cool images from my most recent photographic forays. I decided to go back a little in time and looked through my photos from late December. I stumbled across my eagle photos from 28 December, less than two weeks ago. I had taken a whole lot of shots of the eagle in an attempt to get an unobstructed view and had never gotten around to reviewing them all. I meant to do so, but got caught up in newer photos and gradually forgot about this eagle.
I really like this shot of a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that I spotted in a sweetgum tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. By almost any standard, it is a much better eagle photo than the one that I posted yesterday and I am glad that I “re-discovered” it. This little experience serves as a good reminder to me that it is important to look back sometimes and not be quite so tunnel-vision focused on getting the next image.
I am chuckling a little as I conclude this posting because I realize that, in essence, I am complaining about having so many images to post that I forget about some of them. Compared to the major challenges that we face in the world today, this definitely qualifies as a “first world problem.”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I think it’s a good time to feature this guy, Mike.
Wow! This is an incredible striking image. It is a very sharp and detailed portrait and I love the cobalt blue background provided by the sky. It makes the yellow of the beak and the eye pop more.
I very pleased you “re-discovered” this image!
For sure, better lighting in your Dec 28 image! Lovely. Glad you went searching …
The beauty of your blog posts are BOTH images and accounts of photographic pursuit … seeing the effects of different lights appeals (very real).
Thanks for tagging a cognitive condition I experience with my poetry. I rely on recents 99% of the time … lots goes unposted.
Beautiful! This photo should be 2021’s poster for the January 10th annually celebrated “Save the Eagles Day”! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
Thanks, Ellen. 🙂
Good thing you went back into your library, Mike. It is a stunner. I often go back and alter the editing too, probably as a result of my mood at the time, but also because I see different details I want to bring out… same with writing.
Thanks, Chris. There are real benefits to looking over older images. I have thought about reprocessing some of my really old images to see what I can do with my increased skills. I also think periodically about going out shooting with my older gear to see how much of a difference it would actually make. (Of course I do that a bit all of the time because the Canon 50D I use most of the time was made circa 2008.)
Very nice Mike! Always fun to photograph Eagles!
Thanks, Reed.
Great clarity and what an awesome deep blue sky as backdrop!
We had such a run of dreary days that I forgot that we had blue skies two weeks ago. Today there was some sun too, though I did not get very many shots. Normally I refrain from taking photos on the weekends because there are too many people out and about in the places I like to shoot.
Yes, the good news is that folks are getting out in nature, the bad news is there are a whole lot of them! 😀
Yeah. Right now I am giving greater weight to avoiding people than to finding subjects, so I am not going to some of my favorite spots. Fortunately the number of people drops a bit during weekdays.
Yes, being retired has its benefits. 😉
This amazing photo restores some hope to my soul for our shattered country. May we come together, regardless of our politics, and be as strong together as these gorgeous eagles!
Amen to that, Molly. Of course I knew that there was a lot of divisiveness in our country, but I never imagined I would ever see an assault on the Capitol. The scenes there were deeply disturbing.
Remarkable eagle photo Mike! fyi I’ve added a few thoughts to your discussion with Jake, my reply was after ‘his-to-you’ so not sure if it pops up in your notifications. I’m v.concerned at what’s unfolding.
Thanks, Liz. I really am shook at what took place, but I think we owe it to ourselves to be extremely cautious in drawing conclusions too quickly or looking at the situation through a single prism. Yes, racism was a contributing factor, but it was far from the only one. I noted a Jesus Saves sign in the crowd including, I think, inside of the Capitol. What role did religion play? There are still huge uncertainties about the degree to which actions were organized and whether there were specific objectives. The one thing that is clear to me is that my country is deeply divided and it is going to take an enormous amount of work to try to restore trust and confidence in each other and in our institutions and bridge some of those obvious differences.
Not sure if you read my comment to Jake but I shared my general feeling on the overall situation – I genuinely fear serious conflict, possibly even civil war could ensue. Since then I’ve also seen DT’s speech that preceded the assault, along with explanation of what it would have meant to his supporters. Serious stuff. ~ref: https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1347908845281095680
Liz, I finally managed to read your comments and share many of your concerns. There used to be a shared view among the majority of our citizens about what America stands for and what our role should be in the world. Now it is clear that we are deeply divided on a number of fundamental issues. Will it lead to a civil war? I am optimistic that it won’t, but events of this past week make it clear that it could.
Thanks for getting back Mike, I was very keen to know your view. Over the last year I’ve been reading a fair bit about America (previously I knew little about the US). It’s helped prepare me for this latest shock which I can’t say is overly surprising to me but very concerning. Take care my friend.
Thanks, Liz. I’m trying to pull back a bit from trying to follow all of the details of what’s going on. If I don’t, I risk getting caught up in a vicious cycle of alternating between sadness and anger.
I get you Mike. I’d say I’ve gone from angry to enraged and blasted right through rage to acceptance, as more facts have come to light. That you clearly share my core concerns has made me feel more settled – it’s preferable to not facing up to the (very unpalatable) truth. Many seem to be in denial of how serious this is. Thank you!
I’m so glad you rediscovered this photo, Mike. What a clear shot of this majestic pose!
Thanks so much. It was a little embarrassing to admit that I let a photo this good slip from my mind. 🙂
How wonderful that you go out so often and post so often, yet you still have more photos to choose from!
With the pandemic restrictions in place, I generally go out shooting two or sometimes three times a week. Even if the activity level of the wild creatures is low, I can usually find something to photograph, given that each foray is usually 2-3 hours in length.
I always enjoy your beautiful photos, Mike, and I admire the diversity of your subjects, from dragonflies to eagles!~
Thanks so much for your kind words. Eagles are probably my favorite cold weather subjects and dragonflies my favorite warm weather subjects. 🙂
A plague of riches is what you have, Mike. Much better than the other plague we are experiencing.
Re: your comments with Liz…it is true that there are a lot of angles to what happened. I don’t necessarily think racism was THE issue but it certainly is big one. Compare the police reaction at a BLM protest to the response they had to this, including some apparent evidence of cooperation, and that does place racism high up. But other issues such as Democrats are a bunch of socialists (many who claim that don’t know what socialism is and how it is already a large and beneficial part of our American experience), the left wants to let all the violent illegal immigrants take over our country and collect generous social benefits, and so many other unfounded fears such as total disarming of citizens are at play as well. They’ve been fed such fears for years now and the current occupant of the White House has taken advantage of those fears which culminated, with possibly more to come, last Wednesday. Now that’s not to say that those of us on the left don’t practice some of the same hysterics but so far that hasn’t jeopardized our democracy. Hopefully the calls for violent protest that has followed the siege with the inauguration as the first mentioned target date won’t come to pass and the authorities will be better prepared but it is a worrisome time and, as you mentioned, will take a long time to ebb and things to get better.
Images such as your found eagle shot are certainly a good prescription for putting that out of mind. 🙂
Hi Steve, saw my name and then read your comment. I’d chipped into a conversation on another blog (but my own comment on that conversation was more general in nature). I’m intently following events and I’m very concerned – but have also had a day off away from social media and it was wonderful!. What you said interested me, especially how that the fears of one side have been stoked and DT has whipped that up big-time. The mob seem to swallow all this stuff and take it to heart, and people in high places appear to be complicit, and manipulating people and events like managing puppets. Scary stuff. There’s still many unknowns but I’ll be watching from this southern outpost and thinking of y’all. Stay strong!
Perfect timing for this amazing picture that means so much to me, and I’m sure many many others.
I served twenty years in the US Army and it definitely means a lot to me.
Mike, thank you for your service. 🇺🇸 God bless you and your years of service.
You are very welcome. I consider myself to be deeply, but quietly patriotic and the events of last week grieved me greatly.
I understand. 🇺🇸
I have two sons serving in the Air Force. One stationed in Alaska, the other in Washington state. This community has been somewhat of a lifeline for my loneliness with them so far away and for many years now (7 and 5 years). They both will do 20. Years before they ever decided, I had a Great Uncle that served in the Army during WWII. I live in an area of the country that daily shows respect to our Veterans; it’s a blessing.