Swallow

I've been watching (in a very casual, passer-by kind of a way) this swallow flying continuouis loops of the school pool for the past week or more. I finally managed to get myself sorted to get my camera and attempt some fly-by shooting! Happy enough with results though I feel I can still do better. Maybe tomorrow - we'll see how things pan out.

Actually, it turned out to be a great opportunity to connect with one of the more challenging young men at school.

A saw me standing on the poolside with my camera and asked through the glass barrier what I was doing. I invited him in to the enclosure and pointed out the swallow. He seemed interested. We watched it together for a few laps and I shot some more images then showed A. He seemed more interested then began asking about my camera . . . . about the lens . . . .

I put the neckstrap over his head and told him to go for it.

Questions aplenty!! "What's this button . . . . ?", "What does this do . . . . ?", "How do you . . . . . ?"

I think he rather enjoyed it - it's a challenge to even get one of these birds in the frame so A did very well to get several shots with it in-frame.

Kids like A sometimes don't 'fit' the school system and play up as a consequence. Treat them like an individual, show some interest in them and give them some time - sometimes, that's all it takes.

Shooting the swallow was cool. Building a young man's curiosity and self-esteem . . . . . priceless!