Stepping Sideways

[Maritimer1]

My photos to date have been pretty traditional, so I thought I'd try to take a step sideways and come up with something a bit different. Please feel free to c&c and to add any of your own images that depart from your usual fare.

Myra

[carregwen]

Please feel free to c&c and to add any of your own images that depart from your usual fare.

It's good to try something different isn't it? Composition-wise I think you could have cropped this. The branch on the right tends to divide attention to the overall shot. By cropping you can place the eagle directly on the top-right intersection of thirds, which to me seems to grab the attention of the viewer more. I could be wrong though.



I did a similar shot myself last week, just to try something different (I don't normally shoot birds).

[Maritimer1]

Thanks for the feedback, Rob. I had almost the same crop as a second choice, but I discarded it as I didn't like the way the branches went nowhere on the right. That said, I still have "nowhere" branches to the far right. I've also had the thought that I should have left the eagle's head white. This was taken early the other morning in dreary, overcast conditions.

Your photo and caption is very clever. The birds pull it together with a humourous purpose. That is a worm dangling from one bird's mouth, is it not?

Myra

[PopsPhotos]

Lovely shot, Myra. I agree with trying to crop a bit, but then realize that the right hand branches leading back into the picture actually work. Can you spell "dither?"

The title you gave this thread just gave me an idea for an exercise for my students. (Insert devilish smiley, here. ) What musical selection should I choose for "Pops' two step?"

Pops

[Maritimer1]

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and change it to Washington State

Oh, and I dither all the time

Myra

[Eric M]

I like it Myra, but agree with Rob's suggestion about the crop. The edit fits the subject matter well.

[ScoutR]

Hi Myra: I dont' usually photograph bugs so, I thought this would be a good thread for this spider which certainly had me stepping sideways.

I don't really want C&C on these as they are not really the best shots, and I know that, but considering the conditons 1. I don't like spiders 2. They are taken with a 20mm lens and if the spider wanted to it could have reached out and touched me 3. I was trying not to slide into a ditch, these are not bad for me.

I'm trying to find out what kind of spider this is. I know we have some bug specialists here so if anyone can help out I'd appreciate it.
The body is approx 1" and with legspan about 2.5" Location Southeast Ontario Canada.





Thanks
Wendy

[Jim B.]

Hi Wendy,
Beautiful spider.I'm guessing some type of garden spider(orb weaver) species.Here's a site that might help.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/1954

[ScoutR]

Thanks Jim, I had a look and I do believe you are right. it looks like a yellow garden spider. There is even a shot there that is very similar with the same zig zag web pattern.

Wendy

[Maritimer1]

Wendy, I used to be terrified of snakes, even tiny little garden snakes, until....One day a "snake man" came to the large rural school where I was teaching at the time. He had all kinds of exotic creatures, including a boa constrictor. Yup. So, for some reason, he decided to approach my repulsed self with the snake and, with over 400 pairs of eyes watching, ask me if I would like to hold it. Instant paralysis of the nervous system. Knowing my students were watching, I somehow held it together while he placed this huge creature around my shoulders. The kids were besides themselves. The snake man told me I could touch it so I gingerly reached up with one hand and gently brushed it with my finger tips. Eureka! Epiphany! The snake was cool and dry. It wasn't slimy. It wasn't vile. It wasn't scary. I have never in my life experienced such a change in attitude in such a short period of time.

So, having been up close and personal with that big spider, do you feel differently about them<BG>? Until I saw your photo, I had never noticed all the "sticky goo" on the web. Great job of getting the light just right so we could see something new!

Myra

[ScoutR]

Good to hear from you again Myra:

Funny you should mention snakes. I have the same fear, and my worst nightmare is that on one of my treks I will come across a whole herd of them somewhere and will pass out and die right there on the spot.

So far this year this has caused me to almost fall into a lake, scare away a bunch of egrets, because when I'm walking through the weeds, I stomp and make as much noise as I can so the snakes will take off before I get there, and I went up to my thigh in a groundhog hole, because I was watching for snakes instead of paying attention to where I was going. Of course when I found myself in the groundhog hole, my first worry was did I damage the camera and the second was that it was an enormous snake pit and the enraged snake was now on it's way to take my leg off. (We don't have enormous snakes in Ontario, by the way, but that's how my mind works)

I'm glad you got over your fear. I don't think I could have done what you did, but I understand you not wanting to instill your fear into your students, and Kudos to you for that. I think I should do something similar, so I don't have this constant terror every time I am out. It's really silly and irrational to be afraid of a garter snake.)

I used to be the same with spiders - still don't like it when they get on me, but they are fascinating little creatures, and I like to watch them. Macro spider shots are actually quite amazing, and in some cases look like they could inspire jewellery designers with all their shiny eyes.

Wendy