A Fast And Furious 3 Seconds

One in a great while the photographic elements come together unexpectedly that catch me by surprise.

Yesterday while sitting out back after grilling burgers for dinner, I watched the interplay between a few chickadees and titmice snatching sunflower seeds for their evening meal.

Then comes along a white-breasted nuthatch to join in the feast. Starting at the top he inched his way down the branch when “it” happens. In a split moment he went into action and out comes the wings and tail. Nuthatches, in a display of aggression/self-defense, will spread their wings and tail feathers to make themselves look bigger and to warn other birds – “this is my territory!”

With low light and shade from a tree, I wondered if I would be able to rip off a few clicks that weren’t a complete blur, or out of focus due to the movement of the bird.
So, with rapid, click – click – click – click the magic happened! And, the nuthatch successfully warded off his would be encroachers, snatched a seed and was gone. All in 3 seconds!

As the nuthatch spread its wings and I captured those fleeting seconds, I felt something deeper than luck or timing – I felt reverence. Behind the lens, I wasn’t just watching, I was bearing witness.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).

In moments like these, photography becomes more than a hobby. It becomes a quiet form of worship, a way to pause, to notice, and to honor the artistry of our Creator. Each click of the shutter is a small act of praise, a way of saying, I see You here, Lord… in the light, in the movement, in the life You’ve made.

How lucky and blessed can one man be!