Behind The Lens Darren Murphy Always have your camera
Iremember it vividly. We had just purchased a cottage on Sugarloaf Pond in Potton. I was excited not only for the incredible bass fishing, but also for the photo opportunities this gorgeous mountain area had to offer. My neighbor across the road told me how he was sitting on his back balcony one morning which overlooked his man-made pond. A mother moose and her calf came out from the brush and cooled themselves in the pond’s stream fed water. Another person I met on a hike said he had seen a black bear not one hundred feet from our cottage door the month before. I was determined to see these animals and get some stellar shots as well. I carried my camera and 400 lens everywhere. On my property, when I was in the kayak, while walking our dog etc. This went on for close to a year. While I did get some great bird pics, the bear and moose still eluded me. Early one morning I woke to find we had no more milk for our morning coffee. I grabbed my wallet and car keys and headed to the Rocket depanneur which was about ten minutes away.
Going south on our dirt road there’s a point where the road approaches a hill which reveals an incredible valley with mountains as the backdrop. I’ve taken many autumn pictures here as the scenery is to die for. That particular morning, I made it to the crest and about forty feet straight ahead was a large male bull moose. That moose with the rolling fields and mountain backdrop would have been the ultimate wildlife picture. There we were staring each other down, and me without my camera! He stood in the road for about fifteen seconds, then made his way into the field. That was the pic of a lifetime, him in all his majesty with the open fields and mountains in the backdrop. This was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity that I missed. Why? Because I forgot to bring my camera on that short milk run!
Fast forward five years and I was returning to our place in Bolton East where we were living at the time. Peasley Pond was about three minutes from our front door just off the main road. As I approached the pond, I noticed there were about ten people and a few cars stopped at the pond looking to the west side. I slowed down and lo and behold, a female moose splashing around the pond and feeding on the water lilies. Luckily this time I was two minutes from home, I retrieved my camera and spent a good half hour with this magnificent animal. If I hadn’t been so close to home, guess what? I would have missed this opportunity as well. Now I take my camera everywhere. I’ve spent a lot of early mornings this year fishing Lac Memphremagog as my friend has a cottage in Fitch Bay.
When I go, I have my trolling rod in the downrigger, and my camera with my 400 lens in my lap. So far this year I’ve shot geese, different breeds of waterfowl, osprey, kingfishers, turkey vultures and loons from the boat. Always tricky to shoot from a boat as it’s constantly moving, but you tend to improve your camera shooting skills the more you do it.
Also, happy to report an eastern Bluebird finally made its way to our property this past week. I had never seen one but was determined to draw him or her to our feeders somehow. Turns out it really loves our lilac trees. He stops by at various times during the day now and perches on one. The bird that is now my number one must have shot is the Indigo
Bunting. I have never seen one and am hoping one will stop by for the free food and drink at our place. The Blackburnian Warbler would be my second must have shot. One was sighted and photographed in North Hatley recently, so if they are there, there’s no reason why they can’t be here in Georgeville.
Finally, to Stephane who messaged me asking about shooting through wire fences. I have done this at places like the Ecomuseum. When shooting through wire, set your telephoto lens to its maximum aperture. Put your camera right up against the mesh, the wire will be so out of focus it is virtually invisible. You can then start taking your pics.