June 29th, 2010
A Spring run off pond that sits atop the Kolob terrace, high above Zion National Park.
This pond exists only for the first part of the summer, until summer’s heat evaporates it. I like to get into the Zion highlands as early in the year as possible, to find photographic opportunities such as these.
I often wonder what other passers-by may think as they watch me sizing up shots like this: I wonder how long that guy is going to stand out there in the cold photographing that pond? It’s a pond, dude! Walk away . . .
To me, much of the appeal of nature photography is to craft a visually appealing image from what others may quickly pass by without a second thought. I imagine the thrill I find in successfully aligning all the compositional elements to create a pleasing image that someone may linger over is akin to the thrill a trophy hunter may feel when that prize animal first steps into view.
Tags: Landscape, National Park, Nature, Spring, Zion
Posted in Personal Projects |
June 20th, 2010
An experimental presentation . . . I placed the finished image over an enlarged, opaqued copy of itself.
What do you think?
I’m looking to artfully stylize several of my pieces for a new line of wall decor products. The panoramic image is set atop a opaqued cropping of itself, which can then be matted and cotained inside a large, 16×24 frame.
Tags: Flowing Water, Landscape, Nature
Posted in Personal Projects |
June 5th, 2010
There may be any number of things to first draw my attention to a scene. Sometimes it’s the color. At another time, it may be the lighting. It may be the texture, contrast, or perceived significance of subject (or, likely, some combination of these things).
Specific to this image, it was the motion that first intrigued me. The longer I studied this scene, the more intent I became on making an image to reflect the motion flowing through it. I wanted to capture its raw power and form altering force.
Given that vision, I knew I had to keep my shutter speed fast enough to preserve the power in those thunderous crashes, yet allow for some gentle blur of breakwater over the boulders.
It became an exercise in patience and timing as, again and again, the waves crashed over the landscape. This image became one of more than one hundred images shot from this location.
Although I’ve kept several dozen of those images, this is only one of two that so closely meets my stated objective. Not only does this one capture the power inherent within this moving landscape, it also offers a complementary contrast in texture from foreground to middle ground. And that bit of magic is what earned this image a seat in my portfolio.
Cheers,
-Mike.
Tags: Ecola State Park, Ocean, Oregon, Seascape
Posted in Personal Projects, Travel |
June 1st, 2010
There are many visual treats along Oregon’s northern coast. I found Ecola State Park on a map and looked it up in a travel guide while preparing for a family vacation. It made our “Must See” list.
We so liked it, we spent a couple of days there, hiking, playing in the ocean, reading, and building sandcastles. Great memories!
I was fascinated by the rock monoliths spread liberally along the coastline. While photographing them against the morning mist, this gentleman inadvertently strolled into my frame. At first, I was anxious for him to move along; however, he seemed in a contemplative mood.
Just as it became apparent he had come to stay, the concept of this image struck me. Now I was anxious for him to stay!
As quickly as I could, I readjusted my camera atop my tripod to place the lone man in the lower left third of the frame. I felt this best suggested his contemplation of the awesome scene before him.
I was able to capture a handful of images before the man was joined by several gulls and other foot traffic. Of the handful, this image best tells the story I saw unfold in my mind’s eye that morning.
Cheers,
-Mike.
Tags: Ecola State Park, Metaphor, Ocean, Oregon, Seascape
Posted in Personal Projects, Travel |