Of the images I create, the ones I love most are often not the ones that get accepted into art shows. The lack of art show-juror interest does not diminish my affection for an image, but it is gratifying when an image that has been passed over a number of times finally gets the recognition I think it deserves.

Juror Susan Goetz Zwirn chose Red-wing Flush for a show called “Bold & Free,” sponsored by the Marin Society of Artists in Marin County, CA. It’s a virtual show; you can see it here until June 21.

Some might say this image is out of focus. It is, in fact, in perfectly sharp focus. The blur is all caused by movement–by both the red-wings and the camera, at the same time. I had stopped at a grain storage bin at the edge of a field, just because I like to photograph farm life, equipment, etc. (You can take the girl off the farm, but… you know the rest!)

Turns out, a lot of corn kernels had spilled on the ground around the bin and Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were all over them. The first time I flushed them was just to see them go . But as I watched them fly up and come back immediately, it occurred to me that I could, perhaps, capture the magic I experienced watching them. So I flushed them a few times, using a somehwat slow shutter speed and moving the camera with them.

It was fun. I only did it about three times, as I didn’t want to overly stress the birds or prevent them from cleaning up the spill. And I love the result. “Bold & Free” seems like the perfect show for the image. Thanks, juror Zwirn.