A family of seven White-plumed Honeyeaters have been living in the garden of Chris and Margie McClelland, Hay for some time and during the past couple of years Mrs McClelland has taken many pictures of the Australian native birds as they feasted on the flowers of her winter salvias.
Taken with Canon 5D Mark 111 with a Sigma 150-600 lens, one of those photos has been recognised by the USA-based photography platform ViewBug and placed on its international webpage.
"I know I still have to improve, but it was nice getting the recognition," Mrs McClelland said.
"I don't think it is a perfect photo but when you are photographing nature you have to go with what you can get."
The birds were very skittish and Mrs McClelland said she tried to photograph them through the kitchen window but it really wasn't good enough.
"I then sat on the woodheap for an hour or more until the right moment occurred," she said.
"It is a very small bird and you do have to be patient."
Mrs McClelland said her interest in photography began in the 1950's when she held her first box brownie.
"I was immediately hooked on capturing the light," she said.
"I'm self taught and passionate about perfecting my photos.
"I have developed skills documenting pastoral subjects and life on large stations."
She has worked part-time for the Hay-based The Riverine Grazier where she takes many photographs of local interest across a broad range from the Hay Sheep Show, district Merino ram sales, Hay Races and sporting events.
Trips through Africa supporting her husband Chris, a wildlife artist, gave her a fascination for wildlife photography and her photos have appeared in African Safari Magazine, Australian Geographic magazine and Sydney-based newspapers.
Ms McClelland has also contributed her images for inclusion in several books including Heartland, the Long Paddock and Beyond Reasonable Drought.
"I must have a naturally artistic eye," she said.
"Nick Russel who published the African Safari Magazine saw my photos and said wow! I could use these in the magazine.
"I didn't think they were special but he saw I could capture a moment in time to tell a story!"
Trips through Africa supporting her husband Chris, a wildlife artist, gave her a fascination for wildlife photography.
Her photos have appeared in African Safari Magazine, Australian Geographic magazine and Sydney-based newspapers.
She has also contributed her images to several books including Heartland, The Long Paddock and Beyond Reasonable Drought.
Have you signed up to The Land's free daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to NSW agriculture.
