Sunset on a Lake

I’ve been craving a pier/dock/long exposure/silky water shot for a while…  I think it stems, for the most part, by feeling awfully inspired by another CT photographer named Kevin Corrado’s work.  He does some fabulous B&W minimal seascapes – look it up, you won’t be disappointed!

Well, sometimes, you just have to make a photo happen.  I was driving back from Pennsylvania this weekend, and took one of my many rest stops at Lake Wallenpaupack in Somewhere, PA.  Finding the public docks on the lake took some doing – it wasn’t the short trip off the highway I envisioned – but life is an adventure, right?  And this sunset made it totally worth it!

Lake Wallenpaupack – Pennsylvania

Musings

Beavertail Lighthouse – RI

Let me start by saying, I’m not a “water” person.  I’m definitely an “I like my feet to be on solid ground, where sharks and alligators can’t eat me” kind of person.  I am also an “I almost had a panic attack while kayaking the other day” when my friend pointed out a snapping turtle in the water near us.

That being said, as much as I love being dry, I am drawn to be close to the water. It’s a powerful, beautiful force of nature and it makes a great addition to most photos.
Being at Niagara this weekend reminded me of how incredible, impressive and intense water can be.  There is a spot on the American side (in the Cave of the Winds) where you can stand under just a sliver of the Bridal Veil Falls.  The water slams into your skin, and the wind from the falls pushes you around on the deck – it is an experience that always takes my breath away.

As I walked away from the Bridal Veil this weekend, I turned to my friend and explained my feelings about water.  I don’t love the idea of being in it, but boy do I respect it.  And I love, love, love to photograph it in its various forms.  In fact, in the next few blog posts, you will definitely see some photos from the weekend.  But first…!

Today’s photo is one I’ve been sitting on for a few weeks.  It wasn’t what I envisioned when I drove to the coast in Rhode Island to take photos.  I have hopes of a colorful sunset on the horizon, rock formations in the foreground, leading lines, and somewhere in there, a lighthouse.  What I got was fog.  And some crazy powerful waves.  And lots of wind.  And raindrops on my camera lens.  And dangerous footing.  And about an hour of reflection – when nature acts up, it reminds me that we are just small (but mighty!) creatures in a gigantic (amazing, beautiful, wonderful!) world.

As I’ve had time away from the photo, it’s grown on me.  It is a pano, with only the rocks processed for HDR.  This was taken around 8:45pm, so obviously long exposure was used.  Also, as us photographers all know, the details make the shot.  It took me a few versions of this image before I realized I was missing the light from the lighthouse.  With it being socked in, I was hard to make out exactly what it was without the light so I had to begin counting the seconds per rotation.  Seven seconds per revolution, two second timer to allow the vibrations from my finger to dissipate.  So I set my focus, and began counting…at five seconds, I’d press the shutter and hope for the best. =)

Art is Subjective

Just Because

No, I couldn’t tell you whhhhyyyy I like this.  But I do. haha

I took this while in the middle of an engagement shoot and keep passing over it while finishing up the edits on the couple’s photos.  My inside voice tells me there is too much negative space, no obvious subject, that it would only look good under a book title or an advertisement…  And yet, my eyes kept wandering back to it.

So here we are.  You, having done some serious and important reading for the day (courtesy of moi!) and me, feeling better for having shared.

Enjoying the Scenery

Water Wheel – Granville, MA

Often, our favorite moments are the once we never expected.

A few years ago, I took a trip up to Massachusetts, camera in hand.  (Well, not in my hands while I was driving.  That would be dangerous! haha)  I believe I was going out to see a relatively well know waterfall on the CT/NY/MA line.

Of all of the images I took that day, this one is still my favorite.  It was a “stumble upon” moment.  I literally had no idea this was here (and truly, until some extensive Google-ing after the fact, I wasn’t even sure where I was!) but I saw it and knew I had to pull over.  They say that happiness is being able to enjoy the scenery on a detour…and this photo makes me happy!

The restless soul laments the things they want but don’t have.  For me, peace comes from appreciating the things life gives me.  This moment, this image is a good reminder of that!