“Focus on Feathers: The Inspiring Odyssey of Ruth Hiebert, Photography’s Bird Whisperer”

What makes birds one of the most captivating subjects for photography? Is it their striking hues? The distinctive patterns of their feathers? Or perhaps the fleeting chance to seize their image?

For Ruth Hiebert, a wildlife enthusiast and photographer, it’s probably all of these factors. Hiebert has a talent for being at the perfect spot at the right moment to snap these elusive beings. She has captured some remarkable images.

“I adore venturing out to the Pembina Valley,” she shares. “On a day when the birds are agreeable and they’re flying at lower altitudes, and I can fill the frame with a shot of the red-tailed hawk or the bald eagle or the golden eagle — [that] would be an exceptional one — it’s quite thrilling.”

Ruth Hiebert shows a photo of the scarlet tanager that visited her.

‘Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!’

Among Hiebert’s prized photographs, a few are particularly exceptional, including a bird that is typically located in the sunnier regions of Florida.

“My rarest photo that I’ve ever taken in the valley was of a black vulture,” she remarks. “I believe that was only the second documented sighting of a black vulture in Manitoba, and I was lucky to have my camera with me.”

Hiebert mentions that fellow birdwatcher Al Shritt happened to be nearby during this unusual sighting. He provided her with wise counsel.

“[He advised,] ‘Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!’” she recounts.

Another unforgettable guest for Hiebert was a ruby-hued songbird.

“This was only the third occasion in my life that I’d ever spotted it, [and] the previous two instances were high up in the canopy,” she explains. “I gazed out the window. ‘What? What’s that?’ And upon looking again, there stood a scarlet tanager on the railing of my deck.”

Hiebert feels as if the bird was posing exclusively for her.

“The fact that I had raisins and grape jelly out on the deck likely aided,” she chuckles.

Hiebert’s image of a scarlet tanager. She claims to have observed this species only three times in her lifetime. Submitted photo.

A unique inspiration

Regarding the roots of Hiebert’s enthusiasm, she mentions it “has nothing to do with birds.”

“My husband was an amateur nature photographer,” she notes. “Of course, my son [Steve Hiebert] is a professional photographer, and they frequently [inquired], ‘Why don’t you try photography?’”

Hiebert states that she lacked significant interest in the pastime until a very specific moment in her life.

“Then I discovered that I would be a grandmother, and I realized that I needed a camera to document those spontaneous memories,” she explains. “Six months prior to the baby’s arrival, I acquired my first camera.”

Initially, Hiebert started with a basic model, but in the six months leading to her grandchild’s birth, she mentions she upgraded her gear twice. It didn’t take long for her to develop a passion for photography just like her family members had.

Hiebert’s picture of a snowy owl, one of her favorites. Submitted photo.

“I got the photography bug. I began capturing images of flowers,” she notes, adding that this process was uplifting. “Suddenly, I noticed details I had never observed before in these flowers that I thought I knew all my life.”

Hiebert expresses that the rest is history.

‘If change brings improvement, let’s embrace it’

During her photography journey, one of Hiebert’s learning experiences has been the image editing process, which she fully appreciates.

“I’m simply one of those unusual individuals who enjoys acquiring new skills like that. Many people my age resist change,” she observes. “They [believe], ‘This is how we’ve always done things.’ [For me], if change leads to enhancement, let’s embrace it.”

Moreover, along with this mindset of welcoming new experiences, Hiebert was also inspired to learn due to the potential the technology provided.

“When I realized what those programs were capable of, I was excited to learn how to navigate them,” she states.

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Guidance for aspiring photographers

Although Hiebert’s photographs continue to become more stunning, she remains in the learning process. Her son Steve recently provided her with advice that she has taken to heart.

“I had a discussion with [him] just the other day, as he was evaluating one of my photos. He remarked, ‘Mom, take a look at the photograph and before you even capture it, what is it that you want viewers to notice?’ In my situation, I had a row of evergreens frosted with hoarfrost and a small building. That was the focal point, but the foreground was excessively cluttered,” she shares. “He advised me, ‘Remove that foreground. Concentrate solely on what you want the photograph to convey.’”

Another of Hiebert’s in-flight photographs. Submitted photo.

Hiebert mentions that another swift tip is to familiarize oneself with the rule of thirds. She indicates that she has a grid set up on her camera to aid in composing her images with this guideline. Naturally, patience is always essential.

“I’ve configured it . . . so that I can hopefully recall, but do I always? No,” she admits, adding that one of her most cherished photos does not comply with the rule of thirds. “I possess a canvas print hanging on my wall now that my son captured. It’s a stunning image. The tree is directly in the center of the shot, but it suits this particular image.”

Visions of rejuvenation and returning companions

Although January is not the prime time for bird photography, Hiebert is eagerly anticipating a few months from now when the snow begins to thaw and the buds emerge (something she mentions she adores about the spring).

When the moment arrives, Hiebert will return to the valley for another season of capturing the birds that soar above it.

With contributions from Ty Hildebrand and Jayme Giesbrecht