Trees
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As a beginner, I use to give composition very little thought, and most of my photos were grand scenes but now, I find myself finding great pleasure in finding and composing more intimate scenes, like this one. Although this type of photography isn't for everyone my photographic journey is for "me"; my soul and my healing. I'm in my element when I'm out exploring, and all my worries disappear. There, I'm at one with Mother Nature and I know she means me no harm. That said, I'm also there to represent her through my photography for all to see, experience and (hopefully) inspire in some way. I often think of those of you whom (because of your physical limitations), can't experience her, and for that I am sorry but I hope that just for a moment, you're there with me. Yes, it's (tearfully) lonely at times but I don't feel nearly as lonely when I'm out on the open road, and exploring Mother Nature. I named this photography "A Graceful Descent" because it represents my journey. We fall, we get up and we grow again! :-)
We often walk through life without paying much attention to the obvious, however with an intent to “see” (beyond a glance) we will discover a world that we never noticed. If I asked you what color shade is, you would likely say it’s black (or grey) however if you pay attention you’ll discover that’s not the case, and this photograph is a prime example. No doubt you’ve noticed how snow looks blue (or pink, or purple); that’s because the snow picks up the colors of the sky. Just like the snow, in this photograph the pale (almost white) colored cliffs behind the saguaro picked up the incredibly vibrancy of the blue sky. When I walked towards this saguaro tree the very first thing I noticed was the color of the shade. Wow!... it made me stop in my tracks! In that moment of wonderment, I noticed three things; the blue colored shade, all the back-lighting, and the vivid greens. When I combined these three things with my composition, I knew that I had a “keeper” and I could hardly wait to get it into post processing! As a matter of fact, I was so excited by the scene that I immediately sent an iPhone shot to daughter before taking this shot with my Sony a7r IV. This photo was taken near Dutchman State Park (just east of Mesa, AZ), at the base of Superstition Mountain; just after a week of rain, which made the sky SO vibrant! *Notice how "fat" the saguaro is? Interestingly, saguaro's retain water, which is key for it's survival.
To produce a well crafted photo that has meaning and conveys a feeling, can be a challenge; yet that is what I strive for. That said, many elements have to be in alignment for that to happen, and it's a lucky day when they do. When it comes to “moody” photographs, soft light and fog are definitely my friends. I love how the soft, diffused morning light reduces the highlights, softens the darks, opens up the shadows and yet make the colors pop. The fog not only adds depth to the scene but it definitely creates a sense of mood or mystery. This photograph was taken while I hiked a trail that started at the Stamp River Provincial Park (14Km’s/8.5 miles north of Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island). The park features moss covered rain forests, rapids, a waterfall and a substantial fish ladder (which allows half a million Coho, Sockeye and Chinook salmon to pass the falls). I parked my RV there for the night and was on the trail well before sunrise; I wanted to get out there before the fog would burn off. Their was a cool and misty breeze that followed the river, and the smell of decaying salmon was noticeably strong. This was bear country, and I knew they’d fattening up for their long winter’s nap so my bear spray was close at hand. What I love about this photograph is it’s sense of mystery and how the cool and warm colors are in harmony throughout the scene. I too love the focal point; the tree and how it’s leaning over the cliff’s edge.
Each time I take a photo I consider it’s composition, which simply put is the arrangement of the elements in the viewfinder. Unlike a fine art painter, a photographer doesn’t have the luxury of moving that tree, or that mountain so considering all compositional aspects before I press the shutter button, is extremely important. There are many compositional grids and guidelines but generally speaking most use “the rule of thirds”. In this photograph however, I used a diagonal grid guideline and it’s actually that pattern that drew me to this scene! Take a moment to notice the many triangles in this photo (including the trees). Then notice too how I placed the two prominent trees in dead center, and how many of the triangular lines lead your eyes to those trees. It’s not very often that such a unique composition will present itself; Mother Nature did a great job composing this shot for me…. all it took was noticing it. :-) “Beauty can be seen in all things. Seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph”.
“Art, is in the eye of the beholder”. The "art" in photography is much more than capturing what I see, it's truly in the art of observing. The way in which light interacts with the scene can make a mundane scene, absolutely exquisite. That said, I’m always searching beyond my first glance for the unique and prized image, such as this one. I love abstract art but not necessarily just the typical obscure type. It’s the photographic pieces created by Mother Nature that I love and when it comes to composing, I don't just consider placement but light, form, colors and textures too.
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".
The difference between taking a photo and making a photo is the intent, the vision and passion (or in my case, sometimes my obsession, lol!). A lot of effort that goes into a photo-shoot, yet sometimes I don’t get single shot. That’s the reality of the photography but I enjoy the challenge, and the rewards. Often times, my capture just doesn't seem match my vision, while other times my it exceeds my expectations (that's always a bonus!). There are many types of thought-provoking photography but lately I’ve been aspiring to more expressive photography, that have an emotional attachment. Bright, warm and colorful images are generally happy, gleeful images that put a smile on your face, while the more dreary, foggy and cool images are more calming and peaceful. On the other hand, many dark images evoke a sense of melancholy or even dread (which I’m not a fan of). This photo was taken at Little Qualicum Falls, on Vancouver Island, and although it was beautiful, I found it difficult to find a composition. It was raining, and I thought I got skunked until I came across this smaller, more intimate scene. The highlighted green moss caught my eye first, and then the cool mist; which adds depth and a calming and mysterious mood to the overall image. This image belongs to Mother Nature; it's her composition, just waiting to be noticed. 🙂
After a full day of touring and exploring, Gold Canyon was our final stop for the day. We had driven through this community on a previous occasion and noticed how beautiful the valley behind it was. Looking east, the southern side of Superstition Mountain was to our left and in the eastern distance were some charismatic mountains. Curious, I googled the location and discovered that there was a road into the valley and a trailhead (Peraltra Trail); I added it to our bucket list! We pulled into the community of Gold Canyon at days end and just in time for golden hour; our timing was perfect. The road east quickly turned to gravel, and it was dusty! Homes and the urban lights were still in view when I noted the many campers, tents, ATV’s, horse trailers and families enjoying the desert. Leaving them behind, we continued on until we came across a ravine that was laced with saguaro trees and with Superstition Mountain in distance, it completed the scene; it was in perfect. With our cameras in hand we walked carefully through the desert and eventually followed a meandering game trail. As the sun got closer to the horizon, the halos around the cacti were becoming bright and vivid. The vegetation was so lush and green (thanks to a recent rainfall) however because I shot this photograph directly into the sun the greenery was annihilated by the blasting sun. I love how the sun captures the horizontal lines of the saguaro trees, along with the higgledy-piggledy lines of the cholla. *Interestingly, saguaro trees don't grow their first side arm until they are 75–100 years of age, though some never grow any arms.
The Western Red Cedars of “Ancient Forest National Park”, typically grow along the northwest coast of North America,. Oddly enough though, these were located in the interior of BC! Many of the enormously tall trees are well over 1000 years old; thanks to the perfect weather and soil conditions, and the ability to survive past droughts, storms, insect outbreaks and fires too. Knowing that the early morning fog would add “mood” to the overall composition, I arrived before sunrise, The little bit that was there however quickly dissipated but I did manage to capture this moody shot. That said, it's very indicative of what I felt; all alone, at peace and at awe with nature. As I meandered along the manmade boardwalks through the forest, I could feel myself depart from the world outside, in both in time in space. I certainly was in my element and for a moment, I was a child again, without a care it the world. I hiked around with my camera gear on my back and with my puppy Arlo by my side for almost 5 hours. He's only five months old but I started training him early to sit and be still when I set up my tripod. Although he can't go on all of my photo shoots, he’s such a good puppy and great companion. What I love about this photo is its overall sense of mood and when I look at it, I feel a sense of mystery, yet I feel the tranquility and calm too. I actually saw this scene from quite a distance so I carefully chose where to positioned myself and then I changed my lens and camera settings… and so on, and so on! I remember thinking that photography is a lot like golf! Just as there is a lot to consider and remember before you swing, well, there’s a lot to consider before you press the shutter button too! Do this, do that, don’t do this… and so on, ha ha! As I neared the end of my hike, Arlo (with an alert stance) came to a dead stop…. hmmm, this was a first! Suddenly I heard what he heard; a rustling noise but it was a noise that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. As I stood in the stillness the strange sound slowly got louder, and louder. When I looked up, I realized a strong wind was blowing above me (only) and the noise was from the thousands of leaves blowing in the wind. I chuckled…. and breathed a sigh of relief (lol).
While on our way to visit Wickenburg, we decided look for some photographic opportunities and potential boondocking (dry-camping) sites in the Lake Pleasant area, north-west of Phoenix. Just a short distant from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, the world changes; as we noticed as we drove down a dusty gravel road, through small mountainous valleys and rocky gorges. The area was (quite notably), densely covered with saguaro trees. When this lake (Lake Pleasant) came into view, I noted how intriguing it was to see both saguaro trees and a lake in one “frame”. Driving further north I noticed the sun’s reflection in the lake and stopped to take a photo. I carefully placed my feet as I made my way down the prickly pear embankment and framed this shot when suddenly a truck barreled past. Seeing the dust, my first instinct was to run back into truck however I knew I wouldn’t make it there in time so I ate the dust, lol! To my surprise however the dust lofted down into my frame! Although my camera (and myself) got sugar coated with dust, I was elated to get this shot! I absolutely love the softness and muted colors of this photo and how the dust (which looks like fog) adds to the interesting combination of sun, lake reflections and sky.
This photo was taken at Bartlett Lake, a reservoir lake located north-east of Scottsdale and slightly north of Rio Verde, Arizona. Popular with anglers and campers, it’s quite unique lake with rugged mountains surrounding it and saguaros growing along its shoreline. Sometimes, we photographers have to be very persistent; I went to Bartlett Lake 4 times to get this shot! It was a 45 minute drive from my RV so I left early (in the darkness of night) so that I’d be there before the sunrise. The first time I went, I chose to go on a day when there was snow on the mountain tops but unfortunately the combination of cloud cover, rain and the (icy cold) winds made it impossible to get any kind of shot. On my second attempt I didn’t have much luck either. I was disappointed by the dark and dreary sky so I spent the morning hiking and searching for future compositions; so it wasn’t a total loss. Eventually I found this one and vowed to come back on a sunny day. The next time I went, everything was perfect until I had a run in with a *Cholla, and it won…. Ouch! So, that quickly ended that photo shoot! Regardless, I wasn’t going to give up and with visions of this pre-planned composition in mind, I head out there for yet another visit. Finally, I got the shot I was hoping for! A Chollas are a desert plant that are completely covered with barbed needles. They are also known as a Jumping Cholla, for its habit of jumping (rolling) along the ground in the wind. They easily fall off their mother plant and then have a tendency to “jump” (if you will) on to the skin or clothing of a passerby…. it’s pure 100% OUCH! I must say this was on of my most “painful” shots! LOL
"Golden Birches" As I traveled the pacific northwest, I searched for that perfect and unique stand of birch (or aspen) trees to photograph, only to discover it was a lot harder than I had anticipated. It shouldn't have been so difficult but my list of "must haves" was long; mostly because I wanted my shot to be unique, and have a sense of mood. That said, I LOVE this photograph! The low light, distant fog, subtle colors and lack of density gives it a softness that I wasn't able to capture in any of my previous shots. Together, "Golden Birches" brings about a sense of calm, thus a calm to any room. This photograph will be hanging in my home.
On Thanksgiving Day, 2017, we ventured out on our ATV’s for what was a truly adventurous and rewarding day. With my dear friends Ray and Karen we ventured out to Pettipeace Lake, a lake we had tried to get to a before; with each attempt we ran into obstacles, including knee deep snow, the disappearing daylight and a bridge washout. This time however we were prepared and set early and with great anticipation of the day that lie before us! As we approached the bridge washout we were disappointed to see that, although it was still under repair, a huge mound of boulders blocked our way. So, what to do? With excited determination we pulled up our sleeves and went to work, moving the boulders one by one until finally, we made a path for the ATV's. “Yay!”, we were elated to be on our way, to the “elusive” Pettapeace Lake. As we gained altitude, we entered a fog bank and the dampness could be felt with every breath; it had grown bitterly cold. Soon, snow began to fall and stick to the road; "If the snow gets much deeper", we agreed, "we'll have to turn around". We pressed on and as we approached this lake, we were all in awe; I had never (ever) seen such a beautiful winter scene. "Wow!", we all commented, “unbelievable!” were the words that came out of our mouths. The spiritual serenity of this alpine view was majestic; truly Mother Nature at her best. We were so excited by the scenery and really wanted to continue on but we were losing daylight, and fast; it was time to turn around. As we descended, we raced the day's darkness, and we froze as we did! Our original plan was to return to our cabin, wash up, dress up and go to the local community’s Thanksgiving dinner however because we were running late, we chose to drive directly there. We arrived, wet, cold and dressed in our winter gear and adorned our helmet hair; lol ..you can imagine the looks we got! Too funny :-) That said however, being an off-grid community, everyone was more interested in our travels and our attire! Such fun! Our Thanksgiving dinner was the perfect ending to a perfect day! I'll never, ever forget this adventurous day we shared. Pettipiece Lake is a lake located just 19.7 north-east of Seymour Arm via logging/forestry roads; in the province of British Columbia, Canada.
In a previous fall photograph, I had made mentioned how difficult it was to find a fall woodland composition. Imagine then, my surprise when I happened upon this scene! “Wow”, I thought, “Thank you Mother Nature, you truly made this composition exceptional!" I absolutely love the vivid colors and how they are somewhat segregated (rather than in a mish-mash, as they usually are). Together, these elements create patterns and although there isn’t a particular subject, the red bushes in the middle certainly draw the viewer’s eye; ultimately the settling point. That said, I chose to crop out the sky because your eyes would have been drawn towards it (the brightness), and out of the photograph. This photo looks amazing on a wall. To view it on a wall, see the "SAMPLED Framed" section.
Light is an important component of all photography, and to me it’s the MOST important element in landscape photography. That said, searching out unique lighting conditions often means I'm up early and/or up late (I bundle up!). I camped in a provincial campground near Clearwater, BC, were the heavy morning fog typically covers the valley floor. When I woke up, I immediately peeked out the window to evaluate the weather conditions and noticed the sun was just starting to break through. I knew I had to hustle, and within 5 minutes my RV was packed and I was on the road. I headed to a local the golf course, where I hoped the open fairways, fog, trees and the (peak-a-boo) sun would produce some interesting lighting conditions. I was drawn to this simplistic composition (love it!), The tree definitely dominates the scene and demands the viewer's attention. I love how it stands out so beautifully against the many cool colors of the morning fog. The tree trunks on the left, add balance, contrast in an interestingly an abstract way. I called this image “A Foggy Start” not only because it's a foggy morning scene but because of its location (a golf course).
I arrived at the “Ancient Forest National Park” (in the interior of British Columbia) before sunrise, hoping for fog. The little bit that was there however quickly dissipated but I did manage to capture capture a couple moody shots. The calmness in the forest was very indicative of what I felt; all alone, at peace and at awe with nature. As I meandered along the man-made boardwalks through the forest, I could feel myself depart from the world outside, in both in time in space. I certainly was in my element and for a moment, I was a child again, without a care it the world. It’s there, in those “all alone” moment in nature, that I recognize just how much I value my lifestyle, while recognizing (respectfully) that it isn’t (or can’t be) for everyone. That said, I hope you can get lost in my photos too :-) What I like about this photo is it’s perspective, which was hard to find in the darkness of this ancient forest. I did however stumble across this scene where the light coming in from the background, combined with the darkness in the foreground, gave this photo depth. Without depth, this photo would have been flat. You’ll also notice that I used a shallow depth of field, which I chose to help draw your eye to the large tree on the right.
I can't begin explain the level of excitement I feel when given the opportunity to capture some of this world's most amazing places. Even more exciting however is to come across scenes like this that are truly unique and different; they usually involve the weather and the sun (or lack of). In this photo, thick valley fog, falling snow and darkness completely surrounded me; winter was in the air. I was focusing on a field of wispy bulrushes when to my astonishment the sun suddenly appeared, and only on this tiny spot. I had no time to waste, so I found the best composition and adjusted my camera accordingly. I was elated by the vibrant, vivid and contrasting colors; they demand the viewer's attention. That said, I thoroughly enjoy sharing these rare photographic moments with you. I hope that you can feel the "wow" too.
In south-central British Columbia lies Upper Seymour River Provincial Park; north of the off grid community of Seymour Arm. The only way to get to this photographed location is on an ATV, on a decommissioned logging road. Here you will find TRUE solitude, a pristine waterway and nature is abound. We live in such a beautiful part of the World. That said, on this particular trip we observed an incredibly thunderous grizzly bear sauntering across the sand bar! Needless to say, we promptly left because we knew that if the grizzly decided to give chase we wouldn’t be able to turn our ATV around quick enough (on the narrow overgrown road we were on). Interestingly, notice the dark trees in the background; as the sun was setting they were in the shade of the mountain to which they are rooted while the valley floor was illuminated by the sun. What I love about this photo are the vibrant colours and varied densities. I too love the mix of both horizontal and vertical lines ...and of course, I love how it makes me feel. :-) This photo will always remind me that enormous bear but more importantly it reminds me of how much I value the tranquility and solitude that nature provides.
"A Long Winter's Day" While traveling east through the Logan Canyon Utah, the morning’s lake effect fog (from Bear Lake) was on the rise and clinging to the aspen trees on the hillside as it did. Watching the movement of the fog through the intermittent rays of sunshine was mesmerizing, and it was so pretty. As I drove I saw this beautiful grouping of aspen trees and also noticed a great place to park right beside them so I drove on, in hopes of finding somewhere safe to turn around. Fortunately, within a mile there was a Nordic area with a large parking lot which gave me plenty of room to maneuver the 22 foot trailer I was pulling. The entrance however was on a corner and I wondered why there wasn’t a “No left turn” sign and why there weren’t double solid lines either. With alarm bells ringing in my head, I slowed to a stop and proceeded cautiously. Just as I was ready to turn, a snow plow truck came barreling around the corner! Oh my gosh, one more second and… well, yikes! We sat dumbfounded by what had just happened and counted our blessings! When I got back on the highway, I looked for a road sign again…. notta one. I was (am) sick to think what could have happened and worry for the next poor soul. Yes, every photo or piece of art work has a story; be sure to ask the artist. I love linear art and patterns (as seen in this photo), so I tend to notice and find that in nature. What I love most about this photo are the intersecting vertical and horizontal lines and colors (or lack of them). I feel this photograph’s simplicity is very calming, thus appealing. That said, not every photo needs a demanding focal point, some photos (like this one), you may merely want to wander in and get lost.
"Calm Reflections" I woke up this chilly October morning to a big surprise, snow! I purposely parked my RV for the night next to this pond; I was hoping to photograph the morning mist rising from it. You can imagine my surprise when I opened the curtains and saw snow, in October! As I meandered quietly by myself I noticed my feelings of calm, and I wanted to capture that feeling. That said, with the snow covered trees, lack of vibrancy and the calm reflective waters, I knew exactly how to capture it and set up my tripod for a slow shutter speed.
While heading East alongside 3-Valley Lake (central British Columbia) one morning, I got a glimpse of these vibrant trees as I drove by. Gosh they were so beautiful against the calm blue waters, I just had to stop and get a shot. I pulled off onto a side road and prepared my camera and as I was attaching my long lens, I noticed something move in front of me! To my amusement, two black and fuzzy ears were popping up and down above the tall grasses and then I saw a big black muzzle; it was a bear. Oh geez, really! With my camera at the ready, I waited (and waited, and waited….) hoping the bear would show more of himself but he was much too busy eating ....something, and I wasn’t about to find out what! I turned my truck around and found a safer and closer spot to park :-) Although I felt safe from the bear, my vantage point was in a precarious spot. Not only did I have to stand on the shoulder of the (busy) Trans Canada Highway but it was on a corner and a cement barrier skirted the side too. I decided my tripod would put me into the danger zone of traffic so I used the cement barrier as my tripod; it worked and I got the shot I wanted.
I haven't been taking too many photos these days because of all the mosquitos here in the North West (with thanks to a very wet spring and summer). I don't "do" mosquitos very well and doing battle while taking photos is challenging! My brief departure from working out in the field however has given me an opportunity to work on some of my favorite photos from earlier this year; including this one. With my full format camera in hand, I took this photo knowing I'd be cropping it into the panoramic format you see here. I wanted to showcase just a sliver of the forest; using the vertical lines, the variety in textures and these soft and subtle colors to entertain the inquisitive viewer. Mother nature truly created this abstract but it takes a creative and inquisitive eye to see it. :-)
