Cal Rice Photography

Keep Your Camera Handy

The most important decision in getting good pictures is to always have your camera available.  Yesterday I was riding on one of the many beautiful bike trails in northern Minnesota.  As we rode along there were Yell

ow Lady Slippers, Columbine, Marsh Marigolds and Indian Paintbrush in bloom.  Riding a bike slows one down so we can be more observant than traveling in a car.  I stopped at this clump of two dozen Yellow Lady Slippers.  I walked down close enough to have the clump fill the frame, and managed to avoid the poison ivy.

However, the exciting part of the trip was as we were returning suddenly 3 small chicks ran across the trail.  I slowed up to let them get to the other side, then I stopped to observe.  Then were quickly lost in the tall grass.  But then, the mother Ruffed Grouse came out of the grass towards me (from less than 6 feet away) to let me know that I was not welcome that close to her chicks.  I grabbed my camera from the camera bag.  She moved in and out of the grass, then across the trail and back, making lots of noise trying to gather her brood of little ones to her.  I certainly have never been that close to a ruffed grouse before, especially for plenty of time to take her picture.  Keep your camera handy for when the special opportunity arises.