It’s All In The Eyes…

We’ve all heard the expression, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” This old English proverb definitely translates to photography. When you capture direct eye contact it does more than grab the viewer’s attention — it creates a connection.

Everyone understands that concept when it comes to people photography. That same connection, however, is also possible with the eye contact from other creatures.

Models Are Everywhere!

You usually don’t have to go very far to find a good subject on which to practice eye contact photography. There is always your beloved pet, garden insect, farm animal, zoo resident, back roads inhabitant, fluffy wildlife, or even pesky yard rodent. Regardless of the subject, direct eye contact creates a connection.

Beloved Pets

Sometimes the best models are your own pets. My beloved Mia is certainly one of mine. Since the first day I adopted her from the Cape Ann Animal Aid shelter, she has become a favorite subject of mine. I can’t resist her expressive eyes. They never cease to captivate me — even after two years of me following her around with my camera.

Baby Mia

With eyes like those how could I resist such an adorable face? The day I first saw her is the day she captured my heart. Ever since that day, she’s been a very cooperative model. So much so that I think she now believes she can make it as a sultry cover girl.

Future Cover Girl

Backyard Bonanza!

A while back I noticed the bird feeder on my front porch was emptying rather quickly. It didn’t take long for me to discover who was enjoying it as much as the birds. I decided to do a stake out. When I saw the thief, I surprised him by shooting through the front door window. Needless to say, my stealth moves paid off!

Gotcha!

Garden Visitors

It’s no secret how much I love my macro lens – especially in the summer. There are lots of visitors to my garden. Getting up close and personal is my creative challenge. Making eye contact and capturing that moment is always a thrill.

Baby crane fly after the rain

Some garden visitors spend a great deal of time on my flowers. Others find the need to take a rest on my stone wall and clean up a bit. This honey bee had quite his share of pollen on this day. He was so proud he gave himself a round of applause.

Cleaning up — or applauding

Vermont Back Roads

New England has so much diversity. I live by the ocean but can easily travel north to the mountains of Vermont. I love driving the back roads in autumn and winter. You never know who you will run into who will be just as happy to see you.

A new friend

The Zoo

Gorillas are fascinating to watch. They are very deliberate with their movements and when they study you, they REALLY study at you. This little lady found me and my camera quite interesting.

Checking me out

Sometime gorillas remind me of some people I know. This one, for instance, made me think of a certain someone who always looks forward to her next manicure. (Psst. You know who you are.)

Contemplating a manicure

Farm Animals

There’s just something funny about cows. I think it has to do with the proportion of their features. From the right camera angle, you can get some pretty entertaining shots. Again, eye contact is critical to pull it off successfully.

Got Camera?

Soft and Fuzzy

While on a walk with Mia recently, I stumbled upon this adult bunny watching me walk down the road. I was curious to see how close he’d let me get. Using my best “bunny whisperer” voice, I was able to get within 20 feet with no problem. He kept a watchful eye on me — and I took advantage of our eye contact.

Seeing eye to eye

So there you have it. A wind range of examples of where you can find models to practice some great eye contact photography.

Give it a try!

~ Liz Mackney

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Everyone loves a brand new baby. So when five adorable new arrivals simultaneously increased my town’s population you can imagine the buzz of excitement. I know the feeling well, as that’s exactly what happened when our resident swan couple revealed their five new bundles of joy a few weeks ago.

I had never seen a baby swan — called a cygnet  — in person before. Seeing five at the same time was incredible. I could see the pride in the parents’ faces. Together they make one captivating family.

Introducing The Swans

A Dad’s Love

It didn’t take long for me to see how seriously the father takes his responsibility. Whenever one of the little ones would stray, dad was quick to notice and guide him back to his siblings.

Dad keeps a watchful eye on the little one

A Mother’s Love

All five cygnets seemed quite content by mom’s side. Mom was always nearby for a feeding lesson, comfort, or just some body warmth. The kids clearly adore her.

Mom gathers the kids

Safety in Numbers

Traveling the perimeter of the pond is definitely a daily ritual for the family. With a parent leading the way, the cygnets always dutifully follow. As a group, they weave in and out of the reeds in search of food. They also often head to the center of the pond where the parents use their huge feet to dredge the pond floor for sea grass.

Mom guides her children

Sibling Love

You can tell the babies are very attached to each other. They snuggle to keep warm when sleeping, and swim in unison as a small squad in formation. Recently I’ve heard them begin to speak to each other. Yes, it’s incredibly adorable.

The siblings stick together

Growing Up

I try to visit the pond every couple of days. Cygnets typically leave their parents after four months. These sweet little babies are about a month old now I believe. I noticed a growth spurt during my last visit to the pond. The youngsters are feeding themselves quite comfortably now and are slightly bigger.

Kids Will Be Kids

Just like in any large family, there’s always a showoff. This family is no different. I actually think this little one was deliberately mugging for the camera. He was clearly thrilled that he could flap his wings. I think he was dying to show off his new skill. He definitely took me by surprise!

Beware of Humans

Swans are very protective creatures. I always keep a respectful distance from them. The parents have become more comfortable with me lately, but they are quick to give a stern look if they feel you are getting too close. I don’t blame them at all. I actually saw someone throw a rock at the swans last week in attempt to get them to come out of the reeds. Unbelievable.

Dad chaperones two of his kids across the pond

Leaving The Nest

I know it won’t be long before these precious little ones are off somewhere new and on their own. That’s how it works. Until then, I will enjoy this blessing that is so close to home. It’s truly been a gift.

~ Liz Mackney

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Nuthatch grabs a treat

The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, Massachusetts, is the perfect place to discover why a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The feeling of a nuthatch or black-capped chickadee landing on your palm or fingertips is simply incredible! Their tiny claws cling so briefly they actually tickle. You have to experience it for yourself to totally appreciate the magic of it all.

Trails and Boardwalks

With over 12 miles of connecting trails, the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Mass Audubon’s largest sanctuaries. The trails wind through forests and meadows, while boardwalks guide you through the marshes and wetlands. There’s plenty to see no matter which trail or boardwalk you take — including some pretty impressive beaver dams!

Boardwalks guide you through the wetlands

Changing Scenery

As you wind your way through the wetlands, the scenery changes throughout the seasons. Autumn brings colorful reflections, while the barren trees of winter showcase such structures as the stone bridge.

Stone Bridge

Birds! Birds! Birds!

A wide variety of birds visit the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary throughout the year. So many, in fact, that the sanctuary has created a checklist that you can print out and carry with you. This impressive list certainly comes in handy. I’ve found myself “Googling” the different names to see what they all look like. Apparently there is a birder locked inside this photographer!

Black-Capped Chickadee

During my visits to the sanctuary I’ve found the black-capped chickadees to be the most friendly — and hungry. I’ve also discovered that late winter is an especially active time for them to hand feed. The summer crowds have not yet appeared and the number of outstretched hands are far fewer than those in the warmer months. One little chickadee in particular totally impressed me with his sheer determination to lift and open a pistachio nut.

Sheer determination

Red-Wing Blackbird

You can’t miss the distinctive color of a red-wing blackbird. Such was the case when this beautiful male briefly landed on a branch as I walked along a wetland trail. Native to North America, the red-wing blackbird is a sure sign that spring has arrived.

Red-wing Blackbird

Eastern Bluebird

The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary has set up specific areas on the property with numbered nesting boxes for the Eastern bluebird. These areas have defined boundaries to keep people at bay and the birds undisturbed. The sanctuary staff keeps a close eye on the number of nesting bluebirds and their breeding results. Although it is tempting to approach the nesting boxes, please respect the boundaries when visiting.

Eastern Bluebird

Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is one of my favorite birds. I love their coloring and their tufted heads. There’s also something very cute about their black eyes and small, round bill. To me their shape slightly resembles that of a cardinal, only more compact. Their skittish personality is quite fun to watch. They are constantly on the move. What I find particularly entertaining is their seed-opening process. On this day I watched one methodical titmouse grab a sunflower seed, fly over to a branch, and whack the seed against the branch while using his bill to crack it open. He did this over and over. Apparently it worked like a charm. He was quite content — and so was I watching.

Tufted Titmouse

Tree Swallow

At the sanctuary, I discovered tree swallows love to frequent the Eastern bluebird nest boxes. The swallows’ metallic coloring continually caught my eye. When walking the trails, I found them primarily in the open fields or near the woods flitting from nest box to nest box. I’ve learned that tree swallows primarily feed on insects, so no wonder my sunflower seeds were of no attraction to them. In winter, however, they have been known to feed on berries. Perhaps I need to bring some with me next time I visit.

Tree Swallow

Slithering By…

Of course other wildlife also exists at the sanctuary. The gnawed trees and large beaver dams surely convey that fact. While walking along the wetland boardwalks, it can be worth your while to keep your eye on the water’s edge. You never know what might slither by…

Garter Snake

Cute Little Redheads

While a wide variety of feathery friends take to the sky, nest boxes and shrubs, there are some furry friends who traverse the sanctuary on land and jump from tree to tree. Just like the nuthatch, black-capped chickadee and tufted titmouse, the red-tailed squirrel also enjoys a tasty sunflower treat.

Red-tailed Squirrel

There’s always plenty to see and do at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s a great place year round to walk, hike and photograph. For early risers, deer can often be spotted at the edge of the woods or crossing a trail.

Special events are also offered periodically throughout the year. Now that the weather is getting warm, it’s the perfect time to explore all that the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary has to offer!

~ Liz Mackney

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A fascinating thing happened to me on the way to Plum Island this winter. Two sandhill cranes unexpectedly crossed my path — twice! I had never seen these magnificent creatures before. You can imagine my surprise then when I crossed paths with them twice in seven days.

Encounter #1

My first encounter took place late one morning while I was heading north to the Joppa Flats on my way to Plum Island. As I traveled along Rt. 1A and approached the Newbury town line, I saw several cars pulled over to the side of the road. A group of people were standing next to a field. Everyone was pointing to something. The photographer in me sensed a potential photo-op was at hand. Naturally, I pulled over and grabbed my camera.

Attention grabbers

Sure enough, my intuition paid off. There they were. Two gorgeous sandhill cranes snacking in a grassy field, and embracing the warmth of the bright sun. Though I was positioned a pretty fair distance from the cranes, my zoom lens was able to capture the moment. I was told that the very appearance of sandhill cranes in that area was very rare. Right then and there I considered the day a photographic success. I absolutely love wildlife surprises. Little did I know that another surprise would come my way in the very near future.

Encounter #2

One week later I did a sunrise photo shoot on Plum Island. On my way home, this time traveling south on Rt. 1A and again approaching the Newbury town line, something caught my eye. There in a frost covered cornfield were the two sandhill cranes! I quickly pulled over. Not another soul was in sight. The air was crisp and the early morning silence incredibly peaceful.

Early morning snack

At first I photographed the cranes from the edge of the road.  I wanted to see how they would react to the sound of my camera’s shutter. The noise grabbed their attention, but they seemed more wary than frightened. I spoke to them softly for a bit and then slowly moved closer. Every few steps I took a shot to keep them used to the sound of the shutter.

Watching me approach

Gaining Their Trust

Step… shoot… speak gently… move closer. That was my shooting rhythm and mantra. Consistency, patience and respect paid off. I gradually gained their trust. Eventually I was able to get within 25-30 feet of these two cranes. I didn’t want to push my luck, but more importantly, I didn’t want to push the limit of their comfort level.

Keeping a watchful eye

These regal beauties are truly a sight to be seen and mostly definitely something special to photograph. I must say, between locating a snowy owl at Hampton Beach and crossing paths with these sandhill cranes, this has been a delightful winter of wildlife firsts for me!

~ Liz Mackney

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This past December I set out to explore the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Winter’s chill had not yet taken hold, and I was curious to see what I might encounter there at this time of year. Positioned along the Atlantic Coast, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge attracts a variety of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. It didn’t take long for me to bump into some of our northern neighbors.

Canada Geese

Canada geese take flight

Soon after arriving, I crossed paths with a large group of Canada geese. They were all congregated in the salt marsh. I watched them for awhile so that they could get used to my presence. In no time at all they decided to put on a show for me.

Flying towards the sun

At first they played coy; then they began to scatter. I soon discovered that while some Canada geese take flight in groups, others take off in a pairs, and still others are solitary fliers.

Going solo

One thing they all shared, however, was a strong determination to get to their next destination. I could hear their focused energy with very flap of their wings.

Trails and Boardwalks

Two things that make exploring the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge an exceptional outing are the hiking trails and boardwalks. There’s no better way to see the diverse wildlife found throughout the refuge. Observation stations are also scattered about and offer the best view of the expansive landscape.

Boardwalk through the dunes

Among the shrubs, trees and thicket might be something with no apparent rhyme or reason for being there. I stared at this single section of fence for quite awhile trying to figure out its purpose. That answer eludes me to this day.

Solitary fence

Along the edge of the beach and up in the dunes I stumbled upon some driftwood interestingly placed by Mother Nature. It made me wonder how far the pieces had traveled before resting together in that spot.

Driftwood

A Sun Lover

While Canada Geese were plentiful that day, my eyes were constantly scanning the salt marsh for other visitors. Just as the sun managed to break through the clouds, I saw it catch something in the distance. My zoom lens confirmed my suspicion. It was indeed a solitary egret enjoying the afternoon rays.

Solitary egret

Regardless of the time of year, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place to visit. What you may encounter changes with the seasons. That’s reason enough to visit year round.

~ Liz Mackney

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