close iframe icon
approved icon kaixmarkas avatar
kaixmarkas
Autumn in New England
Banner

Autumn in New England



behind the lens badge

There are a few parks nearby that I enjoy walking every fall. This was at the Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, Massachusetts. A friend and I went for a late after...
Read more

There are a few parks nearby that I enjoy walking every fall. This was at the Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, Massachusetts. A friend and I went for a late afternoon walk around the water, making sure to bring our cameras for some fun. Just as we walked up to the first trail, the sun came out from behind a distant cloud. Because the air was still, the water was motionless, and the afternoon sunlight created this beautiful mirror.
Read less
cameraNIKON D70

settings Aperture f/9.0 ISO 200 Shutter 1/100 

upload_dateOct, 2012

Views

2134

Likes

Awards

Zenith Award
Legendary Award
Absolute Masterpiece
ginlibagonacalaban smithsonja Kcooch rosannaamorusi Toddsilverthorn gauravrawat rayballes +16
Superb Composition
tammeykarp Valeriablanco DoddPhotography marikejoubert madisonrose_5644 laceydawn_7519 debbiedumont +16
Top Choice
quonsally rojoma danielredli Johnsonkcs Muki1 TomLewendon tammyhenderson_2196 +12
Outstanding Creativity
itakushinu Joetill24 iangarca willmacinnis kateymay nikki1212 arielbailey +11
Peer Award
mcar111 PiPiPiP MaxRastello
Jaw Dropping
jaykebouche mspix
Genius
beckylbustamante-bhan
Superior Skill
olimiha

Top Ranks

ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 20 rank
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank
View more
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Celebrating Earth Day Photo Contest 2019Top 30 rank
Celebrating Earth Day Photo Contest 2019Top 30 rank week 1
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Colors Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Colors Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Beauty Of Fall Photo Contest 2018Top 20 rank
The Beauty Of Fall Photo Contest 2018Top 10 rank week 2
The Beauty Of Fall Photo Contest 2018Top 10 rank week 1
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Emerging Talent AwardsTop 10 rank
Compositions 101 Photo Contest vol4Top 30 rank week 2
ViewBug Photography AwardsTop 10 rank
Compositions 101 Photo Contest vol4Top 20 rank week 1
Fall 2017 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Fall 2017 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 30 rank week 2
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 30 rank week 1
The Golden Moment Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 3
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 2
Unique Landscapes Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Beautiful Weather Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Beautiful Weather Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Amazing Sceneries Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Amazing Sceneries Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Playing With Reflections Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Playing With Reflections Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Playing With Reflections Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Right Place And Time Photo ContestTop 20 rank
The Right Place And Time Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Fall 2014 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Fall 2014 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Fall 2014 Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Fall 2014 Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
The Colors Of Autumn Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 6
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 5
Express Yourself Photo ContestTop 20 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank month 1
Express Yourself Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Express Yourself Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Colors In Nature Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Colors In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Earth Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Earth Day Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Biggest Photofocus Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Biggest Photofocus Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

4 Comments |
rmr731 Platinum
 
rmr731 October 19, 2012
Very pretty!
alsvetlinov
 
alsvetlinov June 29, 2013
WOW, It's so beautiful!!
tdbear60
 
tdbear60 March 02, 2014
I love the mirror image!
tauragon
 
tauragon June 27, 2014
Excellent!

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#autumn #fall #mirror #water #lake #landscape #New England #masschusetts #reflection #reflect #colors #leaves #changing #light #sunlight #natural light #nature #holyoke #reservoir
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at the Ashley reservoir in Holyoke, Massachusetts. My friend and I love going there to walk the trails and observe some of the local wildlife. It's a great spot to check out in the early morning or late afternoon because you can see squirrels, rabbits, and even deer. In the winter, you can find a lot of animal tracks from deer, raccoon, and even bear.

Time

October in Massachusetts is a beautiful time to venture into the reservoirs, parks, and sanctuaries. There's an abundance of wildlife preparing for winter, and the trees are just starting to enter peak. I don't remember the exact date or time, because it was my first autumn with a DSLR, and I was photographing as often and as much as I could. It was near the end of an outing one afternoon in mid-October 2012, probably between 4:30PM and 5:30PM. I do remember that I was walking back to my car after a day of wandering when I noticed how still the water had become, despite the day's earlier winds. I steadied myself against a nearby tree, secured my footing at the rim of the pond, and held my breath.

Lighting

The afternoon golden hour in mid-October really makes the autumn colors "pop." I was looking to capture one of those quintessential, autumn-in-New-England images, but I never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. I really lucked out here. Not only did I have this beautiful contrast of colors, but I had this gorgeous reflection in a still pond. It was all thanks to that unobstructed, golden hour sunlight. And at the perfect angle, too!

Equipment

This was shot with a hand-me-down Nikon D70 using a Sigma 18-55mm lens. My very first DSLR!

Inspiration

Honestly? My grandmother. We've been pretty close for most of my life, and we still talk every week. Several years ago, she moved down to Florida to be closer to my mom, and I moved to Massachusetts for work and school. She still tells me every year how she misses watching the seasons change. When I bought my first DSLR, I dove straight into landscapes and nature, often capturing seasonal changes. She loves my photographs so much that my images make up the majority of her wall art. This photo was part of her 2012 Christmas gift, and she still has it hanging in her house.

Editing

When it come to post-processing, I'm more amateur than most amateurs. I think I was using Aperture at the time, and all I really did was make slight alterations. A little bit of contrast enhancement, mild sharpness increase, and I lowered the highlights just a tad. Believe it or not, you have a pretty straightforward landscape photograph here.

In my camera bag

I have super basic equipment because I'm more of an amateur hobbyist than a professional. I bought a Nikon D90 to replace my first DSLR, and it lives in my camera bag. My primary lens is my original Sigma 18-55mm, the first lens I ever had. About 2 or 3 years ago I added a Sigma DG 70-300mm Macro so I could capture images a little further away. Like I said, super basic.

Feedback

I have three tips for all those amateurs like me trying to capture fall foliage: First off, don't use automatic settings! Bring a shutter speed, aperture, and ISO chart with you. Take the time to practice shooting in different letter modes, even if you continue using auto-focus. You'll take better-quality photos, and they'll require less post-processing. Secondly, head out around 2PM and stay until just before dark. That way you can gauge the angle of the setting sun (it should be behind you!) and scout your ideal location. You may find multiple spots, which is a good thing! Lastly, Be patient. It may take more than a few outings before you snag that great shot, but you'll appreciate the work you've put in once you have it.

See more amazing photos, follow kaixmarkas

User photo
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.