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Copper Island, which is located in Shuswap region of south-central British Columbia, is the pride of Shuswap Lake. It was given that name because of it’s copper color however the Shuswap people (Secwepemc, pronounced suh-Wep-muhc), who were the first to inhabit these lands, named it Cemete’tkwe, in their Secwepemctsin language. In 1956 Copper Island became a Provincial Park and is busy with sun worshipers (summer, lol), hikers and boaters alike. To capture this image, in the way I had envisioned it, took some planning. I wanted the lake to look smooth (rather than choppy) so I needed to reduce my shutter speed; which required a density filter (which reduces the amount of light from entering my camera). With a slow shutter speed of 2 seconds, I had to use a tripod. I also wanted to include the foreground, so my camera was only 1 foot off of the (cold!) ground. This photograph is a good example of how colors (along with density) help to create depth in an image. Cool colors tend to reseed whereas warm colors come forward; you can clearly see that in this image. Notice the warmth (yellows) of the foreground and the cool colors (blues) in the background. Once I got this shot, I high tailed it back to the warmth of my Jeep! Welcome winter!
I tend to notice trees that stand alone and wonder, “Are they lonely?”. So, when it came time to name this photograph the first thing I notice was how they stand so proudly together. Rooted together, they are supporting each other and relying on each other to thrive. Mother nature depends on “togetherness” to survive and thrive; just as all living things do. That said, we as humans have a lot to learn from Mother Nature. Life is meant to be shared, so reach out to your friends, family, seniors, neighbors and communities so that we can thrive.... together.
This is one of my all-time favorite photos, in all regards. Forest scenes are generally busy, in that there are so many trees and distractions. That said, Mother Nature made this composition, I just had to see it. Trampling through the forest looking for compositions is not easy but I don't have any complaints because I finding one is truly like being on an Easter egg hunt! I particularly LOVE this photo because it has so many of the compositional elements that I look for, and the light perfect (soft, not harsh). I particularly love the lead in line and how your eye goes around (and around) the tree and not out the frame. I also love this photograph's balance in that it's weighted equally with the central tree being the anchor. There's also a great sense of perception; notice how the background drops off. I named this photograph "Embraced" because the tree appeared to be embraced by the forest and because of the embracing circular path around it. I too noticed that it was flourishing, more so than the other trees, so Mother Nature must be embracing it too. May we all feel, (like this tree) "Embraced".
