Tranquility
A view of Boulder Creek in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in Northern California.
To view more of my photos go to www.michelejamesphotogr...
Read more
A view of Boulder Creek in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in Northern California.
To view more of my photos go to www.michelejamesphotography.com or follow me on Twitter @micheleyjames or my Facebook Fanpage Michele James Photography.
Read less
To view more of my photos go to www.michelejamesphotography.com or follow me on Twitter @micheleyjames or my Facebook Fanpage Michele James Photography.
Read less
May, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken along Boulder Creek in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in Northern California. Whiskeytown is just five minutes from my house. The diversity of the park makes it a photographer's dream! There are four main waterfalls and many creeks and seasonal streams. It's my go to place for photographing water. In addition to the many creeks and streams, Whiskeytown is comprised mainly of granite. I believe it is the granite that make for the clear streams. I love the silky texture of the water against the granite rocks.Time
Most of the creeks at Whiskeytown are densely covered in places so no matter what time of the day you can find a place to photograph! I love the foliage that the creeks present. It makes me feel like I am in a secret hideaway when in actuality, some are just a car ride and small walk away!Lighting
Sometimes lighting can be a challenge when the tree cover is sparse. The unevenness of the light can be frustrating at times. Once I figured out that was okay I just worked with it to portray the feeling of the scene I was looking at. I was always so adamant about even lighting but came to realize that sunlight dapples make things interesting! I will say, however, that the afternoon and evening light is my favorite time to photograph the creeks. The late afternoon sun brings a warmth to the location that isn't there in the morning hours.Equipment
I am an Olympus shooter. This photo was shot using the E-510. I always start shooting at f22 with either a polarizer or ND filter depending on the light. I try to run my shutter out to 30 seconds but was only able to extend this one out to six seconds. I love the silky effect of the water when I use these settings. No flash was used. If the picture was too dark then I extend the shutter speed even longer. As for any long exposure shot, I use a tripod.Inspiration
I have for many years, used photography as a stress reliever. I have always loved photographing water. If I had to say why it would have to be that water washes all trials and tribulations of the day away. A few hours next to a creek always brings balance and clarity back to my life. I walk away from photographing with a clear head.Editing
Very little post processing in Lightroom was done to this photo. A little color saturation, clarity to the rocks and soften the rest of the photo by taking the clarity down a notch. I want the viewer to get a dreamy feel when they look at the photo.In my camera bag
My camera bag has the first camera I ever owned (an Evolt 300), the Olympus E 510, and my current camera the Olympus OMD E-M5. I use a variety of lenses with both the 510 and EM-5. I always have my polarizers and ND filters with me. A tripod is a must for long exposure shots.Feedback
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has always had its own "weather" as us locals call it! It can be sunny in nearby towns but once you cross over the divide it could have snow. The diversity of this weather makes photographing the area a challenge that I fully accept! I just make sure that I have the proper equipment for myself and my cameras! Never let the weather conditions influence you taking photos or not. Some of my best shots have been in the storms. Who can turn down photographing the sky during those conditions?
