ABOUT US
Patricia Downey, owner of Photos under the Sun, merges her love of wildlife and pets with her passion for photography. She can rarely pass by an animal or bird without talking to it – much to the mild embarrassment of the humans with her. She explains: “My sisters recall that as a child, when I wasn’t having a conversation with an imaginary friend under the dining room table, I was sure to be found in our backyard. There I'd be, surrounded by animals (a dozen cats, the odd dog or goat, etc.), having lovely conversations with them." Things changed radically in her teens and after: She got interested in romance and world issues. Others things like career, friends, literature, photography, art, rock ‘n roll and such blended in nicely. Today, it is altogether another story! No one was more amazed than she was, when birds - small and large ; heart-stopping alligators; gopher tortoises (madly challenged in the good looks department) et al took on an allure that defies an adequate explanation. She says: “Here’s the thing: I feel this crazy gush in my throat when I see something with wings fly by or walking on paws and I have to grab my camera." It doesn’t take but a flock of Ibis for her to do an inner screech and then loudly bemoan the fact that she missed THE shot.
For her, days at the beach now do not mean the perfect tan but whether or not she can photograph a pelican making a silly pelly (or, in Irish parlance: “an eejit”) out of itself. Romantic walks have been replaced with non-threatening stalking rituals when she hears a rustle in the bushes or trees. Other than that, she can be found in her yard in Southwest Florida with Iroquois and Cherokee (her precious kitties) trailing behind, looking for a pot of gold to photograph. She would like to invite you to enjoy her forays into the magical kingdoms of birds, insects, and animals. She would also like you to note that she is not an expert in bird species and would welcome kind informational submissions if she makes an error in any arena.
P.S. In all seriousness, our wildlife is a gift from whatever god you believe in. Please respect and protect it.