Digital Camera Speed Challenge #406 -- Backyard

Digital Camera Speed Challenge #406

Backyard

The theme of this week's challenge is your backyard, so show me something from your backyard! If you don't technically have a backyard (like if you live in an apartment), then show me a view from your window or some place that could be considered as "in your backyard", or visit a friend's place if you'd like. I'm looking for an image from something you see virtually everyday that can be conveyed in a compelling photo.

For this, I'll be looking for the image's creativity, impact, composition, and technical excellence.


This challenge begins when posted, and will end at 6PM. Eastern time, Monday, February 29th (Leap Day), 2016. Winner of this challenge will be announced shortly thereafter.

Standard Rules apply:
Photo Submissions:

1. Camera: Any Digital Camera, but NO Cell Phones.
2. Time: Any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.
3. Size: Please visit Image Posting Rules.
4. Post Processing: Do whatever you like and the host will decide if it works.
5. Posting: ONE PHOTO per photographer in each challenge. Camera model & lens used. Post brief EXIF data including ISO, shutter speed and aperture used.
6. Commenting: No commenting during challenge. When the posting is closed and a winner has been declared, comments can be made in this thread.
7. Keep it clean, and both Family and Work safe.
8. Have questions, PM me.
9. Have FUN!

One challenge every week, on the following schedule:

* New Topic - After winner is declared.
* Posting Starts - Right after topic is announced.
* Posting Ends - 6PM, Eastern Time Monday, February 29th, 2016.
* Winner from this competition decides the theme of the next one (and judges it for a winner) after this competition is closed.

Previous Winners 01
Previous Winners 02
Previous Winners 03

Backyard Trees
Canon EOS 600D / EOS Rebel T3i / EOS Kiss X5 | Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 @75mm | 1/13 | f/7.1 | ISO 100

Photo from Benitoite's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (765829)

In The Garden: Whitetail Deer & Fawn

Not much happening in our backyard during the winter except for bird feeder activity. Pentax K30

Backyard Buddy

We've got hummers all year long. Photographing them is my favorite thing to do when I'm at home with nothing better to do. A couple of the male Costa's let me get within a few feet... sometimes less.

5DIII+70-200 f/4L IS @180mm

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/CLsr​Zm

Watching the feeder also.

interruption

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/sE5A​pt

Contest is now closed. I'll post up winner and comments a little later. I need to go get my treadmill time in before dinner!

lavanut wrote in post #17918188
I need to go get my treadmill time in before dinner!

Do 'em both at the same time; have a treadmeal.

Thanks again to everyone who participated this week. It seems the participation still isn't what it used to be, but I guess folks are busy these days. Despite Moose's suggestion, I won't do food on the treadmill. Best I can do is my water. I just wish I could run on it now. Aging knees have limited me to walking.

And now, back to the countdown...

Please remember these are just my thoughts on the photos, no more & no less.

Benitoite - I really liked the colors in the Backyard Trees image. That looked like a very nice view to have that day. How often is it that colorful? Is it my eyes, or is the top of the tree under the main yellow section almost in the center a little blurry (like it was moving)? It may just be an illusion with the light since I don't notice it on any other trees.

teekay - What a nice deer photo! I had to look a little so see the fawn on the right. If this is in your backyard, I'm totally jealous. I like the colorfulness in the shot, but it seems like there's a lot going on in the photo. I find myself looking all around the image instead of focusing on the deer. I know in nature shots you don't often have much choice in trying to isolate subjects, though.

OldCrow (Don) - Capturing a bird in flight is tough! Congrats on getting this. Those are tough shots. Part of me would like to see it crisper, but part of me likes the slight blur that conveys motion, even at 1/1600 sec.

Moose - What an awesome hummer! Your bird is much more colorful than what I see around here in warmer weather. We have no hummers now. I love the composition, crispness, leading lines, and background bokeh. I can't even find something to nitpik on this one except for maybe the dying tip of the leaf he was perched on (like you can control that).

djr01974 - Looks like the flash froze the motion on this hummer. I think I'd have preferred a higher angle. I like the view of the bird, but the bottom of the feeder in relation to it looks a little odd to me.

Jason - Your abstracts always challenge my perceptions in photos, and this is no exception. I get the "interruption" part, but this one just isn't speaking to me. I promise I'm trying, but it's just not coming. I guess the endorphins wore off. Sorry.

I'm giving Moose the win for this week. That hummer is a great shot and wall worthy! Runner-up is teekay by a nose.

Right now my back yard (and even me inside) is suffering from the loud obnoxious barking dog next door. He's been on a roll for the last hour or so. Grrrrr...........

Congratulations to Moose, and thanks for the #2 spot, Lisa!

Yes indeed, my shot was taken in the bottom of our backyard which we let grow wild. We live on the edge of town, right next to forest, and deer, skunks and raccoons are frequent visitors. Also black bears in spring and fall, once a young grizzly, and a few weeks ago we had cougar tracks in the snow - a first. Lots of birds at feeders, including hummers in summer, but they seemed too common to post as an entry.

Well done Moose. Fantastic shot.

Thanks, Lisa, teekay, Don. I actually didn't think it showed enough of my backyard for this category, but submitted it anyway. Teekay, I would give someone else's kidney for a backyard like yours. Mine is desert landscaping

I'll think up a new challenge; but it may take a little while, as I'm currently at work for the next 11 hours


Edit: Okay, it's up: Friends!

lavanut wrote in post #17918437
Jason - Your abstracts always challenge my perceptions in photos, and this is no exception. I get the "interruption" part, but this one just isn't speaking to me. I promise I'm trying, but it's just not coming. I guess the endorphins wore off. Sorry.

There is no right or wrong; the composition either speaks to you, or it does not. From my viewfinder, it is simply an "interruption" or distraction from enlightenment...




Congrats to Moose & Teekay, thumbs up. Well done all, and thanks to Lisa for captaining this vessel...

jason

teekay wrote in post #17909723
In The Garden: Whitetail Deer & Fawn

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

Canon SX40 1/60 f/4.5 ISO400

Why am I getting this "Image failed to load" error message?