Not There Yet

  Mr. PJ has been around the Bayou on visits over the past decade or so.  My son and daughter-in-law brought him along on their visits so he is pretty much used to the place...as far as the layout, rules and attention.  He is not used to being a photographer's (and I use that term loosely) dog.  While I may not be the best with the camera, I do enjoy photographing the wildlife here.  The Bayou, woods and hillside offer so many opportunities.   For years now, I have had the camera handy at all times.  When Ms. Ez, the old Bayou Dog, (rest her soul) used to take hikes with me, she knew the routine.  No matter where we were, what she was doing or when it was, she knew if the camera was turned on, she was to freeze in step.  As soon as she heard the button activate, she was as good as a statue.  Many a time, she was in mid-step but would never even put her paw to the ground.  Ms. Ez was a wildlife photographer's dream dog.  Never once was an animal frightened.  Never once did she give chase.  Never once were critters hiding before I even saw them.  She was good.

  While Mr. PJ is well-behaved, he still has not mastered the "statue".  He just keep lumbering along at his same pace.  Earlier this week, a gorgeous egret stood on the mudflats.  I eased my way to the edge of the marsh, turned on the camera and prepared to photograph the bird.  Mr. PJ had not learned the routine so he did what we always do.  He headed down the pier.  While that was not wrong and I could not scold him, it did put a kink in the picture-taking.  The egret saw that big dog and took flight before his second step on the pier!.  I am not even sure PJ saw the bird.  He just kept walking like a dog on a mission.  Granted, I had not asked him to "wait" nor given him the command "stay".  I was so accustomed to Old Ms. Ez automatically knowing that it never occurred to me that I needed to do such.  PJ and I have a lot to learn.

  The next day, a lone pelican sat on a pier post.  As many photographs as I have of pelicans, they are still some of my favorite subjects.  Again, I turned on the camera, pointed it and got a sort of sad picture of the bird in flight.  Mr. PJ just kept lumbering down the pier.  I HAVE to learn to tell him to wait!  My pelican will be back so PJ and I need to practice!.

  This morning, the same thing happened.  I forgot, PJ did not know and another missed photograph.  A small rail was chattering in the marsh.  I got a bit excited as I recognized that call!  This was a mother rail and she had her little ones somewhere nearby.  In my rush to get a good spot to get pictures, I once again omitted to inform Mr. PJ to stay.  I settled in on the old skiff to wait for the family of rails to make an appearance.  PJ, on the other hand, had spotted the otter pups and excitedly made a beeline for his usual otter-watching perch on the pier.  I caught the tailend of the mama rail. 

  Both PJ and I need to get better at this deal.  Teaching an old dog some new tricks is not easy.  Soon, though, I will learn!  I will remember to give the command!  He will soon start to associate my command with the tinkling sound of the camera and will automatically become a statue.  He is just not there yet. I am just not there yet. I was spoiled by Ms. Ez's ability to learn these things on her own without any coaching from me.  Still, even with all of the missed shots, I adore this old dog.  It is great having a hiking buddy again.