Most of the time I try to take detailed shots of the birds that I photograph, but somethings that simply is not possible. This past week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the ducks all stayed in the deep water, far from the shore on which I was standing. As I gazed to my right and to my left searching for closer ducks, I became increasingly fascinated by the bare branches of the trees overhanging the water.
Even though I was shooting with a long telephoto lens, I decided to try to capture the landscape that was drawing me in. If you look closely at the two images below, you will see that I have included some distant ducks, but clearly they were not the focus of the photos. A wider lens might have capture the environment better, but would have risked drawing the viewers’ eyes away from the tree shapes. I don’t take landscape-style photos very often, but sometimes that is what the situation seems to call for and/or permits.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I like these photos, Mike. I’m sure it’s not the first time you’ve shared something like this, but it’s good to see the size of the bay.
Thanks, Dan. I know I have posted shots when the bay was frozen and shots at sunrise, but this may be the first time that I have shown a view like this one.
Nice Mike! Liked the treescape!
Would that be the Potomac, or still Occoquan Bay in the background.? M 🙂
I think that it is mostly the Potomac in this shot.
Very nice and I especially like the first one, Mike. I’ve always been attracted to the shapes of tree branches against the sky. The composition is pleasing and the inclusion of the ducks gives the landscape a little extra punch.
Thanks, Ellen. I think you have done a great job in describing how I too feel about the first image.