Why is This Photo the Perfect Example to Inspire Nature and Wildlife Photographers?

I chose this photo to post at my profile because -like so many of my friends and followers, and hopefully me, there's so much more to it than meets the eye.  Literally. This annual migration means tens of thousands of birds fly thousands of miles to stop over every year like clockwork to refuel at this very spot. 

The mountain ranges seen in the distance to the East and the West will drain melted snow - or not, and thereby dictate the success or failing of the many species that rely on this stopover every year.  I deliberately didn't edit, tweak, or photoshop this photo so read on why it's so important.  

You'll see Snow Geese and Ross's Geese, species of ducks, and sandhill cranes to name a few, enjoying their layover, swimming side by side while they rest and refuel with much needed water and nutrition. Each season brings in new and different species of waterfowl and land animals to this unique section of the Rio Grande, all dependent upon our fragile climate that particular year.  

That's right. This is the mighty Rio Grande but sadly, it's not the same river we see gushing along in old movies and like it was in past years without a drought.

The west has been suffering from a serious drought and this year was no exception. This part of the river typically covered the brown strip of vegetation you see, now poking up like a deserted island. 

On this day, the water was a dull grey mirroring lifeless wafts of clouds in the colorless sky. The lackluster trees along its edge were barren and brown, as was the ground for miles and miles in this integral stopover.

Those of you who know me, know how I try to partner with nature to add life to my lens, and this was the perfect example. 

What would have been a rather mundane scene for a photo, drastically changed as the sun began to set. 

It was as if nature suddenly gave life to the scene and cleverly painted the trees for me when it turned them an alluring golden.  Suddenly the sky boasted shades of blues, azure, turquoise, titian and oranges that only moments before was as lifeless as the landscape.

While waiting for the sun to set, the various species swam side by side nonplussed in the water and some grazed on land.  Meanwhile, a Bald Eagle pair waited patiently under the monotonous sky in a dead tree, in the middle of all the peaceful meandering going on not far from them.  Only minutes after I shot them however, the eagles took flight and the colorful sky was suddenly filled with motion and emotion when the thousands of nearby birds as if on cue, all ascended at once deciding to preserve their species and not become dinner.

Photography in the west I discovered required a whole new skillset, but this was a wakeup call and a perfect example of why one should never give up when their vision for a particular story or gorgeous photos - even after hours of exploring simply do not present themselves.  Patience is mandatory in nature and wildlife photography; mother nature is fickle and unpredictable, and this was the perfect example of those paradigms, especially if you find yourself in less than ordinary situations, like the drought stricken west.