Northern Cardinal (male)
Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.
Ray Bradbury
I generally prefer the term, “birdwatching” to “birding” when it comes to describing my bird-observing activities (and now that I write it, I think I like “bird-observing” even better!). I even came across the term, “bird-looking,” recently, which I also like very much. What’s the difference? “Birding” has a more active connotation than “birdwatching,” at least, to my mind. That is, generally speaking, birders go out looking for birds. And I don’t think that’s the best way to describe my relationship with my pastime. I watch. I sit in the backyard with my camera and wait to see who shows up. And I’m less interested in photographing specific species than I am in capturing moments.
I realize, as I write this, that the importance of capturing moments is something I’ve written about before. Or, the idea that the moments of our lives really come to life when we allow ourselves to experience them fully. That is, when we are creative with the stuff of everyday life, when we engage with the routine in such a way as to make it non-routine, when we allow our thinking minds to rest and engage fully, sensorially with our environment. It occurs to me that, at the heart of many of these activities, is a kind of letting go.
As in the Bradbury quote above, these are the moments in which we “touch” life. In which we cease trying to control, resist, strangle. After all, we cannot capture the magic of a moment if we’re attempting to control it, as we cannot experience the miraculous all around us if we’re always looking at others through the lens of our own wants and needs.
I find birdwatching, for me, serves the very important function of letting go. I use those moments of sitting in the backyard serenely with my camera to simply be. To watch and listen to whatever might be there. And if that means I end up with a huge cache of Mourning Dove photos (because they’re always around), then that’s fine by me. As long as I’ve succeeded in capturing the moment.
As long as I’ve put my controlling mind to rest and poured all of my energy into experiencing something of the bird’s personality, of the magic of a sunny, spring afternoon, of the little piece of eternity that seems to somehow reveal itself in the moment.
Control, in these cases, or the desire to control, is not only the enemy of creativity, it is the death of experience. Said differently: if we really want to experience the moments of our lives, we need to let go when it’s time to let go. The moment we start thinking of other creatures in terms of what they can (or should) do for us, they cease being miraculous. Or rather, we lose the ability to see them as such. That’s also how we dehumanize other people. The moment you start looking for magic, you lose it. The moment you grab hold of a miracle, it slips through your fingers.
The Used Life 
15 responses to “On Capturing Moments”
Beautiful photos. And an excellent point concerning birding/bird watching. And I love the Ray Bradbury quote.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I love the quote, too. Seemed somehow fitting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You truly are the bird whisperer! Your captures highlight incredible detail, in their coloring and eyes. Your words are equally inspiring. Thank you. I was not familiar with the Bradbury quote you shared. That is a good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The “bird whisperer”— I love it! 😂 There are a few spots around the yard where some birds will perch for long enough to capture that kind of detail. Otherwise, it’s just luck. Some days I’m lucky, and some days not so much. But that’s what makes it fun. Im happy you enjoyed the post! I always appreciate your feedback, Michele!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You inspire me to perch myself in my yard for a day and try to capture as many birds as I can. I do not feel we have the variety that you have, but who knows, a full day of observing might prove me wrong. Thanks again for sharing part of your beautiful world. 🐦 My pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, please let me know if you decide to spend a day “bird-observing” and how it goes. 😊 You may find there are lots more out there than you realized. I did. I very much enjoy the variety of wildlife we have in NC year-round. I hope you have a great Tuesday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will let you know. I better hurry up… it is warming up! It is supposed to be in the 90s next week. 😢 Thank you! Wishing you the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the 90s already! I believe it. Several years ago, I spent some time in Phoenix in late spring…I was appalled by how hot it was lol 🥵 Stay cool and enjoy the wildlife!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is appalling. I agree! 😢 I will enjoy it while I can. Thank you. I know you will too. Nature is such a gift.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. Take care!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos 🙂 And I love your statement, “After all, we cannot capture the magic of a moment if we’re attempting to control it”. A simple truth that has such profound consequences in our lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. And, I think we’re often so used to thinking that way—in a kind of ego-centric, controlling fashion—that we don’t even realize we’re doing it. I’m happy you enjoyed the photos! 😊
LikeLike
I love your last sentence, “The moment you grab hold of a miracle, it slips through your fingers.” So true, the miraculous is not what can be grabbed / possessed, but only observed and it ceases to be when we try to grab it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. Always good to remind ourselves of that.
LikeLike
[…] On Capturing Moments […]
LikeLike