Isolating Details

The two images you see here were taken along the South-branch of the AuSable River.

I had stopped on a sandbar to take a break from sitting in my canoe and I noticed this leaf and

bird tracks. So I set up my tripod and composed the first image, but I wanted more detail so I framed just the leaf and a smaller part of the sand and river. When I'm shooting subjects like this I always try to get a more detailed shot of the scene. Sometimes a more detailed shot is better, but in this case I like both images. The same goes for wildflowers and other subjects. I always move in for a more detailed shot. So next time your out shooting...move in for a closer and more detailed shot. You might be surprised at the outcome.

  

Showing Life in an Image

The two images you see here are of the same Running Crab Spider. They were taken in the midday light...best time to find these fast little spiders. When I shoot spiders, insects...etc. I try to show some kind of life (movement) in the subject. The first image is simple and straight forward. The second one gives the spider a sense of life. What I mean by this...the spider is on the edge of the lily leaf about to go underneath it. Instead of showing a plain and simple shot of a spider I chose to give the subject a sense of life by waiting for it to move into a more interesting place. Sometimes I wait for a spider to move into the right spot to give it a sense of life. Not all spiders are easy to do this with, so I look for a way to give the spider a sense of belonging to it's surroundings. Like a spider feeding on an insect or spinning a web. Jumping spiders are a real challenge. They don't like to hold still long, so you must be quick like them. The world of the spider is interesting so get out there and take a closer look.