Skipper I like how you looked the picture over. Thanks.
The thing coming out of the top of his head is a chair handle. I agree in the original it isn't as distracting. Probably because there seems to be more space in the larger picture.
The railing is a stand with plants on. As for the hose and the hand...my husband was holding it and you know what it can be like telling a man what to do, to set up what a woman wants
A lot could have been improved on this picture--I agree. Gus is my neighbors dog and he was standing on their patio which is just filled with plants which doesn't leave much room for movement. And I was standing on a chair (in my yard) on the other side of the fence. Gus is a 74 lb. Lab puppy that doesn't hold still and is known as the dog from you know where.
The composition was very cluttered--which I couldn't do anything about. I did crop it to just the water and the dogs face. I didn't like the blur on the dog so scrapped that one.
Again I agree with you 100 percent, but I did get what I wanted to get. The innocence that I see in this dog at times. Which made my neighbors so happy. They framed three pictures and showed them all off at work and to friends.
Thank you everyone for all your imput. You all help me so much. I hear your info all the time when I'm out taking pictures.
Mary