RALEIGH, N.C. — Bob Karp waited nearly three hours through a hot August Sunday for a glimpse of the painted bunting — sometimes called the most gorgeous bird in North America, with its feathers flashing red, green and blue.
And just about the time Karp had given up hope, walking back to his car at Dix Park in Raleigh, it landed right in front of him, posing, rewarding his patience.
“I only had 20 seconds to shoot,” said Karp, a Raleigh photojournalist. “It sounds corny, but you feel like you’re blessed to spend that moment and then it’s gone. He was the rock star.”
