OH DEER

OH DEER - A photo of a deer grazing in someone's yard that I had the pleasure of viewing earlier today reminded me of an occurrence I witnessed a couple of years ago at a slideshow presented by photographer Marty Cordano who has shot extensively for Arizona Highways Magazine. Near the end of his show, an incredible shot appeared on the screen. A large buck with an impressive set of antlers stood in high grass in profile but with its head turned toward the camera. Behind the deer, an impressive sunset completed the exquisite image. As Marty's audience oohed and ahed, Marty switched slides. The audience members gasped in shock. Marty could be seen carrying the deer, a Game & Fish Dept. decoy, from the scene. The photographer whose photo I reviewed earlier today didn't have the option of controlling the photo's background. What this shutterbug did have was an ability to get the shot and then, if necessary, make lemonade out of lemons. The image of the grazing deer was impressive. Most of us are not in the position to say' "Hey, could you move that building a bit to the left?". Yes, we can often manipulate the image digitally to alter distractive or anachronistic elements. Still, to a large degree, we are a slave to reality. So what? As the old country song goes, "I never promised you a rose garden". So, think about opening up a lemonade stand. Larry Elkins - elkinsphotos.com