Category Archives: Composition

Week 16 … #7 View From Below …

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My backyard has two pine trees that stand high above others in the area.  Because of its height, it provides a great view for avian predators on the hunt, such as bald eagles, hawks, owls and an occasional great blue heron.  Early in the evening the other day, I kept hearing a “who-who” nearby so I grabbed my camera and went out to investigate.  It took a few moments to find him, but there he was, high above me, staring down at me … a Great Horned Owl!  And he wasn’t alone.  There were two of them.  I took a bunch of photos hoping for some decent shots since the light was fading and they could fly away at any moment.  But it provided me an image for this week’s theme “View From Below”.  Hope you enjoy!

Week 14 … #47 My Back Yard … Sunset

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My back yard in Lakewood Ranch.

One of the things I love about Florida are its beautiful sunsets.  Each one is unique unto its self and oftentimes I am left in awe at such beauty.  When we purchased our home two years ago in Lakewood Ranch, one of our criteria was to have sunset views.  Before putting an offer in on our house, we asked our realtor to bring us back around sunset so we could evaluate the view.  Well, as you can see from this image, we were not disappointed …. SOLD!

The above image was captured a few days ago with my iPhoneX and edited in Lightroom.

 

 

Week 10 … Theme #39, Negative Space

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Rowing in fog.

This week’s theme is one of my favorites … the use of negative space in an image.  I find myself drawn to images that use the effect of negative space to create ‘quiet’ images.  I find that it can often make the main subject feel more isolated.

The above iPhone X image was rather nondescript on a foggy, gray day but the juxtaposition of the rowboat and sailboat made for an interesting composition of man-made power (rowing) vs. mother nature power (sailing).  Hope you think so too.

Week 9 … Theme #27, Movement

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Yellow-Throated Warbler.

I discovered this little guy outside my second story landing trying to find a way through the window.  I stood and watched him for some time as he would dart about the branches close to the window and then fly into the window, attempting to peck his way in.  Over and over, he repeated this behavior, returning to various perches to examine the window as if it were a puzzle that he was working out.

I grabbed my camera and captured a number of images through the window.  I must have taken 30 or so photos and as usual, ended up with only a few decent ones.  I loved the ‘movement’ of the above image and the lines in the birds feathers mimicking the palm in the background.  I cleaned up the image and used a Photomorphis texture to give it more punch.  As for the Warbler, he hung around for over an hour attempting to break in!

_NIK6116    Yellowbreastedwarber1

Week 7 … Theme # 19, Geometric Shapes

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Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

Yesterday, I joined some friends to view the Clyde Butcher exhibit at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.  I most recently became aware of Butcher’s black and white nature scenes of Florida and instantly loved his work.  Some call him the ‘Florida Ansel Adams’ and I agree.   Butcher was approached by the folks at the Salvador Dali Museum to capture the rugged coastline of Dali’s homeland.  Butcher spent 10 days in Spain in Dali’s childhood village of Cadaques, the Cap de Creus, Port Lligat and other parts of the Catalonian region.  The results are striking with many 8-foot panoramas.

I couldn’t wait to get outside to capture the building’s beautiful design.  It all ended up being a perfect theme for the ‘Geometric Shapes‘ assignment!  I loved the reflections on the outside glass of trees and clouds and if you look closely, you can see the gift shop that lies behind.

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Week 4 … #3 Fill the Frame

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As I was walking the dogs the other evening, I happened upon this tree with most of its leaves gathered at its base.  It made for a perfect ‘Fill the Frame’ image with my iPhone X and edited in apps DistressedFX and Snapseed.
As I looked up, I noticed a few leaves refusing to give up their post, high above me on barren branches, which prompted this little prose:
~~~~~~~~~
Fall beckons and yet a few leaf soldiers remain,
unheeding and unyielding,
to the inevitable path of their destiny, and yet
I wonder …
if I were to come back as a tree
would a sweet finch light upon my waving branches
and comfort me with song
as my golden forces
fall in silence
with unquestioned
fate.
~~~~~~

Week 3 … #31 Eye Lines

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Florida Sandhill Cranes.

These parents with their youngster came swooping into my backyard the other day and slowly made their way around the water line.  Although I took about 20 photos, it was this one that caught my eye for this week’s ‘Eye Lines (Where is your subject looking?).  As the young one poked around the water, the parents kept their eyes alert to their surroundings.  And an added bonus was to capture them all in the same crisscrossed stance!