Posts Tagged: water

Abstract / Composition / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
16
Oct 12

Context

north-thompson-fall-rapids

I often get wrapped up in a composition. I get so focused on the lines in my subject that the surroundings fade away. Sometimes this focus helps, but sometimes I ignore the fact that including some of the surroundings will give the viewer a context for the main subject. This is still a very tightly cropped image (taken at 300mm), but I’ve included the shore in the background, and I think it makes the photo. It tells the viewer the time of year (fall), the place (rocky river), and the fall colors compliment the blue-green water. The violence of the water is still obviously the main subject and the part that is in focus, but now the eye is often pulled between the water and the shore.

This photo was taken while lying down near the Clearwater River, BC. 300mm, f18, 1/15 of a second.

Abstract / Macro / Plants / Water — No Comments
27
Jun 12

There Will Come Soft Rains

dry-grass-blowing-over-poplar-branch glistening-wet-willow-leaves

It seems like all my favorite photos lately are taken during storms or on rainy days. Looking back through my photos from this spring, none of the photos from sunny hikes grab me, and I gravitate towards softer, rainier photos. I think water adds a dramatic element to photos (as well as stories – yes, I’m a Ray Bradbury fan) — it sets a mood.

The first photo was taken near Beaverhill Lake on a blustery day with my Sigma 150mm Macro at 1/125 of a second and f5.0. The second was at Chickakoo Lake – 1/800 of a second at f2.8.

Abstract / Composition / Water — No Comments
14
Mar 12

Abstract Geometric Nature Photography

Finally starting to make my way through photos from the last few trips. This is from Abraham Lake, which has been extensively photographed by many Alberta landscape photographers. It’s easy to come up with the standard compositions here, but it’s also easy to come up with new stuff. There’s just so much variety in the ice, water and rocks. These are methane bubbles from decomposing organic matter. The bubbles form in the ice as the water freezes layer by layer.

In a shot like this, composition is everything. It has to balance the visual weight of light and dark. The three smaller bubbles on the left have to balance with the two larger bubbles on the right. The negative space and positive space both have to be interesting — here the textures in the ice and bubbles add visual interest. And because it’s nature and you can never control it completely, there will always be random elements to deal with. In this picture, the shadow of something deeper lies near the top of the frame. I like the visual reminder that in photography, art is created between the artist and the subject: you never have complete control.

methane-bubbles-in-abraham-lake-ice
Macro / Photo of the Day / Plants — No Comments
13
Oct 11

Water Droplets on a Dandelion

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Mountain / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
22
Aug 11

Inside an Ice Cave

There are some places on this earth that seem a little surreal. Ice caves are one of those places. And in these strange and beautiful places, I find it really hard to take photos. I’m often overwhelmed with the experience, and focusing on composition becomes impossible. Everywhere I look there is something new. I have to slow down, let the surroundings soak into me, and then I can start to express my response to a place.

Although I would have loved to spend more time here (it’s kind of scary with the falling rocks and ice), I’m pretty happy with how the photos turned out. The lines of the photo lead into a dangerous unknown.

inside-a-glacier-ice-cave
Abstract / Composition / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
21
Jul 11

Abstract Water Photography Explorations

These photos were taken at the same place, facing the same direction, within 1 minute of each other. The difference is part of what fascinates me about water. Small changes in the viewing angle completely change the photo. The top photo is almost purely reflected light, while the bottom is a mix of reflected (which bounces off the water) and refracted (which goes through the water) light. Add to that the constant variability of the wind creating different wave patterns, flowing water creating more stable ripples or even falls, and you have a subject that never gets old. I find flat water like this a little bit harder to find compositions in. Waves from wind are transient enough that you don’t know exactly what you’re going to capture — you have a general idea, but the specifics are up to chance. Flowing water is much easier to compose, and you often get more interesting lines. Often these lines and ripples are stable enough that you can see exactly what you’re going to get. But to get refraction in flowing water, it has to be flowing pretty gently — this works best with quite small amounts of water. Otherwise you get whitewater (full of air bubbles), which is great in a completely different way.

mountain-reflection-in-mt-lorette-ponds
ripple-refractions-in-mt-lorette-ponds

These photos don’t have leading lines to add depth or direct they eye (which generally I prefer), but they do illustrate some of the possibilities.

Abstract / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
28
Jun 11

Midday Ripples

Flowing Water Creating Diamond Light Patterns

Ripples interacting to form a beautiful diamond pattern — enough pattern to see the repetition, enough randomness to create interest across the frame.

Photo of the Day / Water — 1 Comment
24
Jun 11

Sound in Visual Form

Brace for Impact

My favorite part of this photo is the tension. You can feel the impending crash of the water on the rocks — two parts interacting in a violent and beautiful way.

Taken at Panther Falls, Banff.

Abstract / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
23
Jun 11

Liquid Lens

Ripples Over Reeds

Me interpreting water interpreting grass on a sunny day near Ya Ha Tinda.

Forest / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
22
Jun 11

Magical Places

Magical Forest Pool

Taken near Livingstone Falls in the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve.

After reading a lot of fantasy novels as a kid, moss edged pools of water in dark forests will forever be magical places for me.

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