Yellow Border Stories

From early childhood into mid-life I was an avid reader of National Geographic magazine. Their tell-tale yellow border was impossible to miss when looking for that specific magazine. When I did read National Geographic it was not uncommon to skip the headline article, instead searching for the article and photos about wildlife and outdoor photography - often near the back of the magazine.

I thought about National Geographic today - especially the wildlife photography - as I was shooting pictures of a Canada goose no longer able to stand or open wings, and a cygnet trumpeter swan slowly walking with its head tilted, and bald eagles feeding on dead trumpeter swans. Before I pressed the shutter release I did what I could to help my pictures tell a story - just as Nat Geo photos do. As much as possible I watched my composition and lighting.

I will let you decide if my videos and images are telling stories. Yes, the messages are sad. But, they are accurate representations of life (and death) in the wild. Seeing this is not easy. The fact that this has not happened to this level before in my lifetime and may not again is why I continue to watch, photograph, and learn from this outbreak.

The video I put together today features the weak goose and swan as well as eagles feeding on swans. I recorded it as I saw it. Viewer discretion is advised.

This is the link to the video: Life and Death at Sweet Marsh

Following are images from today. There are more photos to view in the video.