Ravens-Caring inThe Cold

I haven't been posting much lately because I haven't been shooting much either. I've been going through sort of a lull in my inspiration, I think. On Friday (2 Dec 2011), I set out with camera in hand to do something completely different--I went out into a snowstorm to take some images of isolated frosty junipers set against cloud and snow on the canyon rim.

While I was out, I found this pair of ravens that I know well and see regularly. They were on one of their regular perches, and something was clearly wrong. The bird at left was completely lethargic, and not moving at all, while its mate attended it. The mate stayed by its side, frequently preening it and ruffling its feathers, as if caring for it, trying to rouse it, trying to see what was wrong. As someone with extensive experience with the intelligence, playfulness, tenderness, and humor that ravens regularly exhibit, I have no qualms about this seeming anthropomorphic interpretation.

Anyway, the experience makes this a rather poignant image for me. I went back and checked on them today (4 Dec) and both birds seemed to be doing well, but who knows what the winter will hold.

I wish I'd had a different lens, and my viewpoint was limited--the only way I could get this image was to climb up onto a 3ft high, 2ft diameter ashtray. There was no where else to go without the angle being too steep.

I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible. In processing the image I used a levels layer to move the black point in to 15, and I wonder if this introduced too much contrast into this stormy scene.

Canon 7D, 17-85mm at 85mm, handheld.

f/8, 1/125, ISO 500; Crop to 50% (9 of 18MP)