Feathers, Faith, and a Family Legacy

What happens when a cherished family Bible becomes a prop in a scene for the wild backyard birds? It was shaping up to be an interesting photography day. Every whisper of wind sent onion-skin Bible pages fluttering. Plus, the bluebirds’ beaks were comically overflowing with wiggling mealworms, and the flowers were wilting. Amidst these hurdles, an unusual question arose: Was it truly okay to put mealworms on a family Bible? This particular shoot wasn’t just about capturing nature’s beauty; it was about honoring a mother’s living faith. I think God smiled and chuckled a little.

Our Garden’s Gifts

This time of year, my flower beds are an absolute treasure trove for bird photography scenery. So many choices! A stunning Niobe clematis was in full bloom. Its deep magenta petals and frilly yellow center were simply elegant. The viny tendrils would add a perfect touch. For contrast of shape and color, the cool, purplish-blue spikes of catmint were perfect. I was truly delighted with these natural gifts from the garden.

Battling Wind and Wilting Flowers

Creating a captivating scene for our local wild birds is rarely a walk in the park. Each setup presents its own set of charmingly absurd difficulties. Today’s challenge: how do you maintain a delicate, onion-skin-paged Bible’s pristine and picturesque look? This was particularly tricky on a dirty feeding platform, exposed to nature’s whims.

First, a sheet of tin foil, protected the precious book from the grimy platform. I really wanted to get the pages into a heart shape. (That thought was quickly abandoned for another day when the air is still.) For now, a few strategically placed pieces of wood created a nice arch, and a bit more height in the back allowed viewers to see the beautiful scripture print.

Then came the wind – that invisible prankster!  Those onion-skin pages, wanted to dance with every breeze. Tiny clips kept the pages in check. (These would later disappear with a quick edit in Photoshop.) The wind wasn’t just flirting with the Bible; it was also ruffling the flowers. Despite being fixed in florist’s foam, the clematis blossoms had to be strategically tamed with hair pins. Each wilted clematis was swiftly replaced.

It was a constant dance between nature’s whims and my photographic vision. And just when I thought the setup challenges were done, a new, rather unique concern emerged: the delicate placement of the bluebirds’ special meal.

Sacred Snacks

But where to put the food? The crease in the Bible seemed the most logical, if not slightly irreverent, spot. Careful not to sully my mother-in-law’s Bible, I had to ensure the mealworms were impeccably clean – not a speck of sawdust allowed. I confess, I half-expected God to shake His head and chuckle from above, watching my meticulous placement of tiny, wiggling invertebrates on His Holy Word. Yet, I’m profoundly thankful for a God who is both amazingly creative and wonderfully practical!

Part way into the photo shoot, I decided I wanted to capture those elusive bluebird wings in flight.  This is possible with a higher ISO setting. I stopped putting the mealworms on the Bible and used a trusty shot glass (or, as it’s known in Lancaster County, a “toothpick holder”!) To prevent the birds from having to do a deep dive into the shot glass for a single worm, I filled most of the glass with floral oasis. A piece of tin foil, like a tiny lid, covered the foam, ensuring no crumbly green bits inadvertently made their way into the babies’ mouths.

A Beakful of Wiggles

The bluebird parents, with their less-than-a-week-old young, were driven by a singular, ravenous mission: Feeding Frenzy. They’d shove as many mealworms as possible into their beaks. It was as if they were sporting wiggling mealworm mustaches, trying to look inconspicuous.

Rethinking my strategy, I began doling out the worms one at a time. I swear, they knew! Those worms seemed to form tiny frowny faces as the birds snatched them up. The bluebirds were so quick! In the mere dozen steps it took to get back to my seat, they’d often snatch the worms before I could click the shutter. They certainly enjoyed the free organic catering, but I’m pretty sure I got stiffed on the posing fees. Oh, well! It was still worth it!

Mom-Mom’s Bible: A Special Prop

The heart of this unusual photo shoot is my mother-in-law’s Bible. It’s a special reminder of Rose, affectionately known as Mom-Mom, whose steadfast love for the Lord illuminated her life. Though she now rests with Jesus, her Bible stands as a symbol of the living faith she instilled in her family. Its pages are open to Job 19:25 – “I know that my Redeemer lives”.  That’s an unshakeable truth and a firm foundation for faith in a world of unknowns. A promise of ultimate victory. I like to imagine Mom-Mom and Jesus sharing a smile over these photographs.

Captured Moments

Here are two of the beautiful photographs from that extraordinary day. Imagine bringing a piece of this beauty and inspiration into your own home, or sharing it as a truly exceptional gift! These stunning images are available right now as gorgeous canvas giclées and photo prints over at AzarElGreetings.com. We use pigmented inks, so you can feel completely at ease knowing your new wall decor will grace your walls vibrantly (even in the sunniest spots) without a worry about fading. And as a special touch from us, we’d be delighted to personalize your piece with a short Bible verse, completely free of charge. If anything comes to mind or you simply have questions, please reach out to me directly at 717-844-9949.

“Grace in Flight” – Ready to shop? Simply click the title.

“Faith Takes Flight” – Ready to shop? Simply click the title.