Sq&Rect Comp

I have decided February is a month to be spent on a study of photographic composition. I am re-reading my 2 favorite books on the subject - "The Photographer's Eye" and "Picture Perfect Practice". The second book has many suggested exercises and yesterday was spent exploring square and rectangular geometry. Most of the practice involves training the eye to see geometry and then learn how to use it in your photographs. Among the images I shot was a scattering of snow on the brick pavers in my driveway and another image of some ceramic ducks that my mother gave to me years ago (the ducks are part of the cover of a small jewelry box). In the case of the ducks, I was shooting an object that implied a square. In looking at the 2 images I decided that the pavers image almost looked like a frosted window and what would happen if I could layer one image on top of the other. Using that modern tool of photographic illusion, Photoshop, I was able to stack the 2 images and then selectively allow the ducks to show through. It is February, the days are getting longer, and thoughts of Spring are starting to appear. Both images shot with my Nikkor 17-55mm lens. The paver image was shot at 32mm, f5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO 200. The duck image was shot at 34mm, f6.3, 1/50 sec., ISO 800, sidelit with window light and against a black background.