Little Dave Part 7: “The Conclusion”

Author David Rennie ◦

I feel it’s a good time to end Little Dave’s Story. The last time I photographed him was the day that I was lying on my stomach, in the water, in the Sniper suit shooting Deb when I felt some thing land on my back. It pecked at the camo ribbons and pulled at them, I slowly rolled over and it just adjusted its stance and the next thing I see on my stomach and face to face with me was Little Dave.

I stopped breathing and I did not know what to do. So I gently started to get up, he stepped off me and I stood with him 6 inches away. I had 3 cameras and lenses with me that day, I picked up a 24-105 set it at 24mm put the camera down the side of my leg and fired some shots off. He did not move, I started walking and he walked beside me. Photo 3 Bottom left (Last Photo of Little Dave)

Now understand, for me the line was now totally crossed. This no fear from Little Dave of a person meant that if someone else came into his area he might fly to them and greet them, that person might not be a nice person. I made the decision instantly, picked up the 2 other cameras, yelled and lunged at him, he flew off startled. I Turned walked back to the car and never came back for 2 years. I sat in the car for hours crying my heart out, don’t think I cried that hard when my Dad died, went into the dark side of the Bipolar for 6 odd weeks. Never saw Little Dave or Deb again. ?????? Well!! Later

I have been asked, did Little Dave get any fame, or should I write a book on him, so let me tell you about little Dave and Deb: Little Dave has been published in over 14 magazines and books, Deb 4 times. He has been featured on Web sites over 30 times for Magazines, newspapers and is a poster boy for our fight on our Ramsar 482 wetlands. He made the front cover of 2 magazines. His images have won 12 Gold, 8 Silver and 4 Bronze medallions in National and International Photo Competitions.

His picture “Golden Egret” (front cover of the magazine pictured) sold 1,126 prints about half 16in x 24in and the other half 20in x 30inches. I doubt there would be to many photographers anywhere in the world who have sold 1,100 of one of their photos nether lone a Bird photo that graces peoples walls. We know that 8A listed Actors world wide own them as does “ONE PRESIDENT” true!!!!. They featured many times in my book “ART IN NATURE” which Sir David Attenborough got a copy off and wrote me the best letter.

I had “Little Dave” immortalized when I commissioned a very famous bird artist to sculpt him from wood and bronze (legs). He is in my lounge room and I see him every day. I suppose its fair to say, a bond was made that will never be broken.

The ABC’s Australia Story did my story and he features in there. There is a part where one of the camera men, who had worked with David Attenborough loved my storys on Little Dave and Deb so much, said lets go find them, so we did and he managed to get Dave and Deb with some of there latest family in the program. Worth a watch they tell me.

You can watch my Australian Story “Unnatural History” here:
https://www.facebook.com/david.rennie.71619/videos/239545993672903/

I started a group call Black Dog Photography because so many people contacted me about problems with mental health 1/2 our founding members came from this group and Pete was just great in allowing and indulging me to do that. It has become the safest place on social media to just be able to yarn and chinwag. Welcome to look us up and ask to join. We do a strong search and check out on everyone who asks to join.

Go here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1040812019588731/

I think everyone has worked out why I called a Bird “Little Dave” by now, my ultra Bird ego, but why did I call his mate Deb? Well, I married “DEB” in 1982, 37 years ago we have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. God sent me an angle, the only person in the world who could off copped with me and the Bipolar. For our 32 wedding anniversary I created an image called “The Courtship” Deb loves Tea and I love Coffee (and that’s pretty much our whole life, as opposite as you could get) so I had made, a sheet of rag parchment paper, stained it with Tea and Coffee, air dried it for a month and then printed two B&W images I had of Deb and Little Dave ,Titled “The Show Off” (Little Dave) and “Coy” (Deb). Little Dave taught me so much, I learned how to get the right shot, where to be, how to set the camera on the fly and until I retired I used that knowledge to get photo’s that I might not of gotten. I Loved him, miss him! And will Never forget him.

In closing this journey we have all had, I need to say Thank you all for indulging me, I needed to do this and your acceptance has been Humbling. In closing I would just like to say:
“I love my Deb more today than ever. My blessing and my curse has allowed me to see the world, my way. I truly am the most blessed man on earth. So again from the bottom of my heart” Thank you all. Dave

I have no copy’s of Art in Nature the book, there are some in web based book stores, do a search, I am not trying to sell one of my books here, I am all paid up with the publishers and there will be no more reprints done. Just need you to know. Photography for me is finished, the past, it was the best at the time and I loved, but am now done.

Updated September 2022:

Both Little Dave & Deb passed away in September 2022, Dave first and a few days later Deb, I truly believe she died of a broken heart.
We found both of them and now have buried them together under their tree, wrapped in a warm blanket facing each other. We placed some fish and prawns and enclosed them in a Jarrah box we made.