Following a late March and April snowstorm, a male ring-necked pheasant discovered the cracked corn and sunflower seeds at my bird feeders. Because I live in a high density condominium complex, this pheasant was an unexpected visitor. What’s more, photographing it became a fun challenge. The bird was easily spooked by people and dogs, all of which are common in my community. Furthermore, physical structures like buildings, fire hydrants, and cable boxes are strategically placed to make wildlife photography nearly impossible. Despite these obstacles, I developed a plan and routine for photographing the pheasant. The key elements were snow and my mini cooper. I relied on snow to hide the ubiquitous grass and isolate the pheasant from all of the artificial artifacts. Furthermore, the snow served as a wonderful contrast to the brilliant colors and feathers adorned by the bird. During these four days of photography, my cooper was my blind. Despite the close proximity of the pheasant, shooting out my window or screen door would startle the pheasant and make photographing it impossible. Because the car lacked a recognizable form and obscured my lens, I could use it as a way to hide. To make these images, I would drive out of my garage, coast past the bird a few times, and then kill the engine. The low profile of a cooper and elevated lawn allowed me to get a near-parallel point of view. As a result of staying home and looking for something to photograph, I managed to produce a unique portfolio of winter pheasants.
