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Walking light
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Walking light



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upload_dateJan, 2015

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took it in solitary field where the forest starts. It's just some blocks away from where I live in Gatineau, Quebec. I'm very attracted to trees without leaves, I see them as perfect paintings showing themselves in winter without their beautiful clothing of summer.

Time

We woke up with my husband that morning around 6 AM. I had already spotted the place where I wanted to make a series of photographs of scattered and lonely trees. It was extremely cold, around -25° Celsius. We needed to be fast! Besides, I was using an old film camera, a Mamiya twin lens reflex. I had to be very careful and precise, if I didn't get the shot, I wasn't sure if my husband would have the time again to come with me and be my model for this photographs. My hands were so cold while taking it. I immediately went to the darkroom and processed the film. Around half of them were good enough and that was amazing for me!

Lighting

I decided to take the photographs very early in the morning so I had this beautiful light coming from sunrise! I had to rush because the sun was going up very fast. The sun was already up when I thought I lost the perfect moment to shoot but suddenly I noticed these amazing shadows coming from the trees. Perfect timing.

Equipment

Mamiya C330 twin lens reflex and a Manfrotto tripod.

Inspiration

I have a great admiration for nature. Although I'm a real technology follower, nature captures me even more. When I made this photo I was studying a full time program in fine art photography in Ottawa. Our assignment was to make scenery images. So, I decided to photograph trees because they intrigued me as living beings making essential part of our human existence and they are so beautiful. When I was a child I didn't care about the magnificence of nature but as I grow old, amazing experiences have changed me. I wrote this along with the images: There was a time I could not see, I was flying blind in the hands of nothingness. I thought I was going to die and now I know it but who cares a dime? I tried to look for a place where to land but everything was too blurry for me to understand. Were my eyes born that way? Was it me who refused to see the display? One day during my life parade, I walked away from what I thought it was ok. I stumbled and lost my balance, my knees were injured and I had no strength to stand up again. I asked help and many came but in their blindness they could not see. Some would mock me, some would cry along with me while I was screaming in the midst of darkness, is it you the one who will do it for me? Lost in my empty space without a place where to scape, the path was narrowed and my option, only this one: to open my eyes and see what the darkness mean. It lets me see the light as it exalts it day and night, there was a time I could not see, now my eyes notice beauty everywhere they wish to be, beauty in a dead tree, beauty in the sky, beauty in the mystery of being.

Editing

I scanned the negative and worked with the contrast of the photography. I didn't need to change much for this shot.

In my camera bag

I usually have my canon 5d Mark III, I use 2 or 3 different lenses, 50 mm, 24-105 mm and 70-200 mm. I love them all, they give me great versatility during my shoots.

Feedback

We can make wonderful photographs in any moment. Yeah, I know, many photographers say that the best times are early in the morning or at sunset and it's true, the light at those moments is incredible! But, if you use your creativity, any kind of light can work out! We need to learn to observe the light and take advantage of the moment to create!

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