I have been on a run of monochrome images recently. I thought it was time for a little color. Mother Nature has not been helping in the color department as of late, so I turned to my stockpile of images from Walt Disney World. I couldn’t pass up this sunrise reflection of the Beach Club Resort.
Beach Club Reflections
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M, Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1.6s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100
Three Brothers
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/50s, 58mm, f/8, ISO 200
Yesterday’s search in the fog was related to this week’s challenge at 52frames.com, ‘Scene From a Movie’. I was thinking film noir but looking at the images nothing feels cinematic to me. I still have today to work on the challenge.
I like the images I was able to bring home. As I said, yesterday’s image is my favorite. The images today are me looking for that cinema feel with the shrouded dam. I believe the issue with them, for me, is the composition. I didn’t find the right one.
The last image was the most difficult to capture as the fog was too intense for the camera to detect focus. I manually set the camera at infinity but it still is blurry. I’m going with, “I intended for it to be that way”… ;)
Somewhere Out There
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/30s, 29mm, f/8, ISO 200
Lost in a Haze
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/40s, 31mm, f/8, ISO 200
Vision Obscured
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/40s, 36mm, f/8, ISO 200
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
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
No real objective today.
Not positive where I want to go with this post.
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.
MLCreations Photography 