DSC04690
Dec, 2015Views
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Winner in You in a winter wonderland landscape! Photo Challenge
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jimcook_1938
December 17, 2015
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
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christianekrysiapaquotpaczkowski
December 31, 2015
good face's expression !
Love the cold sensation, water seems very very cold
Love the cold sensation, water seems very very cold
suzanneboellner
January 19, 2016
Love this picture. It is so serene and surreal. You can almost hear the silence.
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I hike often and this is one of my favorite places to rest and simply observe nature. I call it "MY little waterfall" because I've never seen anyone else there. It's one of the few places I go to where I seldom even see any signs of other people. No pollution or footprints beyond my own and those of animals. It's a very peaceful and serene location and one that I photograph often. The first time it snowed after my relocation from south Florida to Georgia I couldn't wait to go and visit my favorite place.Time
This was taken in late afternoon/early evening after my job closed due to the snow. I lived within a mile of home and usually walked to work and back. On this particular day many of my coworkers offered to give me a ride because of the snow but my response was "Thanks, but as soon as I get home I'm changing my clothes and going out for a hike anyway."Lighting
It's an outdoor shot with no flash, reflectors or pre-planning. I call it a luck shot. I was where I wanted to be and was lucky enough to have enough natural lighting to capture the image I wanted.Equipment
I have several cameras but the one I carry most often is my trusty old Sony H90. It's my everywhere camera because I carry it everywhere just in case. On this day I was using an inexpensive tripod and the camera's self timer with my own settings for aperture and ISO.Inspiration
As I said, this is my favorite place to visit in nature. I hadn't seen snow in quite a few years and I was amazed by the magical quality of the woods as I walked. There was an almost other worldly silence that allowed me to hear at what seemed like a highly elevated level. From the sound of my own footsteps to the very snowflakes htting the ground, and then the familiar rush of water cascading over rocks. Once I reached my destination I realized I wanted a picture that would remind me of that first experience since childhood where nothing mattered beyond the natural joy of being outside in the elements.Editing
I'm pretty much a no frills photographer. Very little post-processing. For this particular capture I boosted contrast a bit and actually stepped down the lighting a bit to add to the "winter" look and feel of the picture.In my camera bag
When I'm out with my Sony Alpha, I carry three lenses. My 75-300 is usually mounted and ready for the unexpected wildlife possibilities. I love nature and when I hike I'm always looking around for a critter to capture photographically. I also carry an 18-70 for close up and macro work with flowers and stuff, and a nifty fifty for staged shots. In addition to those I keep a remote, cleaning cloth, lens cleaning fluid and a variety of filters in my pack and I carry either a tripod or mono-pod depending on how deep into the woods I plan on traveling. Also, because I tend to travel alone and in remote locations, I always have water, food and my cell phone in case of emergency.Feedback
People often look at my pictures and say that I must have been out looking for a particular subject. The truth is, I rarely do that when I'm out hiking. I simply stay alert to the sounds around me and watch for wildlife or interesting focal points as I walk. When I hear something skittering through the leaves or underbrush, my interest is peaked and my camera is at the ready. My advice would be to always look for the unexpected and unusual. I have places I visit because I know they are frequented by certain animals, but even there I try to stay open to the possibility of something new.
