Weekly Assignment: Nature in Your Neighborhood

[PWS-Staff]

Nature is all around you. Find a spot in your backyard or in a local park to start thinking about nature photography and what it means to you. What subjects do you find most interesting? What kinds of pictures inspire you the most? Do you have a preference for color or black and white? Wide-angle or close-up? This is your chance to personalize your nature photography and understand what really motivates you. Your photos will immediately improve.

With a simple agenda in hand, spend a few hours making nature photographs in an easy-toreach, nearby location. Where can you easily find sources of bountiful subject matter, with minimal effort? Parks, zoos, botanic gardens, and aquariums are great places to start practicing nature photography with minimal travel effort.

From "Nature Photography," by Nat Coalson

[steffan58]

I took this shot of raindrops on a small pine tree's pine needles in our backyard. Not great bokeh but I like the sharpness of the focus on the water drops.

http://steffan58.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=/#/d4ax3gn

[InspiringFotos]

I bought the Nature Photography book near the end of October 2011 and got to read a few chapters before I took a road trip to a resort in Tucson, AZ. While I was staying in this resort, I spent my time working on my various photography skills. The resort had a nature walking trail and I took a little walk to the "Butterfly Garden" where I took a photo of this small waterfall.

[goldcoastgolfer]

Any chance of a higher resolution picture?  I'm having trouble seeing the detail in this one.

[valerie]

Steffan,  Love the water droplets on the pine.  Great Depth of Field.  What lens did you use on this.  Valerie

[valerie]

This  picture was taken of my daughter's sister in law's baby ducklings.  I only noticed the tear after the fact.  I did try to eliminate some trash in the picture, but need help figuring out how to do this.  There was a big piece of straw in the picture above the duckling's head. Photoshop is very technically challenging for my feeble brain, but I want to learn.  Valerie

[goldcoastgolfer]

Some very nice colours and I think your composition looks fine after your PP work.  I think I would have like to have seen a bit more depth of field just to get the beak in focus but still a very nice photo.

[valerie]

Thanks,  I was so focused on the eye I guess I didn't think about the beak being out of focus ..  Valerie

[valerie]

I often go walking with my husband at a local golf course.  The Canadian geese abound.  They are fascinating to watch unless you are a golfer.  The golfers, like my husband, hate them as they tear up the greens.  I tried to get in front of them, but there was no way, they would just turn and go the other way.  Valerie

[goldcoastgolfer]

Some very nice detail in the wings.  The birds on my course are mostly friendly - the black swans often actually walk up to me.

A bigger lens often helps with bird photography!

[valerie]

Thanks Malcolm,  I figured you could relate to the golf course aspect.  Thanks for your help.  Valerie