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Nestled in the Purcell mountain range of British Columbia, is a Staubert Lake; a small lake only minutes west of the rustic and out of the way community of Trout Lake. After an amazing couple days of ATVing around the mountains in the area (west of Bugaboo National Park), we got up early to make our way home and had planned to catch the 8:30 a.m. Gelena Bay ferry across Arrow Lake. While we drove our RV slowly down the well-maintained gravel road, we happened upon this tranquil lake view. Most eye-catching were the vibrant reflections in the calm waters and the quickly moving shadows from the clouds above. As we stopped to take some shots, I noticed the shadows on the hillside and they were moving fast and this scene was just coming into play! Wow! I knew time was of the essence and that I wouldn't have time to swap out my heavy 400mm lens for my 25-200mm lens; I had to deal with it’s cumbersome size and weight. Quickly, I changed my ASA/ISO to 80, changed my shutter speed to 400 , set my f-stop for 5.6, and then set my lens to 171 mm.... I held my breath and held my camera as steady as I could, with hopes for a great shot. My efforts paid off! As many of you know, the “rule of thirds” applies to most artistic applications however I feel that when reflections are involved, that rule can be broken, it’s the artist’s right as an artist. You’ll notice here, that I placed the lake’s edge in the middle of the photo, rather than at a third. I absolutely love this photo’s balance; it what makes this photo so appealing and strong! Notice the dark shadows that outline the trees on the left. Not only does it surround the group of trees but it does so equally (in balance). Then notice the group of well-lit trees to the right (without the shadow), they’re opposite to the group of trees on the left. Finally, the darkness of the foreground frames this photo nicely and balances the dark shadows above. There was so much to see and do here in this off-grid valley; we look forward to visiting the area again very soon!
I am not a fan of cold weather but the allure of a great shot is like Christmas morning; I can hardly wait to get out there! That said, it was the first frost of the season when I headed out with eager anticipation of what I might find. As I drove along this countryside I stumbled upon this view and I immediately noticed the lead in lines of the bulrushes and that they lead my eyes to the old farmhouse. It was early, the morning air was calm, the light was still blue (see note below) and the sun was just about to appear from behind the mountain. “Perfect!” I thought to myself, and I waited patiently for the sun to appear (brrr!). When the sun finally did appear and I was thrilled by what I saw! Notice how the warm casting sunlight accentuated the lead in line of the bullrushes and how it created a mix of both blue and gold color hues. Within seconds this amazing view disappeared; my patience (and tolerance for the cold) paid off! “Blue hour” is the light that is just prior to sunrise, or after sunset.
I visited beautiful Bryce Canyon (in the southern state of Utah) on a brisk and stellar February day. It was truly an amazing day to say the least, and having never been there before I was in utter “Awe”! I was not only lucky to arrive on a sunny day but after a fresh snow fall too! Everywhere I looked the colours seemed saturated, especially in contrast with the shadow cast snow and the high altitude, deep blue sky (the rim is 8000 - 9000 ft. above sea level) . Albeit very cold (-5C, 23F) and very windy, we hiked to the valley floor below, were it was surprisingly warmer, I even peeled off our jacket! On the climb back up I happened upon this view and knew it would make an amazing abstract. With the "rule of thirds" in mind, I captured this shot as you see it. There were trees above the snow line however I chose not to include them in the shot. Notice the the colours! The snow in the distance is purple-blue in color (drawing from the blue sky). The brilliance of the orange and yellow sandstone was the result of reflective lighting from where I stood (I was standing on a vertical ledge and the sunlight bounced back off the wall of the ledge below me). Did you notice that the sun highlights the lip of the yellow sandstone? It's exactly what I looked for when I shot outdoor portraiture. I thoroughly enjoy abstract photography; I hope this photo leaves you wondering, “What is it and where is it?”.
