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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?”.
Coming up with a unique, impactful and fitting name for a photograph isn't easy. I consider the subject, it's location, a mood, or a message it evokes. That said, I felt a my favorite message (quote) was most fitting for this photo, "To Rise Above".... “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
