As I sat in my back yard finishing up Moose Peterson’s book Captured, I decided to start putting into practice some of what I was reading.  I don’t have to travel around the country to take pictures of animals.  I have animals right here in my back yard.  Then I looked around and realized that I live in a large city metroplex and my back yard is not really conducive to wildlife.  That’s when it hit me that I need to change my back yard.  Now, that is a plan still in the making and hopefully a story for another day.

So for now, I’ll make due with what I have and shoot the little birds that do happen through my yard.  Note to self–Someday I need to get me a bird book so I’ll know their names.

This first little fellow landed on the spa of the pool and was kind enough to pose for a portrait.  I thought this one really captured his little attitude with the cocked head and all.  And being the nice little bird that he is, he even paid me for the photo.  While not the payment I would prefer for my photos, at this point I’ll take whatever I can get. 

As I continued reading and watching the birds, I had another little fellow stop by for a rest on my fence.  He didn’t stay too long, but did allow me to train the Canon on him for a few shots.  He seemed a little more melancholy than our last little friend.

And then finally, as the sun was getting low in the sky and I began losing my light, a racket occurred over at the side of the yard.  These two guys were fighting over something.  Since it was getting dark, the shutter-speed was in the basement, but the resulting photo was pretty interesting.  I was amazed I got anything at all.

So, Moose was right.  There are things to photograph right in my own back yard.  I’ll have to do more of this.  Now if only the temperature would drop down.  Maybe I should plant more trees…