Photo of the Week – October 8, 2015

Ok, I know I post an awful lot of spider photos.  I have a couple good excuses.  First, I like spiders.  I just do.  Second, for whatever reason, my eyes seem to find spiders as I walk through prairies.  Third, spiders are abundant in prairies (and most other ecosystems) and they play very important roles in prairie ecology.  It seems appropriate for them to be well represented in any collection of grassland images.

Spider on web on switchgrass. Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska.

This tiny spider made its web on the flowering head of switchgrass in the Nebraska Sandhills.  Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska.

But mostly, I just like spiders.  I hope you do too.

Follow Up: Windmill and Bales Photo

A week ago, I posted two similar photos of a windmill and hay bales in the Nebraska Sandhills.  I asked for help deciding which was a better shot.  In case you’re curious as to results and don’t want to sort through all the comments to see which photo was more popular, I thought I’d post the answer here.

As expected, there was a strong response but no consensus…

Of the 37 people who responded with a clear preference, 20 of you liked composition #1 and 17 liked #2.  Many of you had strong feelings for one over the other, while others liked them both about the same.  Again, this is what I expected based on previous attempts to get help choosing between photos, including this one that stimulated great discussion about two bison photos.  While it didn’t help me choose between the two photos, it’s always fun to hear people’s perspectives on images.  (By the way, this is why I’ve never liked to enter or judge photo contests.  Once you winnow out those photographers who are missing the basics of using light, aperture, etc., it’s all about the personal taste of the judges.)

I do appreciate the input.  Just for fun, here’s a third option I didn’t include in the first post.  No, you don’t need to vote again…

Thanks for your help – have a great weekend.

Windmill and hay bales. Nebraska Sandhills in Cherry County.

Windmill and hay bales. Nebraska Sandhills in Cherry County.