I believe this is a Blue Heron... took this at the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge.
I have always been fascinated with *flight*. I especially like to watch seagulls fly and the angles of their wings as they land. Oh... also entranced by hawks soaring! Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to do that? Just glide through the air like that? I guess the closest we come is with small planes or sky kites that are pulled behind boats or sky divers. I have flown... in planes and without (in my dreams). Both are wonderful! In a plane I'm nervous about the take-off and landing, but once in the air, I'm euphoric... and grateful of the opportunity to experience this magic. And in my dreams, well... it's the epitome of freedom. That's all I can say.
When I was young, I dreamed of sky-diving. But like so many youthful dreams, it got pushed to the wayside. Now I've let that dream go... (and I know that I could still do it, but am happy to do it vicariously through DJan ). But I continue to enjoy watching the flight of birds and trying to capture it both in photographs and in sketches. I'm not compulsive or obsessive about it (probably not compulsive or obsessive about anything or I'd be better at it).
These are Turkey Vultures at the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge.
I was always fascinating by flight and loved watching birds land. Now that I am a skydiver, I love to fly my canopy around and being in freefall gives me a feeling of flying, just in a vertical perspective. I never want to forget that I'm actually FALLING, not flying. :-)
ReplyDeleteFreefall must be awesome! And I'm sure if you hit 'updrafts' (is that right?), it probably feels a little like soaring...
DeleteThe heron has such an awkward-looking body, yet has such grace. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer to keep my feet on the ground, but I've floated in dreams (not really flying, just zipping along a foot or two above the ground) and it IS freeing.
Your "attempts" look pretty darned impressive to me!
Thanks, Kim. It's like trying to 'capture' a feeling on paper and you can't quite get it. As for the heron, I think you hit on it perfectly... "such grace".
DeleteThe vultures are creepy birds aren't they? The Heron has such a beautiful form in flight.
ReplyDeleteThese were sunning their wings in the treetops...
DeleteI'm not comfortable with heights but it would be nice to soar through the air.
ReplyDeleteI'm not great with heights either. Standing on a cliff and looking down makes me dizzy. But soaring... wouldn't that be wonderful?
DeleteLovely, lovely, lovely... More examples of your artistic abilities.
ReplyDelete"Auntie" just stoppin' by, although she isn't ready yet...
Thanks, Auntie.
DeleteAs for the other... take your time
I have dreams of flying and it is a very free feeling. I have always wanted to try the boat/human kite thing. Maybe...
ReplyDeleteOlga, the 'boat/human kite' thing was outed from my dreams when I saw 'Jurassic Park' and that flyer was gobbled up by a dinosaur. Not likely to happen I know... but left me with an image similar to 'Jaws' scene that doesn't go away.
DeleteI'm always amazed when I see a blue heron. They are so beautiful it seems to me they ought to be rare, but they're not.
ReplyDeleteI used to dream I could fly. I can still remember how that felt.
And I get the sensation of flight in all your drawings. Nice!
Linda, I wonder why we dream that we can fly? Do you think that 'at one time' we could?
ReplyDeleteAnd as for 'the sensation of flight' - thanks for that. I can't quite capture it completely, but I will keep trying.
Thanks for dropping by ... I love your flight photos and sketches ...I must have a catch up as your dragon looks so cute.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to recount the tummy bug problems ...Robbie seemed to be recovering and then Kris was violently sick so we starved him for 24 hrs which brought us to the evening before we were due to go. After a lot of deliberation we decided to risk it and continue with starvation and water until we got there, after all they would probably sleep and then had 3 days to recover.The morning arrived ...kris was still a bit sicky but 1 1/2 hours before the off Robbie suddenly had violent continual diarrhea ...no way could he travel so sadly he missed it. Kris was better by the next day but just had to watch what he ate.Kris was a hit with ladies of all ages lolxx
Despite all the last minute problems, things seem to have gone well. Glad that *you* didn't get sick. BTW, you may have mentioned it, but where are Emma and Steve going to live? Ireland? Scotland? Somewhere inbetween?
DeleteHow beautiful, Rian! I have gotten a couple of photos of herons, but never in flight! Love the photos and your artistic abilities!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. I have a few of them 'not in flight' also that I really like, but catching birds 'in flight' makes me want to draw them... there's something magical about it.
DeleteJust popped back to say ...basically she did it all on her own ....she allowed Steve to do the things she thought him capable of ...I offered but she never took me up on anything....she wanted it done her way.xx
ReplyDeleteWell, that's a lot of work for one person. But it seemed to have come out really well. Everything looked beautiful.
DeleteI get such a giggle watching the herons and cranes fly...so goofy looking. I think your watercolor ability is great. Much better than I do. :)
ReplyDeleteNo, Dee... definitly not *better*.... just different.
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