Late January and it has been raining more than snowing. Weird winter so far.
Although the fog prompted a weather alert for low visibility I thought I could create something interesting within the morning conditions. I threw the camera bag in the car and drove around the city before sunrise looking for opportunities. My usual spots didn’t resonate with me. I eventual gave up and went for groceries.
After getting home, and after sunrise (somewhere behind the clouds) I headed out again in search of that foggy composition. I thought Delta Lake would give me what I was looking to capture but on my way there the car turned the dam at the south end of the lake.
Yes! This will work. I played for a while near the dam. My favorite turned out to be this image of the Mohawk River from the single lane bridge crossing it. The fade into nothingness hit the right tone for me. Plus, reflections! Right up my alley.
Memories Fade Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/30s, 34mm, f/8, ISO 200
I’ll preface it as a statement, not an excuse, OK, maybe a little excuse. Work and weather have been conspiring against me. Getting out of work close to sunset provides little time to get the camera or enough daylight to go explore for images. And the weather definitely has it out for me. It is the full moon today and Friday morning is the best time to photograph it setting (my favorite time), but the forecast is for rain all day. :(
So, sitting here pouting this morning, drowning my sorrows in coffee, I give you the Lonely Sentinels at Bellamy Harbor.
Lonely Sentinels Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/500s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 100
Monochrome Winter Monochrome Monday Bellamy Harbor Park
I’m going to make it easy on myself today. I’ll stick with the monochrome/B&W theme and show another monochrome winter image. As I was searching for doors yesterday, I did eventually stop at Bellamy Harbor Park. It wasn’t horrible out (as long as I walked with the wind). I managed to find a few scenes worth capturing.
I typically grab an image of this pavilion from the Mill St. bridge. The additional elevation allows me to incorporate more of the area around the pavilion. I chose not to go up to the bridge yesterday as I really did not want to deal with the wind. I know, I should be more brave… :)
Winter Picnic Anyone? Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/400s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100
I wanted to post an image today, but I haven’t had the opportunity to go out after work to capture anything new. So I’m left with looking through the images from the past few weeks. There’s not a lot you haven’t already seen.
This image reminded me of my friend Karma’s post, Icy Beauty, although it is nowhere as sparkly as her images. It is similar in that it is from my go-to walking trail. Seeing it brought me back to that afternoon in between the snowfall, listening to the river gurgling past as I picked my way along the path in search of winter scenes.
I need another one of those afternoons.
Peer into the Heart Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/60s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100
There was a sliver of light in the sky Sunday morning. The forecast didn’t look good for the rest of the day, but I wanted to capture colors. I wanted the sunrise. I drove to Bellamy Harbor in the hope I could capture both.
The light was changing fast as the clouds were fighting the rising sun. I could see it already, my normal view down the canal with the sun providing the color against the gathering clouds. It was going to be a good one.
This time of year the sun rises to the right of the Mill St. bridge as I look east down the Barge Canal. When I arrived at the harbor my first choice was to setup at the water’s edge near the pedestrian bridge over the Mohawk River. I would be looking straight into the sunrise and could include rocks with river debris as foreground elements.
First Choice Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 26mm, f/11, ISO 100
Not a terrible image but not the one I had in my head. Time to move to “my spot” next to the water control gates at the opening of the harbor.
Damn.
The city fixed the fence again. Not sure what my thought process is or why I think this way, but I have no issue going around the fence if someone else has made the opening. I refuse to do it myself. It is a small difference but I stick to it.
Now what?
There is still a view to capture. Keep working the area.
Maybe the view looking down the canal framed by tree branches and the over growth? It could work. I’m not a fan of obscuring the sky but at least give it a try. Placement of the camera is important for this one. Too low on the bank and all you get is the over growth. Too high and the branches from the tree invade the harbor view. There it is…
Framed View Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 38mm, f/11, ISO 100
Still not the one. The light is changing too. Closer to sunrise. Next option?
An elevated view? Same spot in the harbor as the first image but from the top of the bank. I’ll still be looking into the sunrise. The light will be centered.
Higher View Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 100
Almost. Is it getting darker? No, my eyes must be playing a trick on me. Any other thoughts for your sunrise?
Something with out the over growth in the foreground?
Wow! Look at that color. Definitely a view with more water to get the color reflection. From the pedestrian bridge? That could work.
Bridge View Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 26mm, f/11, ISO 100
Damn. It’s cold out this morning. Fingers are getting a little numb.
One more. Back to the water’s edge. Look at those colors.
Fire in the Sky Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/4s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 100
As you can probably tell, the last two images are my favorites. I didn’t know what I would find for an image but I stayed with it. I didn’t get the image in my head but I didn’t walk away. The light was constantly changing providing new and different opportunities..
Looking at the last two images, I wish I had used a neutral density (ND) filter. It would have slowed down my shutter and created smoother, silkier water. It could plus these images or maybe not. The option for me as I processed the captures would have been nice. Next time…
Don’t give up on a scene, especially if an obstacle prevents you from the planned image in your head. Don’t be tied to that vision, create a new one.
Work and the short winter days have a tendency to impede my photography. Not an excuse, a simple statement. Those conditions do afford more opportunities to be creative, but not today. I still have a few images to process from a walk on Sunday along the Mohawk River Trail and the quick run up to Delta Lake.
I liked the snow on top of the bird house. I was high on the bank of the pond for this image, zoomed in to isolate the bird house. I thought maybe a landscape view would be better to give a bigger feeling of isolation. To achieve that I walked closer and zoomed out a little. I failed to watch my background, and I lost the separation of the bird house.
The first image is my “reject” and not fully processed. Notice how the bird house is mixed in with the background. It doesn’t stand out as I wanted. The second image separates the areas of the image and has a greater focus on the bird house, my intended subject. In my rush to capture images before I lost the light I didn’t “see” the scene in my viewfinder.
Home 103 Miss Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 50mm, f/8, ISO 100
Home 103 Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/25s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100
No, it is peeking through between the clouds. Look closer. Do you see it?
Stop kidding around. We haven’t seen blue in the sky in a while.
You better look before it disappears…
So, I drove to Delta Lake after work. I was determined to capture a little color. I would have liked a sunset. There was hope for a few minutes, but as I drove to the lake, my chances were getting slimmer. I had to hurry, the sunset was in thirty minutes and the elusive color was fading.
I chose to stay near the entrance of the park. The pond everyone generally passes has provided me with many images over the years. I liked how the clouds were changing as I looked across the pond. There was enough light for hand-held exposures, so no need for the tripod.
I ran around for thirty minutes capturing the color in the clouds. While reviewing images back home I realized I gravitate toward the benches and the trees for my foreground subjects. That’s OK, they work for me. Especially in the winter. They add to the mood.
Sit with Me Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100
Stand Tall Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 34mm, f/8, ISO 100
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