Just for Show Japanese Water Fountain - the story

[John Holland]

During my visit to the UK in May of this year, I spent a few days in London. One of those days my wife and I went to the Kew gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens). As we walked around we came to the Japanese Gardens section. There I saw a nice water fountain with water coming out of a bamboo pipe into a small pool of water. I want to get a photo of this, and started to get the camera set to take a long exposure. After a few minutes of adjusting the setting and tweaking the place I was bracing the camera (no tripod with me), I was ready to shoot (I was using the camera's two-second delay so I could release the shutter and take my hands off the camera to eliminate camera shake). Everything is ready and I shoot. Just as I release the shutter (for the two-second delay), a bird lands on the fountain.

Bird: Excuse me Yank, but this is my fountain.
Me: My apologies, Mr. Bird. I would really like to take a photo of this fountain. I flew a long way to get here, and this is my only day that I will be at the Kew gardens.
Bird: I see; I guess I can allow this. Please go ahead.

So I get set and releases the timer for the shutter ...
Bird: PSYCH!! Photo BOMB!!

Bird: Did you really believe a talking bird???

Well, I finally got the photo I wanted.

PS: I am not too sure I got all of what the bird was saying; it had an accent.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Haha. I think the third shot is the shot of the day. Perfect timing...by the bird

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Excellent John, the last image certainly has a void.

 

[Brian Moore]

English birds talk funny. Great capture on that 3rd one, John.

 

[John Holland]

I appreciate the comments, Gentlemen. My wife had a great time watching all this - I heard quite a bit of laughter (and come comments). And she was rooting for the bird.

 

[Pete Askew]

I reckon that bird know a thing or two about photography. While the last image is very fine, the one where he dived in is my favourite. It was clearly just trying to help!

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Lovely set, the rest has been said already.