It Happened Again - The Making of Landscape Images (and more)

Regular readers of my thoughts may remember me saying the Good Lord always provides photography opportunities, especially on Sunday mornings. Nearly each Sunday morning I listen to our church message as I am enjoying the natural blessings around us. Sometimes I am hiking, other days I am paddling - as I was today for my December paddling trip. This morning was no different… I was listening and the photographic opportunities were provided.

When I saw fog in our area this morning, I knew exactly where I wanted to be and what I would be pointing my lenses at - an island in Brinker Lake. Under ordinary light the island has not yet generated any artistic ideas for me. During sunrise or fog - oh yes… it is a great photography subject.

This first picture is what I was able to document since there was little fog by the time we reached the lake. I would have to shoot a good base image and then “work” the image to create what I visualized in my mind.

From the base image I then edited the file to appear more “old” and closer to what I envisioned before putting my canoe on the water.

From the second image I then removed the color since, during a foggy day, the view is nearly monochromatic. Due to black and white being what I saw in my mind, I removed the color data from the image file to produce what I had hoped end the day with as we drove to the lake. I like this view. I may have this printed on canvas!

While I was experimenting with lake scenes I decided to see how far I might be able to push an image file from my GoPro camera and my cell phone. Both seemed to be OK to me.

Since I was on the lake, I thought I would work on some unusual views. Many people have photographed this scene from the opposite direction. I worked it from the water looking toward their vantage point. The first photo is the view out of the camera. Photo Two is the same photo after I worked on it.

Finally - not all of my imaging today was landscape style. I photographed one of three double-crested cormorants on Brinker Lake and an adult bald eagle that had been actively feeding - likely on a fresh deer gut pile. Notice the mess around its beak and on its talons.