The Reach
Dock at Summit Lake State Park. Photo by Mark Sean Orr
Dock at Summit Lake State Park. Photo by Mark Sean Orr
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Aug, 2015Views
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Awards
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
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Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Genius
Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photograph was taken at Summit Lake State Park in New Castle, Indiana. There are many photo opportunities in this great park.Time
I remember this day vividly. There was no one else in the entire park, I had it all to myself. It was a bitterly cold February morning. We had a lot of ice storms that year and the lake looked brutally cold but beautiful. This was taken early in the morning.Lighting
I had only the light of the sun through the clouds. I think it made for a perfect shot. I am, by nature an over-saturater when it comes to color, but I love natural lighting. Nothing compares!Equipment
For this shot, I used a Nikon D40 that I had just been given for Christmas. At the time I had the two lenses that came with the camera and that was all I wanted. I rarely use a tripod and didn't with this photograph either. I like not having to carry anything I don't have to. It's more about being outside in nature for me. Unencumbered.Inspiration
I drove all around Henry County, Indiana that morning taking photos because the ice storm had provided such an amazing canvas to work with. The ice made everything look unique and beautiful. I knew I would end up at the lake though and it was my favorite location of the day. I just happened to get there early enough to capture the morning fog that partially blocked out the trees in the background.Editing
I'm a self-confessed over-saturator. I realize that I'm sometimes going a bit too far for some tastes, but it's what I love. I always remind myself of the quote by Vincent Van Gogh about future artists being colorists "in a way no one has been before.” So I did boost the saturation, and I also did some dodging and burning. I wanted the planks of the dock to really pop and I think they do. The end result is the view I saw in my mind and that's the main thing, I think.In my camera bag
I carry my camera and one lens now, a Tamron 18-270. It fits all my needs and I love the freedom of not being bogged down by equipment.Feedback
I think the best advice from me is no advice because I'm not a professional in some aspects of photography. I guess I would say to learn how your camera works and experiment constantly with settings. I just love photography, keep it simple and focus on having fun while taking with me a permanent reminder of the beautiful scenery I witnessed on that particular outing. My philosophy is learn the rules and then forget them. Don't let them get in the way of making a photograph that is uniquely yours.
