Lake Ferchensee
Lake Ferchensee outside of Mittenwald in Bavaria, Germany.
Lake Ferchensee outside of Mittenwald in Bavaria, Germany.
Read less
Read less
Jul, 2016Views
169
Likes
Awards
Summer Selection
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankSame photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was shot just outside of Mittenwald in Bavaria, Germany at Lake Ferchensee. I took the train to Mittenwald with my mountain bike and then cycled from there to the lake.Time
I had been shooting in the lake all day and was not really capturing what I had wanted and set out to capture. It happened to be a very difficult lake to shoot in because the silt was so delicate making it nearly impossible to move without stirring up and making the water murky. Clouds began forming in the sky late afternoon and there was a moment when a cloud puff was in front of the sun and changed the lighting. This was part of a sequence of approximately four images when the conditions aligned and allowed me to capture the image. I usually shoot anywhere from 5-7 hours depending on conditions and number of location adjustments or moves to a different part of the lake.Lighting
Over-under photography is best with direct sunlight as the rays of the sun are needed as much as possible to penetrate and light the underwater scene. Partly cloudy skies add drama to the scene and can provide for some nice surface reflections. It's always a dance with the settings to find that perfect balance.Equipment
I shoot with a Canon 5D mk iii, an 8-15mm fisheye lens at 15mm placed in an Aquatech Elite underwater housing and large dome port. I shoot to both SD and CF card simultaneously thus having an instant safety copy in camera in case of card malfunction. When needed I use a full trilaminate drysuit made by Bare including gloves and trek boots. I also carry a pair of dive fins. Its use depends on altitude and water temperature. Most of the lakes at higher altitudes are quite chilly and require me to wear the drysuit.Inspiration
Growing up in Hawaii I had always been fascinated with the ocean. I used to do fish photography with disposable cameras and then moved on to a Canon underwater film camera. The passion grew from there as I expanded to include underwater and split-level scenes in lakes. Being that my wife and I live part of the year in Munich, Germany, I decided to explore the glacial lakes in the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. They have proven to be some of the most beautiful locations I have ever seen before.Editing
Yes, since I shoot RAW, landscape usually requires an amount of processing and over-unders even more so. I like to 'kiss' the original image with some processing but only in an attempt to stay as close to how I remember it on the day. I try to stay as true to the scene as possible yet with some embellishments.In my camera bag
These shoots have become mini-expeditions and are a bit involved! First, to get to some of these remote locations efficiently, I use my mountain bike loaded with Ortlieb panniers and my F Stop Gear Shinn mountain backpack and ICU. The ICU contains my Canon 5D mk iii, Aquatech housing, 8-15mm fisheye lens and a 50mm prime. I always carry an extra set of SD and CF cards just in case as well as three batteries. In one side of the Ortlieb bicycle panniers is my Bare drysuit and thermal wear for underneath as well as extra socks and underwater trek boots. I also carry a pair of dive fins that can be worn over the underwater trek boots. They help me get through the water more efficiently especially if it is deep or along shoreline where I am unable to stand. I have a system for setting up a mini basecamp at a location in which I use large trash bags as a base layer on the ground and then a towel on top of it for setting up the camera. The same is used for the drysuit along with an extra towel. Having a system and a plan that I adhere to has been a lifesaver. The morning begins before sunrise, taking a train with bicycle and packs to whatever closest station to the shoot location I can get to and then venture out via bicycle from there. It can be exhausting cycling up-mountain with fully loaded packs and backpack so fitness and conditioning are a huge part of this process. In addition I need to consider those locations that are accessible by mountain bike. Sometimes I can only ride so far and then have to hike the last stretch by foot. In this case I have to strap my Bare drysuit to the outside of my mountain backpack. It's quite a load but it works. I aways make sure to have plenty of water and food with me, sun protection and a positive attitude! It can be a gruelling day but once I am in the water and shooting it is like I have arrived home....in my comfort zone.Feedback
Practice, practice, practice. I spent about a month learning my gear and getting comfortable with it in our local lake.....Lake Starnberg. I practiced with various apertures, iso's and shutter speeds until I could hone in on what I wanted. Using a full-frame camera in an underwater housing adds a whole other element and learning curve. Learning how to access the menus and make adjustments via the housing are vital. Learning hyper focal distance and how to use it to my advantage was also invaluable. Patience and preparation are key in order to have successful shoots. I always go through a pre-shoot checklist the night before. It has saved me from forgetting something critical such as my underwater trek boots or cold-water gloves. Never do I want to arrive at a remote location at nearly 10,000ft altitude and realise I forgot something critical resulting in a lost shoot. So far, this has never happened! Practice, preparation and planning. Watching weather patterns are also an important part of a successful underwater shoot. It is always the last thing I check online the night before a shoot.
