Thought I'd Share..

Thought I'd share this with you all...I know you'll understand! Recently after photographing a very cooperative GB Heron, I said to the bird, "Thanks buddy, catch you next time!" Well unknown to me there was a fellow behind me who said he'd thought he'd heard it all.
That was until he heard me thanking the bird!
Lucky for me he's not heard the little voices in my head praying to the bird gods saying thing like "please, please, don't fly away!"
Does anyone else thank their subjects?

I almost always thank the birds after photographing them. Seems like it is the least I can do. I figure I only need to worry if they tell me I am welcome.

I thank them out loud too!

LOL! Usually it's "Thank you! You're beautiful!"

Not vocally. I figure with my bird brain they just read my mind.

I often times thank them out loud. But I've been known to cuss them too...

I'm with Ron... I cuss them more than I thank them. Something I should work on!

I thank birds/animals/insects, too. Is it worrisome that I also many times thank plants and trees?

Yes! I thank the birds out loud and I wish I could thank the NPNers out loud also since both have helped me so much. Except for the male Common Yellowthroats; they continue to tease me.

Harry

Sharon,

I'm sure glad I recently started viewing the "All topics" link, otherwise I never would have seen this thread. I think you or someone should start this in the general forum as well.

But don't tell anyone, I've thanked rocks and trees before. There have been plenty of times where I've been with a friend and we've high-fived or celebrated a glorious event. But I too have said "Thank You." after witnessing any number of events over the years that have moved me. It's hard to do a high-five with yourself, so I usually end up doing the Rocky victory arm raising.

Lon

So far I've LOVED everyone's responses! See....I KNEW you all would understand!
Lon...feel free to move this thread to the general forum...It's comforting knowing I'm not the only crazy one! Thanks NPN...

Every time I start approaching a bird I start whispering to them "be a brave little bird and don't fly away. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to take your picture." I guess we all have our methods. Just glad I'm not the only one.

HI Sharon

In my mind I thought is was normal I talk to every thing and when I get some good images always thank the subject. I once got caught thanking a mole as it came out of the ground

I would go as far to say that its not normal if you dont talk to them

Hi Sharon,

Me, too. It usually goes something like, "Thanks, gorgeous, see you next time." I like to think it is a bit of the Franciscan that urges us onward to do what we do. A cooperative measure in which we are partners with nature for that moment in our desire to share the beauty.

Great question Sharon! I too thank birds, mammals and insects out loud. I also have a special relationship with the live oak tree in my back yard. I thank him every time I climb up there to take pictures of the shorebirds on my seawall. :)

Recognizing our connection with the natural world, and giving thanks for it, is not new. It was (is?) an integral part of the culture of native/aboriginal peoples. I guess we have some good role models.

Sharon,
Now I won't whisper when I thank everything, since I am not the only one. And yes I "mentally" talk to the animals/birds/flowers/trees/bugs/etc.. Most of the time its just a big Thank you, or turn this way, but on occasion a "*#)@&" sneaks in.

BTW, great first name!

Haaaa and I thought I was the only one with the bird gods. Heee. I thank my birds all the time and then I thank my lucky stars and then I thank God

OMG , I just read the other posts and I nearly peed my pants LOL.

Saint Francis, Dr. Dolittle, and Baruch Spinosa would all be smiling at this conversation !

Dave Graham
Estelline, SD

How about being on the trail to Brooks Falls in Alaska and being surrounded by not one or two, but three 900lb Alaskan Brown Bears and me timidly uttering the words, "no bear, no bear...." Later, I thanked them for not eating me.

(wasn't that bad really. I was with others, my friend and a small group of German or Swiss tourists who wanted to run, so my friend and I were more concerned about keeping the people calm than worried about the bears who were too full of salmon to really be concerned about us. It does raise one's heartbeat and adrenaline though.)

Lon

I don't photograph much wildlife but I have thanked God when I get the eerie light I long for especially on Inverness Beach, NS and Ocean Point Maine. I have also thanked trees, rocks, ice, lichen, leaves....... for just being there when the light may not be good. Wonderful question and thread BTW.

I especially thank the great Blue Herons when the hold still for frame after frame. And the Snowys. And the Great Egrets. Actually, I thank any wildlife I manage to get in a frame, sometimes to myself and sometimes aloud!

Then I thank God for the privilege.

Yes, I do thank them. Sometimes I encourage them to hold their heads in that perfect catch light position too.

I think we're all thankful for the cooperation we receive from our subjects and we're not ashamed of admitting it, well... maybe just a little

Great post and wonderful thread Sharon.

Yes, I do, starting with something like, please, please please don't fly away to thank-you, you gorgeous thing!