Heron

• 02 May, 2026
• • Art

The Beginning

It feels wrong to say this is the "beginning" as I feel that I have been building to this point for a long time. My interest in photography, consumer technology, and wildlife have long been threads in the tapestry of my life, it's only now though that they intersect so violently. But regardless: here we are. With an interest intensifying and a desire to talk about everything I have learned so far. "My" "First" Camera and Lenses I was very fortunate to have a coworker who has already been hit with the bug of photography. We had some discussions on his work and he, very graciously, lent me his old Nikon for me to play around with, along with a set of lenses. While I was, and am, appreciative for this gear, I couldn't help but think that there wasn't much to do with this old ~17-year-old camera. But boy, was I wrong. The gear:Nikon D5000 Nikon DX 18mm-55mm Rokinon AF 85mm 1.4F Nikon Nikkor 70mm-300mmThe Nikon D5000 still has quite a bit of life in it. The MP count of 12.3 would lead you to believe its photos will not be sharp, but they certainly can be if the lens is solid. And to my unprofessional eye, the Nikkor lens is quite solid, even when zoomed in to 300mm. Truthfully, I did not experience much with the other lenses because I was so fixated on birds, but I had enough to know this was only the beginning. My First Shots The funny thing is, looking back on these photos, they aren't especially good. The issue with an older DSLR is that its autofocus is not great. That can be a good thing, since beginners would be forced to learn manual focus better instead of learning with a crutch, but still. Good or not, they are part of the beginning. My beginning. And they are worthy of preservation.My First Revelations A local park was the first obvious destination to mess around with the camera. On this peaceful spring afternoon, I surveyed the waterfront, in search of some waterfowl. But something unexpected struck me as I was searching for a worthy subject: everything was a worthy subject. The most inconsequential object can be a key fixture of the art you create. No object is inherently unworthy. It's up to you to showcase it in a worthy way. I was also struck by the peace. It feels like my mind is constantly on the move: thoughts, memories, concerns, anything and everything is flowing back and forth. But as I am standing in this forest, observing the birds sing their mating songs, or watching the squirrels zigzag through the grass in search for a nut: my mind is empty. I am at peace in a way that I have seldom felt. And finally: the heron. This shot came from a boat while with my parents, it was the shot that made me realize I want to photograph birds. The ubiquitous creatures that surround us on a daily basis, yet we refuse to observe them. The vast variety of these creatures is a mystery to most, myself included. Yet once you observe them, you see how beautiful, colorful, and unique they are. They deserve to be studied. With this experience under my belt and fire growing in my belly, I know it's time to accept the next step: figuring out what in the world I have to buy.