Once upon a time, Dragonflies were called “devil’s darning needles.” This colorful nickname comes from old folklore, where dragonflies were believed to sew up the lips of naughty children.

The key to taking a photograph like this is to find a dragonfly species that is both beautiful and hovers. Focusing becomes much easier if the background is clean and uncluttered.

Not the normal location or uncluttered shot of this dragonfly, but, we find found this dragonfly hawking,in dense coppiced woodland.Kathy and I had just decided to go for a walk, not intent on taking any shots, but always carrying a camera,just in case.

We entered a shady glade, and found her hawking in and out of the dappled light, following a almost repetitive pattern...and we decided to sit down,on a felled tree, have a cup of coffee and just enjoy watching her.

She landed, in a not too inaccessible place,and,lit by a shaft of sunlight so,I thought I would try and get a snap...usually this action gets dragonflies up and away..especially as I had my macro lens on, and I needed to get pretty close.

But...she let me get close enough to take a couple of shots before she resumed her hawking.

It's these little unexpected vignettes of nature that makes our hobby so fascinating.....and...keeps us at it...!!!!

While out photographing birds at a local urban lake this past spring, a male common grackle perched on this poplar branch that had two bright catkins hanging down. It was a good looking perch and the background was uncluttered, so I thought he chose his landing spot well.

There were other males nearby, and they would take turns singing and trying to attract mates. Typical spring grackle behaviour.

Another image of a Superb Fairy Wren ((Malurus cyaneus) from a couple of weeks ago.

Quite similar to another I posted, but here the bird is sitting a little higher on the twig with a better head position - hope you like it!!

*** Really need to view LARGE on Black!!! ***

They are such a tiny bird and very flighty - not too often are you able to get them sitting in such an uncluttered setting.

Thank you for any comments, views or favorites - much appreciated!!

Hope your day and week are splendid.

Heliconia psittacorum cultivar — prolific plant and flower in a completely shaded part of my Gold Coast hinterland garden. The pair of flowers was blown into this position by the wind and chosen because of the uncluttered background. I used muted flash to increase the figure ground contrast and exposure speed on the windy morning.

Newest LRT bridge in Edmonton. Tawatinâ comes from a Cree word that means “valley.”

And probably our last major river crossing for a decade! Because we have no monnnnneeeeeey.

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The parish church of St Edmund in Acle, Norfolk, is medieval, dating mainly from the 14th century, but with a round tower dating from the 12th century. The building is thatched, with a 15th century font which has traces of the original paintwork, as well as a small model font, of around the same date, about 30cm high. The church was restored in the 19th century.

Of note is the dramatic font, delicate screen and disturbing graffiti written during the Back Death (all 15th century) set in a beautiful, light, uncluttered holy space.

Still life photo of a back-lit candle

An Uncluttered Horizon

We were once again out enjoying dinner on the beach when my wife said, "we had better hurry, you will need time to setup." Noticing the sun was about to go down and knowing I wanted a shot on the pier, it was time to leave the beach. We loaded the car and made for the pier which was only minutes away. When we arrived, it was a new location for her and she asked if it was ok to enter the shot. "Yes, I am counting on it", I responded. She took her position at the end of the pier, gave that little body gesture needed to show it is a person and we waited for the magic.

I shot in landscape mode and took about 10 shots. Then I thought it best to take one in portrait mode for good measure. One and only one. Of the 11 shots, this was the best. The most simple, the most uncluttered, and the one that puts the attention on the sky, using the pier as the leading line. Except for the sky, it was very dark and the image illustrates that well.

photographycoach.ca

I always found it an odd name for this red-capped lichen, as British soldiers wore red tunics, not hats. But what fun to photograph!

After trying to photograph these - mostly unsuccessfully - during my many years on Canada's west coast, I finally got lucky a couple of years before relocating to the prairie. We'd received a few inches of snow, something that doesn't happen every winter in that part of the world. I was prowling a local hillside when a flash of red caught my eye. The melting snow provided what all those other photo ops did not: uncluttered surroundings and background!

So, I set up my tripod and macro lens and went to work. Cloudy skies helped keep the colours rich and soft. These were the days before massive megapixel sensors, of course, but the 10 MP Nikon D200 was a decent camera in its day, and my friend Madonna now has it (and uses it).

Two more ice-cool shots coming as we start a new week amid the sweltering heat of mid-August.

Photographed in Metchosin, Vancouver Island, BC (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2009 James R. Page - all rights reserved.

I have wanted this shot for several years now; this spring I finally realized that it wasn't going to happen at random, from some stroke of pure luck. I would have to make some effort.

The Prairie Crocus - also known as Pasqueflower - is our earliest blooming wildflower, usually appearing in southwestern Saskatchewan by late March or early April. They were a little late this year. After all our snow had melted - there wasn't much - and a late snowstorm was forecast, I went out to one of my good locations to find some, and made mental notes (haha, unreliable at best!). It snowed, as predicted. The morning it began to melt, I returned, and this was the first grouping I found. Exactly what I'd hoped for! An hour and a half later, I passed by this same spot again, and the hole was larger, much of the snow had melted back. The next day it was gone. Timing is the key.

The other keys included a tripod, wired cable release, 105mm macro lens + 1.7x teleconverter. The usual macro setup (that 1.7x is optional).

I wanted these flowers in the snow for several reasons: 1 - all flowers look good in snow; 2 - it shows how hardy they are; 3 - the snow covers most of the surrounding grass and other plants and allows a simplified, uncluttered view.

Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.

Sometimes I prefer this sort of accommodation in SE Asian resorts, to those of hill and beach villas usually better suited for family activities.

Samsung S23 Ultra 5G Camera

St Pancras Station, London. Opened 1868.

Designed by William Henry Barlow.

Significant for being the tallest and widest train shed of its time, with an innovative design which allowed for an absence of piers and cross ties, giving an open and uncluttered appearance.

Mid spring in the Tetons. Access to many spots is still closed as roads are still covered in snow or too muddy to use without ruining them. But the views from the highway are still spectacular. This was a particularly good morning passing by Schwabacher Landing with the clouds over the mountain range, so I pulled over and took three frames to make a panorama of the scene which has the river winding through and area uncluttered with cars. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, April 2025

Best viewed large. All rights reserved

I was out shooting bird images yesterday at Hunter Wetlands Center (Shortland, NSW; Australia) with great mate and flickr tog Joe Micallef; when I heard a bird call I hadn't heard before.....

It turned out to be a baby Spotted Pardalote which had perched in a nearby tree.

We waited and saw its parents return to feed the chick but they were constantly moving about and obstructed from view by branches and leaves.

My patience was rewarded when I finally cracked a first on this species and it perched (very fleetingly) on this uncluttered perch - hope you like it!!

Thanks for any comments, views or favorites - greatly appreciated!!

Have a wonderful day and weekend everyone!!

Here is an uncluttered male Yellowhammer that I photographed locally this week. They are just starting to sing and this was one of the first bird songs that I learnt as a child. It is usually rendered "a little bit of bread and no cheese" but only the cheese bit chimes with me. It was Enid Blyton who supposedly popularised this rendition of the song in several of her books and poems (eg The Yellowhammer Bird in Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Handbook 1944). But Beatrix Potter mentioned a bird singing this ditty in 1911, more than 30 years before Enid Blyton (in The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes). I have noticed that Yellowhammers sing their songs at two speeds rather like Reed Buntings. There are definitely singers with fast and slow stutters prior to the terminal cheese, which remains the same. In Reed Buntings the fast singers are unpaired males eager to impress and I would guess that the fast singing Yellowhammers are similarly unpaired. This is another seriously depleted farmland bird that has been on the red list since 2002 because of a more than 50% decline in population. It usually needs arable (preferably spring-sown) and herb-rich pasture in close proximity. But specialisation in farming means these two habitats don't occur together very often. But it sometimes can survive where frequently disturbed ground (eg through cattle poaching or farm vehicles) allows arable "weeds" to grow.

Another beautiful early morning shot of my favourite beach... uncluttered, unoccupied, and great to photograph

pleased with this a common bird but a nice uncluttered shot

Photographed in the tranquil cloud forests surrounding La Minga Ecolodge, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, this female Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) offered a fleeting pause on a textured branch. The morning light filtered through the canopy, creating a natural diffuser that softened shadows and enhanced the emerald tones of her head and the warm copper of her breast. I composed with a shallow depth of field to isolate the subject, allowing the background to dissolve into a smooth green gradient, emphasizing her delicate form and plumage detail.

For me, this image reflects the value of patience and precise timing in wildlife photography. The subject’s brief stillness, combined with accurate focus and stability, allowed me to capture fine feather structure without overexposing the iridescence—a challenge when working with hummingbirds. The interplay of color, light, and bokeh aims to create a sense of intimacy with this elusive species while maintaining a clean, uncluttered composition.

©2025 Adam Rainoff Photographer

Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It's simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all.

If you want quaint and old you can't go far wrong than scheduling a visit to Rye, East Sussex, down near the south coast of England. And if you go on a perfect day in February, midweek, when the tourists are mostly NOT in Rye, you will be rewarded with lovely uncluttered shots like this one. For anyone living in the capital, it's a good day out away from the hustle and bustle of London.

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Two pairs of eyes peered doubtfully at the mist filled world outside the café window, where sheet after sheet of driving rain filled a featureless grey sky. We wondered whether the journey here would ultimately be worth it in such drab conditions - I know that damp dreary weather goes hand in hand with woodland, but there are limits. We’d driven nearly forty miles mostly nose to tail along the A465, which is currently masquerading as a building site in the area around Merthyr Tydfil while the corridor along the south of the Beacons is being improved, before finally arriving at an uncluttered stretch of road with easily moving traffic, where the scenery and a brief appearance of the sun smiled through our windscreen and invited us further west. Of course the minute we’d arrived at this quiet open carriageway the sign appeared at the left hand side, announcing we were almost at our destination. Pontneddfechan, the “Bridge over the Little Neath” could so easily be overlooked if you didn’t know what was lying in wait beneath the tell tale wooded valley that climbed the slopes to the north of the village.

I’d been very excited about the falls along the River Neath ever since one of you had shared their existence with me. Thank you Clive for letting me know they were there. Another of you (thank you Norbert) let me know that the small car park high above the village would probably still be closed, and that the café at the bottom was worth a visit in any case. I can confirm that although I have no affiliation with and do not stand to make any financial gain from said café, that it definitely is worth stopping by for refreshments before the excitement begins. Well I might gain financially when they give me the prize for the best photo on Instagram with them tagged, but they haven’t been in touch just yet. Must be something to do with the signal there I expect.

The café was warm and seductive, and we were doing our best to ignore the dessert menu, especially with less than three hours of daylight on what would prove to be a path where wandering about in semi-darkness without a torch seemed inadvisable at best. Finally, after as much prevarication as was sensible allowed and during a break in the worst that the weather had thrown at us, we headed out of the sanctuary into the drizzle and made our way through a gate onto the path beside the river. Onwards and upwards we went, for a mile or more, engaged by the energetic fury of the powerful torrent that raged to our right that bore no resemblance to the place where bathers gathered in some of the summer images I’d found online. Barely a soul was at large, giving us this playground almost entirely to ourselves and in time little side tracks would appear, inviting cautious approaches to the water’s edge from time to time.

And then we found ourselves here, at the magical Sgwd Gwladys, where I ignored the viewing platform, continuing along a small beaten track to this viewpoint. The autumn colours were only just beginning to arrive – I expect it looks all the more splendid by now. I almost lost my woolly hat (by now soaking) my lens cloth (again!) and more worryingly, two of my favourite Kase filters, which landed on a rock and finished their journey clinging perilously close to the angry froth. But somehow everything made it back into pockets and rucksacks safely for the continued adventure further along the path. Four more waterfalls appeared as we made our way along the path, each with its own characteristics, each demanding far more time than I had available in the dull and ever fading light. Next time I really do intend to do this properly, picking a suitable autumn day, going for the duration and taking sandwiches, a flask of coffee and a bucketload of Haribo All Stars for company. A place as stunning as this deserves that level of attention you see, and I really don't like rushing about when I could stand and stare for any amount of time before even reaching for the camera.

If it’s your turn to go soon, I hope you get the dappled light and the autumn golds, yellows and browns. But more than that I hope you get the chance to enjoy it quietly, without the crowds as we did. With half term upon us you might want to wait another week then.

Musial Bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis. Photos available for purchase at Wits End Photography. Follow my blog Traveling at Wits End for ways to create travel adventures everyday.

Had an amazing morning at the beach. The shore was covered in birds migrating. So many it was tough getting an uncluttered shot. I spotted this Adult Peregrine Falcon way out in the distance and waited till it got closer. It did and this shot is uncropped. I check my lens and it was just short of 30 feet away. I got shots of two adults today. I think this is the same one Bob and Judy got the other day and Lynne got a few years back. It is registered in Wildwood, NJ

Stone Harbor Point, NJ.

Another view of The Eagle Vaults public house in the City of Worcester.The shot i put on Flickr a few days ago was looking down Friar Street and was rather cluttered with road signs and the wheelie bins this view is looking up Friar Street and is far less cluttered........The Eagle Vaults ,Old Worcester City ,Worcestershire ,England

Simple colours and shapes against a white background seemed very appealing to me . The reflections in the window gave life and a sense of movement .

- Sally Ride.

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The Grieg-French-Bell redwood grove in Northern California is famous due to its carpet of clovers and the attractive photographic opportunities it creates. The carpet of vibrant green clovers contrasts beautifully against the red tones of the redwood trees and the trails snaking through the grove. Most of the time, the best shot is a nice trail leading the viewer's eye through the green forest floor into a grove of redwoods.

But after walking around the woods, I thought of another composition option. My idea was to contrast a redwood tree against a field of green clovers. Initially, I tried to get a clean background without trees or shrubbery as a distraction, but that task proved almost impossible. After a while, it started to rain, so I decided to temper my expectations and settle for a cleaner foreground. I loved the results, and hopefully, I can return and find a more uncluttered background next time.

Minimal reprocessing of a boat under repair in the Ganges River in Varanasi India. The city and clutter has been removed to isolate the boat against a foggy background. 35mm 1/25@f8, ISO3200

View Large, Uncluttered and On White

Thanks to Skeletal Mess for texture. © 2011 K. W. Giantonio All rights reserved.

Chiffchaff / phylloscopus collybita. Long Eaton, Derbyshire. 02/04/21.

'CLOSE.'

A lovely close, (but brief) encounter with this little leaf warbler a few days ago. It had been declaring it's presence with gusto earlier on, then went silent and I lost sight of it.

Only the tiniest movement made me glance in it's direction and discover it perched quietly, looking back at me. Very pleased that it had chosen an uncluttered perch that time, even though light was an issue when making the image.

BEST VIEWED LARGE.

Been waiting for some time to get an uncluttered shot of a Whitethroat

This is pretty much as good as I've got for years

Quite a crop but still happy to have got this, in the sunshine, with breakfast and a great pose too

Is there still a pandemic out there?

I stopped checking news reports.

© Luther Roseman Dease, II

Aysgarth Falls bathed in sunlight for a change. These waterfalls comprise of three main falls (Upper, Middle and Lower) spread out over a kilometre stretch of the River Ure in the Yorkshire Dales. Easily accessible, they are a delight to visit at any time of year. If you want uncluttered pictures though i would suggest avoiding weekends and holidays. It can get ridiculously busy!

Like most railroad lines, the Clinchfield has a number of signature locations that almost everyone knows. This shot at Osborne's Curve in Dungannon, Virginia is most definitely one of those locations. So named for L.G. Osborne's Store, which is located just beyond the barn, this historic spot has seen the evolution of the railroads which run this line, including the Santa Train. I love the classic weathered barn, the mountains, and the Clinch river which all come together to give this scene a classic feel of the natural and rugged beauty of Appalachia.

The discerning eye will note that I *creatively* removed a few vehicles from the foreground to give this otherwise natural scene an uncluttered look. We have the technology, and I wanted a certain feel, so I exercised a little photographer's discretion.

San Francisco's City Hall is an impressive and beautiful building, but passing traffic and pedestrians make it a challenge to photograph. A red car and random people meant this shot would forever go unseen until now. Thanks to the magic of Generative Fill, a clean uncluttered view of City Hall and Civic Center Plaza.

" The End "

" And in the end

The love you take

Is equal to the love you make "

Beatles

Bonjour mes ami(e)s Flickr

Wishing you a healthy, brilliant and loved based New Year and 2019

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewhEsr-I8w8&start_radio=1&amp...

Beatles - The end (remastered)

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Tuscan landscape near Asciano, Italy. Photos available for purchase at Wits End Photography. Follow my blog Traveling at Wits End for ways to create travel adventures everyday.

The Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys), photographed at La Minga Ecolodge in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, appears caught in a fleeting moment of grace. Its subtle green and brown plumage blends beautifully with the soft, out-of-focus background, while natural light highlights the fine textures of its feathers. The shallow depth of field isolates the subject, creating a clean, uncluttered frame that draws the eye directly to the bird.

From a technical standpoint, this image was made with the Canon RF 800mm f/11 lens at 1/350 second and ISO 800, a setting that balanced detail sharpness with the challenge of freezing the bird’s subtle movements. As a photographer, this shot reflects not only precision in execution but also the patience required in the field to anticipate just the right moment. For me, it represents the quiet elegance of a species often overshadowed by more flamboyant hummingbirds.

©2025 Adam Rainoff Photographer

My annual butterfly hunt turned up a lot of butterflies this year which was great to see. As always the challenge remained to find some in photogenic positions - the background in particular. There are some amazing images to see on SM but, boy they are hard to get - certainly in my experience. Although the weather has been great for them, over a number of visits to this site, overnight temperatures remained high which meant they were active very quickly next morning and what seemed like a constant gentle breeze made sharp images a real challenge. I managed a few images I was happy with including this of a pair of roosting chalk hill blues, luckily in some uncluttered grasses directly in line with the rising sun.

(Regulus calendula)

Good uncluttered photographs of Kinglets are difficult to make. They like to flit about in bushes never stopping for more than a couple of seconds. Branches and shadows are a problem to focusing as well. I stuck by this bushy area for at least 30 minutes to finally get a "clear" shot.

A day at the beach...

winter in Michigan

Simple.

Uncluttered.

Lovely.

Sometimes less is more...

This rather extraordinary parish church, set on a spacious green hill above the River Severn, stands in stark contrast to Shrewsbury's medieval streets and mainly Tudor townscape.

Dating from 1790-92, it is a classical church, and is built from a pale stone that sets it quite apart from the red sandstone and half-timbering that are the usual materials of Shropshire. What is more, it is a classical church with a difference: the nave is completely round.

Opinions differ as to how successful a building this is. The tower, from some angles, looks almost unrelated to the rest of the church, being separated from it by a rounded antechamber. But the interior is light, bright and uncluttered. Slender white columns (made of local cast iron) support a gallery that sweeps right round the church.

In the churchyard is the grave of Ebenezer Scrooge