Background composition and a correction

Spider Web Dew

I like the colors of this one.  Some folks are particularly interested in the colors contained in the image.  They want the colors to match their decorating scheme.  This one might appeal to them.  Technically, I wanted more of the spider web sharp.  I used f/8 to maximize sharpness but the depth-of-field was not deep enough.  I am discovering that composition of the back ground is important on one like this.  The composition of the background, though out of focus, works better on this one than some of the others I captured that day.

I find that I chose the first on over this one, even though the spider web is in better focus.  I think it is because of the composition of the out of focus background.

On another topic, my mission, as stated, is to make "artfully photographed, content specific images."  The "rainbow" at GNC turns out to have been a Sun-dog  The scientific name is "parhelion" according to Wikipedia.  Thanks to Jeff Sprang for pointing that out to me.

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Gorman Nature Center Dry Brush

GNC Rainbow dry brush

I felt that going with the "dry brush" filter would preclude the flare (different genre).  I decided that I liked the "dry brush" because it solved the problems in the foreground.  I needed to make this decision when I was rested because I would need to remove the flare and that was work.  I did so as well as enhanced the rainbow a little.  I am pleased and my print this.

Duke Ellington said, "If it sounds good, it IS good."  I think that thought applies here.  If it looks good, it is good.  Can I sell this as photography?  Not to some purist folks.  Can I sell this as art?  Absolutely, if you are willing to take it at face value.

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Not perfect!

Gorman Nature Center at sunrise

The sun is rising later and I am rising earlier to greet it.  This was the next to last of a series of shots captured as the sun rose.  I call it Gorman Nature Center Rainbow.  I think that it is a strong composition.  I particularly like the sunlight on the foreground grass.  Of course, I might have wished to avoid the lens flare.  I wanted the sun to light the foreground grass and could not move to a location where that would happen without loosing the pond and the sun.  Some of the grass in the foreground moved.  The rainbow really does not show the colors that I saw.  I really do not know what to think about the rainbow.  I tried a dry brush rendering of this but have not reconciled the lens flare with that rendering in my mind.  I am rambling.  Please feel free to comment.

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A day to remember!

Kokosing River

Designated as one of Ohio's Scenic Rivers, the Kokosing River lives up to its name.  I was recently invited to take a canoe ride on it.  I was internally resonating with my wildlife interests as we floated for about two and one half hours.  I was amazed at the fish.  They were everywhere and easily visible.  It appeared that their size varied according to the depth of the water.  We had a Great Blue Heron which went down the river with us, flying ahead, landing, and flying ahead.  We saw a Green Heron also.  We saw whitetail deer, muskrat, maybe a beaver: though I doubt it.  My internal resonance was so high that I could not keep my mouth shut.  Had I been able to, we would probably have seen more wildlife.

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Sassafras Redo

Sassafras Fruit

Sassafras fruits are eaten by many species of birds including Bobwhite Quail ,Eastern King-bird, Great Crested Flycatchers, Phoebes, Wild Turkeys, Gray Catbirds, Northern Flickers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, thrushes, vireos, and Northern Mockingbirds.  This is a according to Wikipedia.  I understand that the fruit is not recommended for human consumption.  I love to drink sassafras tea made from steeping the roots in boiled water.  The old farmers recommended drinking it in the spring to thin the blood after a long winter.

I saw this shot the other day when the light on it was mottled and highlighted the fruit.  I did not succeed in capturing it.  This is the redo.  The light is never the same.  I used a circular polarizing filter to cut down the sky reflecting off the leaves and flash to get more light back on the fruit and red stems.  I think that the one with mottled light would have been better.  Maybe next time.  I like the colors.  I think they unify it.  The lines of the leaves and fruit draws my eye into the fruit.

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Found again!

eggs on cattail

I looked for these eggs yesterday and could not find them.  You may remember them from blog of Sept. 2. Larry at Larry's Images.com: My Part!

I had looked for them yesterday and could not locate them.  I assumed they were already gone without a trace.  Today the wind was moving the leaves around and I saw them.  I used my insect setup with a heavy tripod.  I was able to make this capture even though they were blowing around wildly.  I think that the dark eggs are ready to hatch.  I still do not know to what insect they belong.  Stay tuned!

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What draws my eye

Gorman Trail

I walk the same trail every morning. You might say that I am a creature of habit. How boring! I find that this modus operandi reveals to me many things about photography. I find that the light is different each day.  It gives me the opportunity to see what attracts my eye. This morning, as I walked, I tried to think of the things which I have noticed to attract my eye. This is probably not exhaustive, but they are: lighting, contrast (tonal, textural, color), movement (creature), line, and sounds (creature).

The bird house in this shot attracts my eye. I think that my eye goes down the trail and bounces off between the trees into the weeds to the nest box.  It is like a continuation of the line of the trail.