Anhinga waiting out a rain storm – Nikon D70, f5.6, 1/100, ISO 200, Nikkor 70-300mm, natural light
This Anhinga photo was taken at Sawgrass Lake Park in Pinellas County, Florida way back in June of 2007 with my first DSLR, the Nikon D70. I don’t recall if I took this photo using the VR version of the 70-300mm lens or not. This isn’t a great photo of the Anhinga but I kept it because of the story behind the photo.
Sawgrass Lake Park has quite a few trails, some on land and some that are boardwalks over the swampier areas of the park. I had been walking the boardwalk when I noticed that the weather was going to take a turn for the worse so I made a mad dash towards the observation tower to take shelter from the rain storm and the lightning. The rain storms in Florida during the summer can be brief and that was what I was hoping for because I knew the lower deck of observation tower wouldn’t provide me with much protection from the lightning but it would help to keep me and my gear dry.
I didn’t quite make it to the observation tower before the driving rain started to fall but at least my camera was dry even though I wasn’t. I didn’t see anyone else on the lower deck of the observation tower so I thought I was alone and when I noticed a couple of Anhingas waiting out the storm I decided to take some photos of them because I like photos with streaks of rain in them along with birds.
The Anhingas weren’t close but I felt okay with that because for me the rain streaks and the lake were as important as the birds were in the images I took.
Then I heard a man and a woman yelling at each other from the deck above me. I am not sure they even knew I was below them on the lower deck and I felt very uncomfortable listening to their private argument but what could I do? The pounding rain, thunder and flashes of lightning kept me from leaving the relative safety of the observation tower and I certainly didn’t want to leave, be struck by lightning and die on the boardwalk because I was so horribly uncomfortable hearing them yell at each other.
So I took photos of this Anhinga waiting out the storm while I waited for a break in the weather so I could get away from from the couple that were yelling at each other. As soon as the rain and lightning slowed down I covered my camera with the lower part of my shirt and took off.
To this day I can’t look at the photos I took of the Anhingas in that storm without remembering how uncomfortable I felt being within ear shot of that man and woman arguing.
The story behind the images I took of the Anhinga waiting out the storm isn’t a happy or pleasant one but I still liked the images I took.
Life can be uncomfortable but it is still good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Anhinga photos plus facts and information about this species.
I like the photo also, I can practically hear the sounds of the downpour. Too bad the argumentative couple rather ruined your beautiful moment with the Anhinga. Still, pretty cool.
Hopefully, the beauty of this photograph can help ease the sting of being an unwilling witness to the couple’s nastiness.
delightful, your aptitude for capturing, and describing, a moment is remarkable. kudoes.
That beautiful image reminds me that nature is always wonderful but it is not always kind. Great shot. Thanks Mia.
I really don’t want to hear others’ arguments, not even mine. So awkward. The Anhinga’s position in the photo expresses well the isolation of being in the unpleasant conditions.
Wow, that’s some rain storm. I like this photo.
Cool memories