I just wanted to show how the background of an image can have such an impact to our final prints.  The image of the immature bald eagle below is right out of the camera with a minor vignette added. As you can see, it has a branch sticking out of its head.  Not Good!

Why do I have a branch sticking out of my head?

With some touch-up work in Photoshop, the image looks much better.

Look Ma... No branch sticking out of my head!

So, what’s the big deal? Well, it takes time to do the correction in Photoshop. If I had just moved a little bit to the right, the branch would not be directly behind the eagle and the image would have been much better from the get go. Also, the light might be just a bit better because it’s coming from the right side as well.

I often get so excited about the subject that I don’t always pay attention to the distractions like the background and the edges that can ruin an image.  Composing a shot, isn’t just paying attention to the subject but also paying attention to everything in the composition.

Some might say; “Well as long as I can fix it in post, why should I care?” Well, not only does it take time to fix these issues but sometimes, they just cannot be fixed at all. As a result, for the lack of paying attention to the detail, an otherwise Great image just may be lost.

Hope this help some of you with your photography.  By the way, most photographers won’t show you their mistakes.  However, you never know what you’ll find here!

Hope you’re enjoying the day.  Thanks for coming!

BYW: I should have eliminated the branch sticking out of its right wing too.

One way to improve your success when taking landscapes is to be sure to pay attention to the light.  Most people know that early morning and early evening light is always the best for landscape images. However, if you can get out in the early morning right after a rain storm, well, it just doesn’t get any better than that!  The colors are always spectacular.

After four days of rain, the grass has turned green and the redbuds are in full bloom. What really brings out the color besides the great early morning light is the fact that everything is wet and vibrant. The tree trunks will be much darker too.  Wow, I just love to make clicks on a morning like we had today!

You know it’s early because there’s no one on the course. That’s a good thing. Otherwise, I would have been dodging incoming golf balls. The course did become quite busy just a few minutes later. Getting up early is a must for landscape work, especially on a golf course!

Of course, you know that I just cannot show landscapes without showing some critters too.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised that the three wood ducks that I had heard about yesterday were still on one of the ponds this morning.  It seems as though they were just waiting for me to take their picture.

Doesn’t it look like the one on the left is giving instruction to the other two?  We don’t often see wood ducks in the open like this so it was quite a treat and a great way to start the day.

Many of you know that birds of prey are a passion of mine.  I just couldn’t resist taking the following shot of the Red-tailed hawk by the green. I actually took this one a few days earlier but I thought you’d enjoy it.

It didn’t seem to mind that I was watching or taking its picture.  Of course I didn’t know it at the time but he had his eye on a field mouse.  He stayed there on that pink post for about five minutes before he swooped over to the grass to get it. It looked like he caught it but the mouse somehow got away. It must have gone down a hole because after searching in the grass for a few minutes, the hawk flew off without the mouse.

Some days you win and some days you don’t.  I certainly won today!  I hope you had a great day too.  I hope you enjoyed the walk on the golf course. Thanks for coming by!

Bill

Yep! It finally snowed in Kansas City. I didn’t even mind shoveling the drive this morning.  Of course 2 inches is a lot easier to shovel than 12 or 24 inches. I couldn’t wait to go out for a walk with my camera in hand. It’s always great to be the first person to make tracks in the snow. Besides mine, the only other tracks to be seen were animals tracks.  It’s fun to follow them because they seem to tell a story.

Not another human footprint yet!

The first animal that I saw was on the lake. It’s a Common Goldeneye. They spend summers in Canada and winter in the south.  I don’t recall ever seeing one before. It was by itself and wouldn’t let me get too close. I felt so lucky to see it that I had to share its image.

Common Goldeneye

Besides a few birds that were too quick on the fly, the only other animals that I saw were deer. When I saw the one pictured below, I just had to take its picture. You’ll have to agree that it’s the longest deer you’ve ever seen!

Longest Deer ever Seen!

Of course it’s two different deer but when I saw it, well, I just couldn’t resist the shot. If you look to the right of it you’ll see another one peeking around a tree. The doe in the next shot, was very curious. She must not have recognized me as a human. I was scrunched down looking at the herd as she just kept walking closer and closer to me. She must have been trying to get a better look or was trying to scare me off.  I remained very still and we watched each other for quite some time.

What are you!

While there may have been more, I counted 8 in this small herd. Not one of them was the big buck that I was hoping to see.

The little pond below looks much different in the spring and summer than it did today. It’s in a very secluded spot. I don’t think many people know it’s there. Animal footprints along the shore are the only hints of activity. Sometimes, I just sit by the tall pine on the left to watch for critters and to listen to the wind. It’s a very peaceful place.

Quiet Little Pond

Well after walking about three miles, it was time to head back. The walk was beautiful, quiet and everything looked so clean. As everyone knows, snow can really change things. Look what it did to the sign below. I saw it out of the corner of my eye as I was leaving and………. Well, again, I just couldn’t resist!

Does it really say what I think it does?

Well, I hope that it doesn’t offend anyone. The intent is to bring a smile to your face. I know that this last image will not bring a smile to my friends who have been enjoying the very mild winter we’ve been having but……………….

White just doesn't look good on the GC!

remember, Spring is only five weeks away.

Well, thanks for taking the walk with me. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.  I know that I did.

See Ya!

Oh by the way, I now know where three Great Horned Owls are nesting. I hope to get some images in a month or so when the owlets are active.  Stay tuned!