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About: This December morning started out like a typical winter morning in the California Delta. Tulle fog had set in during the early morning hours, and had obscured the morning sunrise. It also limited your vision to about two hundred yards. But the musical serenade provided by the surround sounds of Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese and swans at the Cosumnes River Preserve that morning made it worth being there, and then some.
About 8:30 am, a gentle breeze from the South began to stir the wet, damp foggy air. I knew that if it continued, there was a reasonable chance it would begin breaking up the fog, providing a welcome look at the birds in their winter habitat.
As the fog continued to break up, I began to get a better look at the family of cranes I had been listening to for some time, along with the the sounds of sprig, widgeon and mallard that sounded to be coming from the same general area as the cranes.
I set up my camera and tripod in hopes the fog would continue lifting, and I could get a better look at what felt and sounded like a very joyful winter moment taking place in front of me. Although the birds were still shrouded in gray fog, I was pretty sure the sun would be making it’s way through and wanted to be ready when it did.
About 9:35 am the scene in front of me transformed from the grays of a foggy morning to glorious living color as the light from the sun began to do it’s magic on the water and the feathers of the birds in front of me. I was delighted to see the ducks enjoying the morning right along side the cranes. As it always does, my camera provided me a window into this moment that enabled me to experience it more closely and enjoy the beauty I saw and the uplifting spirit I felt being part of that moment.
Of all the images I took that morning, this is the one that best captured the first moment I could perceptively see the visual changes created by the light of the sun as it finally broke through the fog. You can see the sun reflecting off the white feathers of the birds.
This print conveys a special moment with Sandhill Cranes in the wetlands I hope will resonate in your heart as it does in mine.
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