Walking the walk

Magpies are one of the most difficult birds to photograph. The human eye sees light and shade in a completely different way to the way a camera captures it. The sheer range of tones which we are able to distinguish overwhelms any electronic device made so far. Camera blacks are too black and whites are too white and there’s no subtlety in the image.

This entertaining walk is a step in the right direction to capture the essence of the Magpie’s being and do it in a way which respects the human eye’s tonal abilities. I need to try again with more subdued light and get it shining onto the face with a little more of a catchlight in the eye.

For now, though, I’ll just enjoy the pretend confidence of its walk on the wall. If only I could walk with quite that much of a swagger.