Taking photos of birds takes a lot of patience. In one moment, you’re waiting and watching for a winged creature to appear. Next, you’re having to predict its movements to get the right shot at the right time. It’s both hope and resilience that create the art.
“I spend more time than I probably should taking photos of birds,” says Sheila Hinshaw over a cup of coffee. “But you have to be in touch with God’s creatures to be ready to know what they’re going to do and be ready in a moment. You’re always trying to figure out what God’s creatures are going to do next.”
Sheila is a bird and nature photographer. In 2012, her husband, Gail, purchased a camera for her to take on their vacation to Costa Rica. With the first snap of her camera, she was hooked, finding pleasure in the stillness and artistry of bird and nature photography.
In less than a decade, Sheila has found quiet spaces to capture photos of God’s creation. She loves taking pictures outdoors, but capturing images of birds is what brings her the most joy. “When I’m taking my photos, I’m always thinking about how God made these creatures, and it’s just amazing to watch them interact with other species and their own,” she says. “It’s amazing to see God’s creation at work.”
Sheila loves to find time and space to take photos. She watches them intently, learning their rhythms and patterns of behavior to get the right composition in her photos. To her, it’s always trying to figure out what God’s creatures are going to do next.
According to the American Audubon Society, Sheila captured the first picture in Missouri of a Brambling, a member of the finch family from northern Eurasia. This bird is one of over 130 different species of birds she has photographed in her backyard, where they come to eat from the 22 bird feeders. But watching with a keen eye and being intentional isn’t just for bird watching or photography; it’s what we’re all called to do. She says, “I think we have to be intentional with people, too. If someone is going through a hard time, you have to be intentional. You have to be looking for people and how they act. People don’t always come out and tell you they need help, but if you’re looking, you can see where they are and where they could be.”
Now a grandmother and carrying her fourth camera, you can find Sheila around the Ozarks, looking for the next great shot. While she receives praise for her photos in person and online, as well as taking several award-winning pictures, she doesn’t seek the attention. She’s seeking stillness and sacredness with the birds she loves.
Sheila says she feels God’s presence when she is out in nature. “I am glad people enjoy my pictures. I feel God’s presence with me while I take my pictures, so I keep going back to my camera and back to nature.”
