Water is usually very photogenic. Just add water to your image (in good light, of course) and you usually have a better picture for it. Rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, oceans, name it, water adds interest to just about any scene. Yes, any scene, it does not have to be a great landscape. The following picture was taken where it was growing in the field in Pinnacles National Monument. It was early morning. The sun had just shown itself but was defused by cloud cover. The flower was wet from the night before. Now ask yourself if this image would have been as strong as it is without the water droplets?

California PoppyCalifornia Poppy           I have many images of flowers and leaves with water droplets on them. One finds oneself looking at the water droplets more than at the flower itself. Water just seems to draw a person in; it screams - "look at me." That is what photographers want. We want to keep the observer looking at our photograph for as long as possible.  The longer people look at it the better the image (generally).

          One day I was busy shooting a flower but no matter what I tried, I was just not satisfied with the final result. Something was missing. It needed interest and more punch. Then I remembered, I needed some water droplets. I was in the middle of nowhere and it was not about to rain. I left the scene with disappointment.

          When I got home and pondered about the image of the flower, the thought dawned on me ... why not just add water? I went to the store and bought a little mister spray bottle which I still carry in my camera bag to this day. When I shoot flowers or leaves I just spray it with mist until droplets form.

          Now the purest will tel me that that is cheating. May I please respond:

• I do not use composite image to manufacture images (other than the odd panorama which is shot the way it is);
• I do not add or move moons, or insert different skies;
• I do not add color or use effects filters (other than neutral density and polarizer);
• I am not shooting photo journalism, I shoot art.

          All my shots are either as they are or, in cases such as these, how it frequently does look like naturally. When you need a bit of spark, a bit more interest, or an added element just add water.

Cactus Flower