Donald Miller
November 2026 - "You won't get rid of me that way, Bob!"
About the Image(s)
"You won't get rid of me that way, Bob!"
Two Canada geese in a pond at the Wilson Wetland Preserve in Putney, Vermont
I stop by there once in a while to see what's around and this time there were about a dozen geese along with about a hundred tree swallows. These two caught my attention because of the story it inspired - one trying to ignore the other.
This was shot with the OM-1 and 100-400mm, f5.0 to 6.3 II at 40mm and
1/3200 sec. It was so high because I was also trying to get a shot of one of the tree swallows zipping around.
I processed the RAW file with DxO PhotoLab 10 and Affinity 3, with some help from Topaz Sharpen AI and NIK Color Efex 9.
I cropped it to a 16x9 aspect ratio because there was nothing interesting in the background or foreground.
5 comments posted
Don, this made me smile. I applaud your imagination in seeing a story in what otherwise might have been an ordinary encounter between two Canada geese. The goose with its head underwater while its companion appears to be giving it an earful is humorous!
I also appreciate that you were observant enough to recognize the opportunity. Wildlife photography isn't always about dramatic action or beautiful portraits. Sometimes it's about recognizing those little moments that make us smile, and you accomplished that.
Where I think the image falls a little short is in its presentation. The light is rather harsh and doesn't do the birds any favors, while the reeds, reflections, and assorted debris in the water are distractions causing my eye to wander from the two characters that are the story.
Perhaps a tighter crop, with the birds positioned more deliberately within the frame, might have strengthened the relationship between them. As presented, the composition feels somewhat unbalanced . A more cohesive arrangement might have made the interaction even more compelling.
But the important thing is that you saw a story where someone else might have seen nothing more than two geese in a pond.
Posted: 11/01/2026 15:34:11
I also appreciate that you were observant enough to recognize the opportunity. Wildlife photography isn't always about dramatic action or beautiful portraits. Sometimes it's about recognizing those little moments that make us smile, and you accomplished that.
Where I think the image falls a little short is in its presentation. The light is rather harsh and doesn't do the birds any favors, while the reeds, reflections, and assorted debris in the water are distractions causing my eye to wander from the two characters that are the story.
Perhaps a tighter crop, with the birds positioned more deliberately within the frame, might have strengthened the relationship between them. As presented, the composition feels somewhat unbalanced . A more cohesive arrangement might have made the interaction even more compelling.
But the important thing is that you saw a story where someone else might have seen nothing more than two geese in a pond.
Posted: 11/01/2026 15:34:11
You are right about the intensity of the light. It was a terrible time of day for photography - especially of birds in water! I just wanted to get out and see what was there. I've added this image of the original shot to show that I've already cropped it quite a bit. Those grasses really did bug me as well, but not much I could do about it. I actually got another funny shot that day, involving tree swallows, and almost used it instead!
Posted: 11/01/2026 19:13:17
Posted: 11/01/2026 19:13:17
Photography is about capturing the moment and sometimes that moment can simply be fun. I often think feel too many photographers are just way to serious. I just recently saw are a set of National Geographic pictures featuring the 10 funniest animal photos of the year---you should enter this there. Getting something different, more original, is often a key to a successful image. Here you saw a unique moment and took advantage and came away with a winner. I'll agree that the reeds are an annoyance, but nature is not always pretty. Since the story is not about the environment but rather the moment---perhaps a tighter crop focusing on the action would make a stronger image. Posted: 11/01/2026 18:01:12
I've just posted a reply to Butch that covers some of what you wrote. But thank you both for understanding that it was the humor that was important to capture and not necessarily an award winner! Posted: 11/01/2026 19:14:59
Donald I love the humour in this image, your title is really the cherry on the cake!
Having a look at the original photo, I understand your challenge, these opportunities don't always happen in perfect light or circumstances.
To strengthen the image I would definitely crop it tighter and focus on the two main characters.
The exposure, overall feels a bit bright for me, so I would take it down. With these bright backgrounds I try and remember to play with the Exposure Value (EV) to get the subject correctly lit. Then make sure there is enough detail in the blacks. I might darken the background a tiny bit to make them stand out even more.... but still natural. But well seen and captured. Posted: 11/02/2026 05:52:35
Having a look at the original photo, I understand your challenge, these opportunities don't always happen in perfect light or circumstances.
To strengthen the image I would definitely crop it tighter and focus on the two main characters.
The exposure, overall feels a bit bright for me, so I would take it down. With these bright backgrounds I try and remember to play with the Exposure Value (EV) to get the subject correctly lit. Then make sure there is enough detail in the blacks. I might darken the background a tiny bit to make them stand out even more.... but still natural. But well seen and captured. Posted: 11/02/2026 05:52:35