Hello everyone!

Introductions
1

I have no idea how many people I am including in this greeting but hopefully over time I can find something to share that resonates with you.

I am an Alberta farm girl, still Canadian, living in Oregon. I started taking pictures when we were missionaries in Ethiopia in the late 60’s, and hopefully have learned something since then. I love nature, being outdoors, capturing things perhaps others don’t notice, and sharing it.

I want to improve my photography, not just having the critique of my own images but learning from the images and critiques of others. I am hoping this is an honest site, not just “nice photo”.

Mary Lane Anderson
Mary Lane Anderson1400×906 1.04 MB

1 Like
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Welcome! What a beautiful mallard. I want to see more shots like this - different, original.

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Thanks, Mike. I have never shown it before because it IS different. I guess I tend to be a bit off the wall.

ml

1 Like
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Welcome, Mary Lane. Your photo intrigued me. I enjoy these types of photos that pull you in and get you to explore their details. Looking forward to your future contributions.

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Hi Mary Lane (or do you prefer Mary?)! I believe you will find this to be both honest but gentle in critiques, but also a place that fully appreciates different, odd and off-the-wall photography.

I have no idea how Mike knew this was a mallard. I don’t see anything in your introduction and the intimacy of the photo didn’t give me near enough to guess it, but I love photos like this. Well done and keep’em coming!

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Welcome to NPN Mary Lane? Glad to have you here and thanks for jumping in with the intro.

Beautiful image! - I might have guessed blue-winged teal… but I think Mike is correct on the Mallard ID. :slight_smile: for sure a wonderful and abstract intimate portrait of nature.

Absolutely! I think NPN prides itself in going well beyond the “attaboy” and “likes” (ok, we do have the “Like” feature … ) but so much more in terms of sincere, honest and thoughtful comments, critiques and feedback to our images.

Looking forward to your images and participation.

Lon

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Steve, Mary Lane is my full and only given name. Thanks for asking and noticing. I purposely didn’t put any identification on the subject because I think that is one of the surprises of close-up/macro/abstract. Mike is a birder, and in a way, so am I. I’m too old to be flinging a big hand held tripod, but I take the shot if I can get close enough! Feathers are fantastic!

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Thank you–you probably will see more from time to time.

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Thanks, Lon. From what I have gleaned so far, this is going to be a good place for me. And yes, it is a Mallard.

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Hi and welcome Mary Lane. Lady mallards do have some secret beauty don’t they? Such a treat to see this detail so close. Usually all I get is flap-flap-flap-gone! Glad you have joined and hope you jump right in and contribute images, conversation, and critique.

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Thanks, Kristen.

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Welcome! Hope to see more images; we appreciate thinking outside the box. I tend to not be so creative, but wish I was. Love the inspiration!

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Hello Mary Lane, welcome to NPN. I know you’ll get a lot out of this community. I love the abstract wildlife feel of your image. Looking forward to seeing more.

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Hi Mary Lane, and welcome to NPN. What a great first posting, I really love the abstract feel of it. I just wanted to have seen some more of the part at the feather pen(?) at the right border connecting to the blue spot. It has such a beatiful shape and patterns.