The Early Bird Catches the Bird

It's still, but not stagnant. It is noiseless, yet humming. A palette of soft grays, apricots and corals, and shades of pale indigo work to decorate the day as the sun begins to wake up. This is the narrow window of time that photographers alike refer to as the golden or "magic" hour.

This teeny time frame of unsullied light occurs twice per day: an hour or so after sunrise and an hour or so before sunset. The illumination is soft, colors enhanced. We're all too familiar with the phrase, "the early bird catches the worm." When it comes to bird photography, this statement rings even truer. Though golden hour is a double occurrence each day, it is the sunup spell that devoted and avid birders seek.

Early mornings are the most productive for photographing birds because that's when they're the most active. The birds have fasted all night and they must obtain a high caloric intake to fuel their elevated metabolism. Flight is energetically expensive, therefore birds must procure enough sustenance to carry on with their day, especially during migration when travel time can last for hours. This enchanting arrangement of avian energy and garish, glowing light is remarkable in that it brings alive the spirit of every living organism; it breathes light into your soul and your pictures.

Bird photographers know that the golden hour is the best time to capture our feathered friends on film, but it's the feeling of being in nature, amongst the chorus of warbles, standing under a blushing sky, sharing a cup of coffee and chirps that motivates even the sleepiest night owl to wake up and appreciate their relationship to the environment.