This is one of two alligators who hang out by the pool. In the background is our waterfall.

Yesterday, two items arrived adding to my recent interest using a DSLR camera. I bought a tripod plus a remote. That’s because I’ve noticed my photos were often blurry. I have shaky hands and I can’t hold the camera steady — especially when trying to capture hawks or bobcat pics.

The photos posted today are the result of my experimenting with my new photography toys in our backyard. I have to say the photos are crisper than when I hold onto the camera and push the button.

The remote allows me to set up the camera on the tripod, stand a few feet away and press a button on the remote to snap the picture. The hardest thing was to line up the shot while the camera is on the tripod. It’s not as easy as point and shoot. But I took lots of photos and made minor adjustments, nudging the camera this way that that.

Flamingos and cacti in the sun.

Two mourning doves in flight. Funny, I was going for a lone quail on the rock, but captured this!

Our swim up pool bar.

If you enjoy photography, do you use your iphone, a DSLR camera or a tripod?

Any tips?