My practice has had a hectic week. The weekend began on Friday evening, and the sun was commanded to shine.
But what I felt was unpleasant. My inner battery was utterly depleted, and there was so much I wanted to accomplish with dazzling sunshine and 20-degree temps approaching.

I couldn’t sleep from Friday to Saturday night. It was a bad night since I was trying to sleep in my bed and had a fever building up. I couldn’t sleep any longer at 5 a.m., so it was time to get up and shine.

Mother Nature is the only medicine that works for me when I’m sick. When I walked into the kitchen, it was evident that my four-legged pal was more than willing to accompany me into the setting sun.

I packed all of my Canon equipment, and despite not having the finest body temps, we set off. When I arrived at the nature reserve, one of the first things I saw was a deer standing in the centre of the roadway. It was still young and remained transfixed. I passed the tiny pal at a very modest speed, hoping she would stay in the forest because the speed level there can be lethal.

This has already made my day better! With the sun setting at 6, we needed to move quickly to make it to my first photographic stop on time. My Australian shepherd and I ventured out into the nature reserve’s long wet grass meadows. I struggled with my hike since the hefty weight on my back seemed more like 100kg than 25kg, but watching the sun rising next to my dog made me feel like I was finally coming to rest.

Hiking is difficult for me since I had a bad bike accident and still have an iron plate in my ankle. My ankle was completely broken, and the doctors tried all they could to repair it. So that’s what it is, and I’m glad I can still walk a little. The short walk also forces me to confront all of my current limitations. However, I want to make the most out of what I have.

I approach the deepest part of the forest and instantly see some deer. Some shots I couldn’t resist capturing, and I’m glad I did!

When I’m deep in the woods and know I’m amid some deer and wild boards, I always want to put them at peace and not disturb their routine. I was instantly pleased with the images I took, and I began to absorb more and more of the environment. The day was coming to life and the light shined brightly through the greenery in front of me.

On this wonderful morning, birds are singing and yelling, and I can hear a cuckoo and many more. As I approach a large body of water, I try to take some additional shots. When a swan recognised me, she displayed grace, and I enjoyed that moment.

The reflection of the swan on the river is a fantastic moment that I was able to photograph. Life comes to a halt for me at that point, and I find a magnificent spot I had never been to before. A location where many animals may be found and are yet secure.

Sometimes I believe I should have taken more time to collect these images. As I approach, I notice a giant heron take off, but I’m too late to catch it. Or I’m just not getting near enough to certain deer to catch them in their natural habitat. These are issues that I seriously consider. As I like connecting with nature.

These are the thoughts racing through my mind as I make my way back to my car. On my path, some fishermen are enjoying their morning with a fresh cup of coffee in hand and their gear ready to capture the fish of the month.

There’s a lot of water next to me. It always helps me when I’m feeling down or have an overactive mind. It calms things down. I’m nearing the end of my walk and couldn’t resist photographing the lovely sun displayed above.

My body is fighting hard, and I need to hold it together to get to my car. However, the suffering cannot be compared to the beauty that I see in front and all around me.

It was wonderful to explore the hues and have such a beautiful start to the day. My body felt empty, but I was overjoyed with what I had witnessed and photographed. I felt grateful to nature for allowing me to enter the realm of wild creatures. Something that truly draws me in and inspires me to photograph wildlife in their natural habitat.

I hope you appreciated these photographs as much as I did capturing them at 6 a.m. with a fever.

As I returned home and continued my day with my wonderful family, the finest medicine in the world helped to bring my temperature down.

I am blessed with all of the beauty and people around me.

Thank you