Occupational Hazards And Techniques

Day 208: So how does one take a photograph of a tiny plant way over there on a floating log when one is in a kayak? In case you were wondering, my first recommendation is to get yourself a camera and some serious glass or one with a good zoom. In my case, it's the latter. Secondly, you will need a background in either yoga or contortionism.

Here you see the naturalist in Log/Leg Lock position. Having maneuvered your craft into the best position for the light (which, incidentally, is a series of rapid fluctuations between shadow and brilliance), you must then find a secure niche in which to place one blade of the paddle. Once you are satisfied that it cannot become dislodged by wave action (a balance between the anchor point bobbing up and down and the kayak doing likewise, but at a different interval), draw your knee up as closely under your chin as possible avoiding tangling your foot in fishing gear, and then extend your leg out and over the paddle shaft. When possible, place your foot on an object outside the boat, but remember to keep your weight distributed to prevent accidental immersion. In order to achieve the correct angle on your subject, you may need to hold your arms at full stretch above your head for a protracted period of time. In any event, you will probably have to lean radically backward in order to see the view screen, especially if you wear trifocals. When you are done shooting, gradually return your appendages to their normal positions and take a deep breath.

What, you don't see them? I can assure you that inside that green ellipse, there are hundreds of fingernail-sized Sundew disks, each bearing dozens of hairs sparkling with beads of digestive enzymes. Don't believe me? Look at yesterday's post. That colony is just to the right of the dark clump of grass about a quarter of the way from the left end of the ellipse. Zoom...it's the only way to go!