Can I Hate This Guy?

Recently I walked into a public washroom, the music system was playing pop hits and the tune at that moment was Lionel Richie's "Dancing On The Ceiling". Twenty years ago I hated this song. I hated all poppy mainstream radio play. Metal or nothing. But mellowing out over the years, I tolerate this stuff when I hear it on rare occasions... often taking me somewhere back in time.

So, the music is playing, I walk in and am stopped in my tracks at the sight of some guy at one urinal who was seemingly trying to write his name in it. But not the case, this guy was peeing and dancing away to the song. I'm talking a good jive swing bit here, not just a little rhythmic groove on.

As the main door to the washroom closes and makes a noise, he turns all startled and looks right at me, rather embarrassed. He then says "I love this song".

I don't think much more came out of me than "okay".

He quickly finished up and got out of there.

Can I hate this guy? I never cared for this song to begin with but now loathe it to a point where visuals like this below would perhaps correct it all within me...

Where's Stewie Griffin when you need him?


I guess it was a good laugh for my friends I told the tale to on Saturday; but I still have the visual burned into my memory.

Oh my, another asshole surfaces!

Well, here we go again, another asshole surfaces in my presence this week!

I hate to add that this one is another "wildlife photographer". I don't want to paint every person out there with a camera pointed at a bird to be an asshole; I'd really like to believe it is only a small percentage. But this guy didn't even try to be nice, didn't try to hide his asshole-ness one bit. He stormed on the scene bitching and squawking and as quickly as he entered the scene, he left almost as fast.

I guess since much of my free time is out in the wild, walking and looking, carrying my camera and binoculars. And with this, I encounter most other people through this venture. If I were a person who went to hockey games every week, I'd probably find an asshole at the arena quite often. Same with a bar. Or whatever other regular adventure I had in my life. Just throwing this bit in to keep it in mind with some not to think every person with a camera is most likely an asshole.

So, the jist of it is this...

A report of a red morph Eastern Screech Owl was made almost two weeks ago west of Toronto. I was off work yesterday and took the opportunity in the morning to go see it, especially after an email from a friend who informed me the little Owl was sunning himself like he seems to do most days.

I found the area with ease. Now to find the tree. I wasn't out of my truck more than a minute when a car pulled up and this man rolls down his window and asks me if I am looking for the Owl. I said "yes" and he pointed to a tree no more than 150 ft from where I parked. I thanked him because I had another tree in mind further off from the reports. He then drove off.

So, this was starting off very well. You know, not getting lost driving out here. Finding the area with the tree quick. And then someone taking the hunt out of it for me just like that. Sure I like the thrill of a "hunt" or as I put it, a nice walk.

I noticed another guy walking around with his camera. And he slowly approaches me. He kindly asked me if I knew the whereabouts of this Screech Owl.

Normally I don't like to share Owl locations, not for selfish reasons, but because how can I trust a total stranger? There are enough horror stories of people messing with Owls and I don't like to add to this problem.

But the Owl definitely was high enough in the tree that nobody could really harm or harass it. This guy's character seemed nice and genuine enough. And the fact someone pointed it to me, I decided to pay it forward to another.

We both took some photos, looked at it through our binoculars, marveled at it's beautiful coloring, and shared our own bird stories throughout the few minutes we had with the Owl in near full view.

Suddenly in comes this guy. He's got his camera, it's wrapped in something like bandages or gauze. I guess it's his way of protecting his lens? Anyways, he pretty much storms onto the scene. His walk is fast and aggressive. And he is immediately on a tangent about how there is a shadow across the Owl's face, there are branches in the way and whatever else. It was bitch bitch bitch nonstop.

The other gent I was with calmly suggested he take another look because we certainly did not see what he was going on about. I repeated the same bit. But the guy continued to stomp through, pretty much not listening to us, and headed right for the tree this Owl was roosting in.

I spoke louder as he was nearing the tree and asked him why he couldn't just enjoy the sighting we have because how often do most of us get to be in good full view of an Eastern Screech Owl?

Seemingly ignoring us still, he stomped right towards the tree, still cursing away.

The Owl took notice of this aggressive jackass and quickly disappeared into the tree. And then this guy disappeared down the hill.

Both myself and the other guy were quite stunned at what had just happened. But then laughed at the idiocy of this character. Here he had the perfect opportunity to have a great moment looking at this Owl and he chose not to. And he didn't ruin it for us. We had probably 5 minutes of viewing before he entered the scene. We enjoyed our brief moment with the Owl. And then had some comic relief with this asshole and his attitude.

Might as well laugh at them, eh? No harm was done.

People like this make me sad (not really)... did they ever take joy in the wildlife around us or is all about the photos? Why photograph something if you don't have a passion for it? His actions and words sure screamed nothing more than photographs.

Maybe he didn't like having a couple others looking at this Owl? If he saw us as a threat to the Owl, I am sure he would have said something about that instead of bad lighting and branches. And with the height of this Owl in the tree, one would have to stand well back to get a decent photograph. The closer one gets to the tree, the higher the angle they would have with the camera and certainly wouldn't get a shot.

Perhaps the height of the Owl pissed him off? He had a 300mm lens which would have been sufficient for a nice body shot after some cropping. I was happy seeing the Owl and getting something with the lens to share with my family and friends.

Oh well, it's his loss.

Yep, just had to say "I met another asshole today!"

Here is one of my shots of this Owl. How much complaining can one have with this?

First real Asshole of 2012!

So, we are almost one month into 2012 and while a few have got on my nerves, I must say that yesterday I met my first true asshole of the new year!

A lovely morning walk turned shitty real quick after a few minutes with this individual.

As many of you know, I enjoy nature walks and almost always bring my camera along because I never know what I am going to see. Both Angie and I feel it is our "yoga" to walk in the woods, away from most people. Most often it is a nice peaceful time but occasionally you cross paths with an asshole. Yesterday was one of those times...

I usually say "hello" to whoever I pass on the trails. Most people are quite friendly and return the comment along with a smile. Some keep on walking, not even looking. And then there was this guy. "Do you know where the Owls are?" No "hi" or nothing, just hit me with this question. Of all the wildlife to be seeking, he had to ask about the Owls. For those who may not know, it is unfortunate, but Owl locations really should be kept quiet. Why? Owls can be all around us at certain times of the year but they are masters of camouflage, hiding in the woods and rarely seen by most people. If one studies up on a species, learns their preferred habitat and trees, they may luck out one day. It can be real work to see certain Owls or it can be just dumb luck. Most people it is work. But not everybody likes work and to spend a couple hours searching out Owls in a woodlot, and to come up with nothing can be a real piss off to some. Even when someone reports an Owl sighting on the internet, most times it is not that specific... so while another may end up in the same area, there's still work involved to spot it. Okay, sorry for the ramble here... point is, some people have no boundaries and especially when it comes to Owls because they are stunningly beautiful majestic creatures and so rare to see for most people. And once a boundary lacking person sees an Owl, they will pretty much sit on this bird, with their camera for as long as they feel like it. Guys like this feel it is their right to take 1,000 photos of the Owl while the bird is trying to live it's life... to rest, to hunt, to eat and just plain survive.

Owls come to the GTA through the winter. They are hardy creatures but with food lacking at times because of the snow, they store much energy by resting in between hunts, and to keep warm. Having people in their face with cameras for hours on end is not restful.

So, of course I did not offer any information to this guy but did engage in some conversation when I probably should have just said "no" and kept walking. I knew from that initial question and how he was dressed, he was as we refer to as "f**king photographer". There are birders, there are wildlife photographers, and there is a cross between both much like myself who enjoy both. And then there are as I mentioned the "f**king photographer". For them, it's all about the photographs and nothing else. They will do what they have to, often very selfish things that can put their wildlife subjects at risk, just to get those shots. It doesn't matter to them in the end if the animal was stressed to no end because of whatever they did, or even if the animal died in some occasions. The photographer got his shots, he can brag to his friends, post them on the internet for all to see, and nobody will know the dirty tricks he did to get the pics.

99.9% of my photos, I can look back at, and have a good memory. I do have one shot that has a dark story to it, but not of my doing. I will save that for another day but it did involve a "f**king photographer".

So, the conversation went something like this...

"Do you know where the Owls are?"

"Ummm, there was a Great Horned Owl here but hasn't been seen since before Christmas."

"Oh. How about the Long-ears? I know they are here but I always seem to miss them. People tell me they were right here, out in the open an hour ago." as he points to the bare trees in the woods. If his first question didn't tell me what he was all about, this sure did, and it showed that he knows nothing when it comes to Owls. All he knows is that he wants pictures.

I could feel within myself that I was getting angry. To have a person like this near me, and in a wooded area that I visit often and enjoy so much was upsetting.

I rambled on for a bit with some rather insinuating and demeaning bits of certain types of photographers that have no respect for the wildlife, you know the things I mentioned above here. I called them "selfish fuckers" and certainly not humane.

His reply was that all wildlife photographers do selfish things from time to time because they want the shot. And before I could tell him one more thing, two words that definitely weren't "Merry Christmas", he finished with an admittance that he does do "selfish things", whatever it takes to get his shots. The guy admitted his guilt! I couldn't believe it! He came by it honestly, like I would accept that. Usually this type of photographer would never admit to being guilty of doing those things they know very well are heavily frowned upon by most. They keep these secrets to themselves or share with other "f**king photographers".

I said a few more things really quick, can't really put it all together, but I made him quite aware that I don't approve of such things and it was probably a very good idea to get away from me. And he did just that... went the other way.

I walked away, shaking my head. And moments later found myself surrounded by a herd of Deer. Two at first, then three, and then a couple Bucks walked in, next thing I know there was 6, then 7 and in the end a total of 10! I stood quite still, letting them do their thing and getting used to my presence... showing respect to them and their home. And they rewarded me with a lengthy view of them going about their day, grazing wherever they could and interacting with each other. The Bucks didn't stay for long and at one point, I had three females so close to me I couldn't even take photos! Mind you, I had put the camera down well before this, and took in the moment with them.

It was me, who once again, as in other encounters with the Deer, that chose to walk away. They sure changed the vibe of my walk back to what it is supposed to feel like.

I got on Facebook immediately, changed my status to share my adventures of both good and bad. And timing was right because a buddy of mine who works at the visitor centre where I was at picked up on my status, knew where I was without me saying it, and kept an eye out for that "f**king photographer".

Take a look at this photo below. Sure this guy is holding a gun and not a camera, but pretend he is. A "f**king photographer" can have the same impact on wildlife as this guy with a gun. And the guy I met that morning is even more dangerous. The fact he is so ignorant to the Owls he seeks out is scary. He was quite harmless where I met him, well away and very clueless to where the Long-ears were roosting for the day. But if he ever found out, it would be a very shitty stressful day for those poor Owls.

I just had to say... "Yesterday I met my first asshole of 2012!"