Snuck out for a bit

[scott-devon]

I got home from work and after painting the boards for a new fence I have to build, slipped away and hiked around this slough area...



It was a short walk but I got a few shots....

[Dylan8i]

good shots. not sure of the situation but remember to watch backgrounds, had you (if possible) slid to left a touch on the chickadee shot it would have been much cleaner, and dropped down a tad on dragonfly shot(first one)

[scott-devon]

Thanks Dylan, that's a good point. I tend to rush to grab the shot before the subject flies off but keeping my eye on the background would have improved both those shots, something I'll have to keep in mind.

[Cassie1]

Good shots, what a lovely blue colour that dragonfly is in your last shot.

Cassie.

[Loupey]

In #2, I actually would have centered the dragonfly head in the middle of that hotspot.

Whenever you have a light/dark spot in the background that you can't shoot around, don't fight it and instead try to encompass your subject with it.

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great place to shoot.

[scott-devon]

So I'd be better off to avoid the light spot and go for a good solid background but failing that try to make the highlight work for me. Interesting...

That's my favourite place to take my camera Loupey, it's a preserve with large slough areas and trails running over pine knolls, rolling hills with aspen and through willow flats. A real variety of landscapes in a small area.

[Loupey]

...but failing that try to make the highlight work for me. Interesting...

Yes, precisely. A "distraction" is no longer a distraction if it is exactly in line with the subject.

...it's a preserve with large slough areas and trails running over pine knolls, rolling hills with aspen and through willow flats. A real variety of landscapes in a small area.

Sounds like paradise to me. I'd travel far for shooting conditions like that - so far removed compared to my conditions here. If I were in your shoes, I would get very little done around the house indeed