Fog rising off Portage lake, Alaska
Fog rising off Portage lake, Alaska
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Awards
Neil Dankoff Minimalist Winner
Action Award
Contest Finalist in The Neil Dankoff Photography Competition
Contest Finalist in Epic Exposures Photo Contest
People's Choice in PhotoSchool 8: MINIMALISM Photo Challenge
Winner in Winter Minimalism Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in The Minimalist Marketplace Project
Top Shot Award
Contest Finalist in The Minimalist Photo Contest
Winner in A Walk in the Fog Photo Challenge
Winner in Cover photo Photo Challenge
Winner in Contest Winner only Photo Challenge
Sony a3000
Contest Finalist in Show Minimalism Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Beauty Of Lakes And Rivers Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 29 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Enter The Void Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Misty Mountains Photo Contest
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Contest Finalist in Clean & Simple Photo Contest
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Top Ranks
Denalyn
July 11, 2016
The beautiful simplicity of this picture...it's incredible. I love it. So calming.
JohnBentham79
July 21, 2017
How to make a small rock the centre of attention in such a huge shot. Good job!
AnnHopta
July 08, 2021
Thank you for entering my challenge 'Creative/Abstract Photos From The Camera'. Voting is now open and your vote is needed to choose the People's Choice winner. Thank you for voting and good luck! Ann
Rmay1
December 03, 2023
Congratulations on your win in the Minimalist category of the Neil Dankoff contest.😊
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken on Portage Lake located on the foot of Portage Glacier, Alaska.Time
It was close to four in the afternoon in late October which is late afternoon here in Alaska at that time of year.Lighting
There was a low fog across the entire lake which gave the several large rocks that poked above the surface a zen like quality and were very beautiful in their own right. High above the sky was blue. Being late in the afternoon, the sun had already dropped behind the towering mountains behind me, which coupled with the blue sky, gave both the fog and the foreground surroundings a mysterious almost magical blue cast. Here and there where the fog blanket thinned momentarily distant majestic snow capped mountains would occasionally peak through.Equipment
I used a Nikon D300s, a setting of 18 mm, and photographed at 1/250 sec, f10, ISO 200.Inspiration
It had been foggy intermittently through the day. Passing near the Portage Lake turnoff I thought I would detour the couple of miles to take a look in the off chance that it would prove interesting. Little did I realize just how good it would be. Ended up taking many photos of zen like rocks poking up through the water surface and into the fog.Editing
I improved the clarity and sharpness a bit on the rock while avoiding dehazing on the fog itself.In my camera bag
My equipment on most occasions is simple--currently a Nikon D500 and an 18 to 300 Nikkor lens. It pretty much covers every situation and I never have to worry about getting dust inside the camera. I also usually carry an SB 900 flash if I am photographing people indoors, and use it primarily as a bounce flash to create side lighting. A sling bag is absolutely a must for me so that I can be ready in a moments notice. The sling bag is large enough that I am able to also carry a carbon fiber tripod within it for those special occasions when one is needed. A piece of equipment I use a lot and highly recommend is a carpenter's knee pad. While it saves the knees mostly for low angle shots, I can also sit on it or lie with my elbows on it. The pad also doubles as protection for the camera when it is in the sling bag, as I have removed most of the original padding.Feedback
Composition is key in photographing scenery. Including the rock in the foreground a third of the way into the frame balanced by two mountains in the background was an intentional capture. While this photo could also have worked well in black and white, I think retaining the natural blue cast adds something to the emotional power of the photo. The scene ,while zen like in mood, had a sense of coolness about it created by the fog lifting off the glacier fed pond and the two snow capped mountains in the background.