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The Moorabool News – 5 July, 2022 Page 3
Shooting birds through a lens
Bernie McRitchie has a passion for photographing birds and was a second place in the recent Art Show for his piece titled, Rowsley Eagle and a Smoky Sunset. Photos - Helen Tatchell/Bernie McRitchie By Carol Saffer Bernie McRitchie has lived in Moorabool shire for around 27 years and knows the countryside well. At the recent Bacchus Marsh Rotary Art Show during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, his image of a Rowsley Eagle and a Smoky Sunset came second in the Best Photograph in Show category. He started photographing about ten years ago but was a bird watcher from age 10. He has a digital SLR camera with a 500 mm lens which he says is pretty standard for bird photography. “We are living in good times now being able to use digital cameras that take hundreds of shots and don’t cost a thing,” Mr McRitchie said. Birds of prey are his preferred avian subject, but he will photograph almost anything in nature. “I even photograph the blue-banded bees in our lavender bushes.” “But birds are the most obvious conspicuous form of wildlife around,” he said. He confesses that he spends too much time with this camera out in the country. He is an arborist with Wyndham Council and packs his camera in his work bag daily along with this lunch. “The boys at work know that if it is lunchtime, we are going to stop next to an open paddock so I can use my camera,” he said.
Driving around the local country area gives him a lot of opportunities to see what he can shoot. “I like action, so if eagles are getting swooped by other birds, I stop and see what shots I might get,” “Birds of prey provide the most action.” Mr McRitchie said there are lots of eagles, falcons and kites on his side of Bacchus Marsh. He recently watched and filmed two falcons diving at a quail on the ground. “One falcon was on the chase when the second one swooped down, picked up the quail in his talons, and I almost heard him say, “see, that’s how you do it.” “Photography is highly addictive; I don’t take it lightly,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t drink coffee but go bird-watching every day.” “Birdwatchers used to be the nerds, you would get maybe one per school, but now it is trendy.” Mr McRitchie loves hanging out in his local area, shooting images of what is in his neighbourhood. He takes delight in posting these images on the local social media pages showing them just what is out about and in the sky above where they live. “A lot of people are amazed at what is around,” he said. Mr McRitchie is also a part of the church in Bacchus Marsh. “Because of my belief in God the Creator, when I see the birds, I can see who is behind this; it’s the full understanding of my faith and nature.”
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