The thrush alone declares the immortal wealth and vigor that is in the forest.
Whenever a man hears it, he is young, and Nature is in her spring.
Wherever he hears it, it is a new world and a free country,
and the gates of heaven are not shut against him.

Henry David Thoreau

** **

There was a thread a while back about your “holy grail”, the image you really want but have not attained.   I have two, the first is a good photo of a wood thrush, a neat little bird with a unique song.  This year more than the normal bunch of these were in our woods but still, with the season for them closing, no photo.  These are elusive birds, singing in the morning and evenings when light is low.  Then again, their song is part of it.   These birds are almost ventriloquists, with two sets of vocal cords they sing a duet of sorts.  The easily recognized tune is easily located by ear but the second trill seems either off to the left or the right somewhere.  By song, these birds can be difficult to locate.

 

That season of wood thrushes is closing here.  When gone so will be 4 years of waiting for a photo not taken.  There is next year.   

 

The second must have shot for me is a religious sort of thing, requiring several props, my studio lights, the female model and a studio.  The studio is not. So, that one waits.

 

Do you have an idea, an image or composition you really want to do?  If so, please share with us.  

**Ok, Tom I'll confess. I've been trying to get a drop shot with a clear reflection in it, in a natural setting, not in a studio or set up somehow.  And I want it to be spontanious not planned out with a tri pod!! So I've taken hundreds, but not one of them has grabbed my heart, yet...  Also, I would like to get a good close up shot of an eagle, also in a natural setting, not a wildlife park, I have lots of eagle shots, but I think I'm looking for that twinkle in his eye, if you know what I mean???  I've been trying for several years too, and one day I'll get it I just know it!!!   One of my favorite eagle shots that I''ve personally taken, is when I found and eagle sitting on top of a flag pole, then when I got home (and looked at what I caught) I found out that the top of the flag pole was an eagle as well... so I captured an eagle sitting on the wings of an eagle.  I had to remove it from my gallery, because it was being stolen... and that was one of my prize shots...

So, I'll keep on trying...

sounds like your wood thrush is pretty illusive, I'm not sure I've ever seen one? I'll have to google it and listen to his song too...

and your second wishful shot sounds like a dream that might come true???**

Hmmm, interesting thread... I think, for me, it's a more of a change in location than actually a specific subject. As you can tell from the landscape shots in my gallery my little patch of England is pretty flat. More than anything I'd love to get into the mountains. In an ideal world it would be the Himalaya or maybe a trip to the Rockies but  I can't see that happening. The Scottish Highlands is a possibility but I think I could run into trouble persuading my wife to get up at the crack of dawn to climb a mountain, lol.

• Andy

Interesting thread Tom.
For me, I'm still finding my way in photography and haven't settled down to one particular genre - I'm still not sure exactly what type of photography I want to "specialise" in - I don't think I'll find that out until I get a decent DSLR and can take shots of anything without the limitations of my camera however, I do still so desperately want to capture a really good shot of a waterfall or river - you know the sort, where the water appears in "slow motion" (Cosine's falls are a perfect example!)
I'd also like to get a super-duper macro shot of an insect - where you get to see the segments in their eyes - my camera does close-up at best and again, I need a DSLR with macro lens for those types of shots.

I think for me, I will end up "specialising" in macros of insects or wildlife shots - they seem to be the shots that appeal to me the most at the moment... but who knows!!

Like you, I'd love to have a studio set-up and be able to learn the difficult art of model photography, but not for years to come yet I don't think.

Hugs

Chrissy xx

Astro - try Cumbria - there are many places you can drive to and get good shots of mountains and a short walk will take you to even more hidden jems.You dont have to climb 3000 feet for good shots but if there is anything of the country girl in your wife a few easy walks may well inspire her to be more adventurous.A wonderful place to vissit ans a wonderful place for walks - but a word of advice - never understimate the weather and if youo feel something is a bit beyond you turn back.My wife and I are in our 60s and do many walks in the Lake District without problems,a few weeks back I did striding edge and helvellyn - bit of an effort but see the following link from my site for a view of the area
http://www.landscape-images.co.uk/helvellyn.htm

Eddie

I remember that Holly grail tread and good to see a refressh version of this very good question Tom.
I am not a good photographer I have not find my style yet. I shoot everything what comes in my mind or on my way. But! I am chasing some dream capture too.
No1: Aurora
No2: A week in Yellow stone park and shoot myself silly on all the wonders there...lol
No3: astro photography...my fav is Jupiter. Just one picture made by me of it would fulfill my bigest desire.
Order must be like as mentioned....lol
Ok time to wake up and face a reality...great tread Tom.

seeya  Tunde

Attached Link: Iron woman

some of the subjects I'm dreaming about as a photographer : - a black kite... this is kind of personal challenge... I really love these birds and some of the few couples present in Belgium this summer are nesting in the area where I use to spend my week-ends... - a glamour session with a female model : see the link...

I wish I could make pictures of my dreams. Just give me a hammock, some tropical island, a dreammachine, a pina colada and zzz...

Tan, with that dream I would be too, too, too relaxed to make any picture.        Tom.

:crying:There are so many things I have yet to take and want to take that I won't even bother listing it. My biggest frustration is to being cooped up in an office for 5 days a week and then not having the time when I'm out of the office to really explore photography. Sure, I get out here and there and am able to take some opportunistic shots, but I'd love to have time to plan and be able to travel to all of the locals that I'd like with nothing else to worry about but my own timetable. Maybe someday, but not now. I will admit that I have it pretty good otherwise so I can't complain.

I would very much like to have the fre time and money to go to Antarctica, the Amazon, Tasmania (going there next April-yay). Closer to home I'd like to be able to get behind the scenes a bit more. 

Most buisnesses kick me out as soon as they see the camera, fair enough I spose, their shop, their rules. 

 I'd love to be able to wander through an abbotoir with a camera, the local art store for its range of colours (they accused me of working for their competetors, and photographing their prices, I politely argued that if I wanted their prices I'd just use pen and paper), the store rooms/archives of museums. 

lol, theres alot of pix I'd like to add to my gallery.

Getting some good Aerial shots. 

Every time we fly home into Gatwick and our town is underneath it's cloudy. 
If it's not cloudy we're sitting on the wrong side of the plane :)

A good aerial shot of the house taken from a light aircraft. 
Low enough to make out a cat in the garden. 

And the ultimate .... sitting in a plane along aside or above a spitfire in flight snapping away like a loon:) .

an interesting topic,  for me there are many subjects i wish to take pictures of.
But the one that has eluded me for many years is the green woodpecker.
I know all its haunts and have noted the time of day it has been there when i have been passing but when i plan a shoot it never shows.
One day i will get a shot of this chap.
all the best.
clint

i'm still trying to  capture short expression of the faces ...  but.. no, i can't.. but i try lollll

the last time i was just 1 second late ! ONE second ... GRRR ..

so what i did ? just sit down and cry lol

I think one for me is...a waterfall with a nice long exposure