I was his Morgan Le Fey

Over his head is shrieking
a lean hag, quickly hopping
Over the points of weapons and shields.
She is the gray haired Morrigu

          -Annals of Leinster

My father in law on becoming a widower came to live out his life with us in a small apartment at the back of our house. He was an avid reader and consumed books at a great rate. He readily quoted from Shakespeare and in the next breath quoted from the Bible. He was fascinated by mythology and fancied himself as Merlin. In fact he had a sign outside the door which read  'Merlin's Keep'.

I was his Morgan le Fey. He used to say that I had him entrapped in a glass tower in order to steal his Sorcery and spells. I did my best, I'd like to think that I was a good witch though. Morgan  was a sorceress of Arthurian legend and had the power to change her form. One of her forms was that of a Raven or Crow. I haven't learned to do that yet.

In Irish Legend the Morrigan was associated with Battle and appeared in the form of a Crow, flying above the Warriors. She was associated with death. My father in law lived to be 92 by the way.

This series of photos is about Crows, and I think this is where my father in law got the idea that I was The Morrigan or Morgan Le Fey. They hang out at our house all the time. As I'm driving in the road to our house they are waiting, lined up along the roof and hanging out on the aerial. It's like a scene from the Hitchcock film, The Birds. 

They arrive at the bird table in droves, they always remind me of the nuns that taught me in primary school. The nuns used to dress in long black habits with a black veil hiding their hair completely. They were lovely women to be fair except for 1 who's nickname was Stash. God I was terrified of her, see if you can guess which one she is!

Camera settings, Camera Canon 70D, Lens Canon 70-300 @235mm, exp 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 1000

 Camera Settings, Canon 70D, Lens Canon 70-300 @235mm, exp 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 1000

 Camera Settings, Camera 70D, Lens Canon 70-300mm@300mm, exp 1/1600sec, f6.3, ISO 5000

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 70D, Lens Canon 70-300mm@300mm, exp 1/400sec, f11, ISO 2500

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 70D, Lens 70-300mm@300mm, exp 1/250sec, f11, ISO 400

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens Canon 55-250mm@170mm, exp 1/80sec, f5.6, ISO 100

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens Canon 55-250mm@220mm, exp 1/100sec, f5.6, ISO 100

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens Canon 55-250mm@187mm, exp 1/250sec,f5.6, ISO 100

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens Canon 55-250mm@123mm, exp 1/40sec, f5.0, ISO 100

Camera settings, Camera Canon 70D, Lens Canon 70-300mm@300mm, exp 1.400sec, f5.6, ISO800