A bird in the hand. . .

 As you may know, I have been "on assignment," photographing the five historic churches of Santiago.  Yesterday, I visited the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis, the oldest church in Santiago.  Inside the cloister of the church is now a museum with several birds that inhabit the space in the middle, including a pair of peacocks and chickens.  They gave a colorful appearance to the inner courtyard, although I may not enjoy sleeping so near to the roosters, were I an O.F.M.

"A bird in the hand may be better then two in the bush" if you are into falconry, but seeing these beautiful birds in the bush and in the patio was a delight.  For me, one of the great joys of photography is simply to go more slowly, to try to wait for the right moment, to see more deeply.  All of these elements are also essential in a life of prayer.