Photographing on the Median and at Home
By Gerry Traucht
Editor’s Note: Gerry offers us glimpses of what he sees at home. This unique collection embodies the qualities of the beloved Japanese poetic form, Zuihitsu. Zuihitsu is genre of Japanese literature (since adapted by many Western writers) consisting of loosely connected personal essays and fragmented ideas that typically respond to the author’s surroundings. Photos taken by Gerry.
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet lived in a gigantic juniper tree in the front yard.
One morning, he discovered the sideview mirror on the car in the driveway next to the tree. After that, he came by every morning.
He hangs from the top edge of the mirror by one or two feet, fluttering, pecking, kissing at his reflection. He flies to the driver’s side mirror and starts it all over again before flying back to the passenger side where he gets even more excited.
When he catches glimpses of himself in the darkened window beside the mirror he completely loses it. He flies back and forth the length of the driveway like a toy jet airplane at his top speed, wings making a loud whir.
When he occasionally stops for two seconds, he reveals a dapper little puff of a bird in changing soft greens, yellows, blues, a white stripe on each wing, white circles around his eyes and that vivid ruby crown that he can show or hide.
Wow, that was a while ago. What a surprise from my front yard.
Now I look closely at home to see what else is here…
The California Towhee Visit
Usually towhees hop around the backyard. One towhee visits the deck outside the kitchen door.
Later he makes it to the living room and perches on top of the computer screen.
Gerry Traucht is a Bay Area photographer and blogger. You can check out his website here. Be sure to catch him on Instagram @gerrytraucht.