Water – Page 5 – the life of a nature photographer

Inside an Ice Cave

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

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.

A Bloomin’ Gallery Show

Business, Galleries and Shows, Rocks, Water

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

The Daffodil Gallery

This Saturday, August 13 from noon to 4pm is the opening for “Blooming“, a new show at the Daffodil Gallery. I’ve got two pieces in this show — one you’ve seen before if you’ve been to the gallery, and the other is new for this show. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be there for the opening, but even without me the gallery is a relaxing and enjoyable place to go and see new art.

Kasaa Gallery

Also coming up soon is the VAAA Open Photo Exhibition. The opening will be Thursday, August 25th from 6 to 8pm at the Kasaa Gallery in the Northern Jubilee Auditorium. I am excited to have two pieces in this show, which is a juried show open to all Alberta photographers. There should be quite a variety of photo styles there.

I may have to get a calendar up on the site to keep track of exhibitions and shows for those interested.

But where are all the photos from BC?

I’m getting there slowly. Everything else is pretty crazy right now, so they’ll start trickling out over the next week or two. To get started, here are some cracked rocks in Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park. This was taken after my first day on the road, which is always a very liberating experience.

Conquering BC’s Freezing Lakes

Mountain, Travel, Water

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

My trip to BC was a glorious success — I survived, the car mostly survived, and I had a blast. It started out with a four day road trip, riddled with stops and hikes at random places. Then I got to go camping for a couple days with a good friend, and I ended it off with a couple days driving to get back. I mostly slept in the car, which was pretty comfortable until my sleeping mat decided to deflate.

I have a bunch photos to post over the next couple weeks, but I thought this was an appropriate start.

My friend Will swimming in a cold lake in the mountains in BC.

Normally I don’t take photos of people. I make two exceptions: when I take photos at weddings (only as a second photographer, talk to Curtis if you want a wedding photographer), and this.

Edmonton Folk Fest

Business, Galleries and Shows, Prairie, Water

Monday, July 25th, 2011

I’m looking forward to seeing whoever can make it out to Folk Fest this year. Last year we had a great time, met some wonderful people, and heard some amazing musicians. This year we’re adding the pendants (see one at our Artfire store) to our booth! Anna and I just finished making another batch, so we’ll have a few, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we sell out. If you’re looking to buy one, come early! As always, we’ll have lots of prints and cards as well. We’ll be in the crafter’s tent between August 5th and 7th. We also have someone helping with the booth this year (hi Leah!), so we can have lunch breaks and maybe even catch a show or two.

Until then, I’m driving out to BC to go camping with a good friend, so this will be my last blog post for at least a week. But I promise to come back with lots of photos to share.

Here’s a photo to tide you over — a small creek near Camrose, which flows into the Battle River.

Abstract Water Photography Explorations

Abstract, Composition, Photo of the Day, Water

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

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.

$ripple-refractions-in-mt-lorette-ponds$

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.

Birch Tree Beside Bellis Lake

Abstract, Photo of the Day, Water

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) in front of Bellis Lake on a lovely summer evening.

The warm bright sunlight on the bark against the dark blue water caught my attention, and the cloud reflected in the water just topped it off. The hardest part of a photo like this is simplifying — getting rid of all the things that will detract from the feeling I’m trying to capture. There can be so much surrounding a scene like this. There are lots of trees crowding around, I’m standing in a grove of alders and rose bushes, the far side of the lake is just a little above the top of the frame. But I’m capturing what I love, and the surroundings almost fade away — I capture what captures me.

Midday Ripples

Abstract, Photo of the Day, Water

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

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.

Sound in Visual Form

Photo of the Day, Water

Friday, June 24th, 2011

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.