A Rare Waxwing

As he explored the hills around his home in Anchiano, young Leonardo da Vinci sketched everything that fascinated him. He had astounding visual acuity and captured moving subjects in great detail.

One of the things I love about the hobby of photography is the way it freezes a subject in timelessness so the viewer can relish the details. In everyday life, objects flit across our field of vision, and we rarely have a chance to absorb their beauty.

In our area, cedar waxwings appear rarely. This one was feasting on some berries on this tree, and when he came up for a look around, I was able to capture a still image. I love the contrast of the muted shades of his feathers against the brightness of his ornamentation. And there’s so much character in the masked face beneath that fine crest.