Patience of a Hunter

Photographers and hunters have a lot in common. One of the similarities is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience". Photographing wildlife and nature is a part of what I do. So waiting is a big part. Whether it's waiting for the afternoon light, feeding time, or for mother nature to present an opportunity; it is patience that allows me to capture my most rewarding photographs.

While on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, USA, I had to wait several hours to capture this photograph of the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle; known as Honu in the Hawaiian language. Timing and lighting are essential, but more important, patience. After several hours of basking in the sun, the sea turtles’ shell will become very dry and dull. For this particular photograph I was hoping to capture the shot when the shell was wet. The wetshell gives a nice sheen when the sun is shining.There are two occasions when it is possible to capture this moment. One when the sea turtle first arrives on shore, and the second moment prior to going back to sea. Coming on shore it is obvious the shell will be wet. But returning the turtle moves slowly, and the incoming waves will splash over the turtle, this allows sufficient time to capture one or two shots. Sitting and waiting to photograph the sea turtle for hours,and learning their behavior was essential. It was patience that taught me this valuable lesson.  “I Learned From That”.