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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!
Death Valley (California) is known for its extremes; it is America's driest and hottest terrain (with a record of of 134°F, or 56°C). With fewer than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rainfall annually, I happened to be there when over 1 inch of rain fell (some of the roads were washed out). It too is home to the lowest point in the US (at Badwater Basin), at 282 feet below sea level, yet 75 miles away, Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 states, at 14,505 feet. I intentionally composed this photo to make you ( the viewer) question, "What is that?”. It's a barren mountainside, as seen from Zabriskie Point. From here the point offers a stunning and impressive panoramic views of the badlands; it’s various metals have oxidized the clay creating eye-popping reds, yellows, greens, blues, and even purples. I LOVED the patterns in the Death Valley landscape, they were almost moon like! Abstract compositions were everywhere but I chose this on because of the hiking trail (it leads your eye through the image). This is only one, of many photographs that I took in Death Valley. That said, the unique photographic views and scenes everywhere! What a sight to see, and experience too!
