I watched the color blue change instantly into white, when I realized it was a white bird in part sunlight, part shade. (The temperature color of shade is a bluer light than sunlight.)
Each time, my brain adjusts to what I am perceiving. And after training it to notice differences, a group of gulls can suddenly become a group of several species.
But, where my brain has learned to recognize differences, almost as if in karmic payment, it has also learned to spoil my excitement in extraordinary moments, by telling me I am seeing something ordinary.
Which is precisely what happened to me yesterday, when two bobcats crossed the road about 50 yards in front of our truck.
Subconsciously, I knew something exciting was happening. But, the bobcat was just beyond the limits of my near-sightedness, and add the distortion of looking through a windshield, my brain kept telling me I was only seeing a dog.
In contrast, the kinder part of my brain allowed me to start squeaking and fidgeting in a way that alerted Matt I had spotted something fantastic. Unfortunately, the sadistic part of my brain that was convinced I was seeing a dog held me hostage, not allowing my motor controls to respond to my screeching desire to pick up the damn camera!
Thankfully, Matt didn't interpret my internal battle as a stroke, or something, and turn around, AND, I was able to regain control of movement in enough time to get these three pics.
They aren't the best, but for me they are magical!
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| Bobcat silhouette. ©Teresa Shumaker |
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| Bobcat silhouette. ©Teresa Shumaker |
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| Look closely, there is a bobcat in this picture. ©Teresa Shumaker |
