The Pollinator Triptych

In the recent ‘I’ve gone batty‘ post I mentioned that The Pollinator (Nature Photographer of the Year finalist image) was from the middle of a burst. I’ve finally had time to create a triptych of the three shots.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
The Pollinator Triptych
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 800

In the first image the New Holland Honeyeater had its bill deep inside the flax lily so it could lap up the nectar with its brush-tipped tongue. The lily’s stamens are heavy with golden pollen which is dusting the honeyeater’s head. The bird’s right eye can just be seen but it is vulnerable when feeding, especially from flowers like this that significantly affect its ability to keep watch.

In the second capture, The Pollinator, the flower had flipped back into place as the honeyeater rapidly withdrew its head. Pollen went flying and can be seen above and below the honeyeater’s head. I was astounded and delighted when I saw the image on my computer screen. I have taken many thousands of honeyeater images, and looked at thousands more, and I’ve never seen anything like it. I was incredibly lucky that I pressed the shutter button at the perfect moment and that the air was still enough for the pollen to stay suspended for a fraction of a second.

By the time of the third capture, less than a second from the first, the pollen had dissipated. Now I’m looking at these three images together it’s making me think I should get all three printed and hang them together, I’m looking around for suitable wall space as I type!

Gallery entrance, South Australian Museum, Adelaide
NB I was not the winner of this competition

My youngest daughter encouraged me to go to the opening of the exhibition in Adelaide, I wouldn’t have gone without her. I left booking our flights so late that I thought we’d miss out, but thanks to help from my flight-booking friend we managed to get tickets.

The evening’s speeches were inspiring and presented beside a large screen that displayed the images that had reached the finals – stunning images, I was rapt to see mine in such grand company. If you’d like to see the images they are being exhibited at the South Australian Museum until November and at the Australian Museum in Sydney until January.

The Pollinator did not win a prize, which I already knew as the image had been used to promote the competition in the Australian Geographic, it was clearly the packing room prize (without the prize). My daughter and I ambled around the museum shop and bought some bits and pieces before wandering into the exhibition. We had no idea that The Pollinator had been used at the entrance to the gallery – our shocked faces must have looked hilarious. Since then I’ve been told that my image has also been used at the entrance of the Sydney exhibition. I would be delighted if anyone could send me a photograph, I’m wondering whether they also altered the hue of the green.

My apologies for the shameless skiting and the Cheshire cat grin that accompanied my lovely trip to Adelaide (where I used to live many moons ago and where I still feel at home).

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