I returned to Delta Lake Sunday evening for another chance at the sunset. There were very few clouds in the sky and the wind was creating ripples on the exposed water. I did not have high expectations I would find anything worth bringing home. I was wrong…
I found a small section of ice and water not affected by the wind. The sun was poised to slip beneath the trees on the opposite shore and the golden glow was illuminating a chunk of ice beautifully. Well, I couldn’t let this scene get away from me…
Golden Blues Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 200
I ended up distracting myself so completely yesterday morning with getting the image posted, I totally neglected any chance for a sunrise image. By the time I realized the color in the sky was worth my attention I had about five minutes before the sun broke the horizon. Ten minutes after that, the color was gone and the morning settled into the coming storm (by the way, it was nothing like the advisory that popped up on my phone. I wouldn’t even call it a storm… lol).
I’m currently keeping one eye on the sky and the other on the keyboard as I write this post. There is another advisory this morning, for high winds, but I would like to capture a sunrise down at the canal. I better hurry and finish this up…
As the sun settled into the clouds on the horizon Friday evening I found a nice section of the lake where the ice was thin and disappearing faster than the rest. This allowed for some interesting reflections and everyone knows I cannot let a good reflection escape my camera. I was especially intrigued with the layers of highlights and shadows in this view when I turned the camera on its side.
Ice Breaks Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/320s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 200
I suppose it is only fitting the first image I capture is at the same state park for my last image. But, considering it is Delta Lake State Park it should not be a surprise. It has been roughly seven months since I picked up my camera. During the summer months last year photography was not fulfilling me. I struggled with those feelings and decided to put the camera away. I focused on another interest and buried myself in it.
Recent conversations with friends at work have stirred my creative desires. Last evening after dinner I drove to the park for the sunset. I practically had the place to myself and it was wonderful. I wandered the “beach” finding plenty of images and soaking in the vibe. I left the park feeling rejuvenated.
Below is the first view I found, and yes it is a familiar view but it doesn’t change how it can make you feel…
Spring, Sprang, Sprung Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/400s, 12mm, f/13, ISO 200
Patience has not always been my strong suit when it comes to photography. Well, let me re-state that… in certain instances I have not exhibited the patience I need to get the image I want. I’ve been known to wait 20+ minutes for the next monorail to pass by at Epcot but tend to leave early when the sun is not done performing at the end of the day.
The other night I almost left after the “Color My Thoughts” image but convinced myself there was more to see. The creative side of the brain won out and I was rewarded with this view as the sun dropped below the horizon. I really liked the calm waters reflecting the hectic display in the sky. And who can argue with those colors… 🙂
Breathe It In Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/30s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200
I love a waterfall image processed as monochrome. To me, it is clean, elegant and amazing. The first view I presented on Saturday was the color image, now it is time for the full gorge view in monochrome.
Simple Beauty Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.8s, 20mm, f/11, ISO 100
I could not have asked for a better day to make the trip out to Chittenango Falls State Park. Temperatures in the mid 70’s, a few puffy white clouds scattered throughout the sky and a light breeze floating through the park. I wasn’t alone in my desire to visit the beautiful waterfall. I almost was unable to find a parking space. Persistence won out eventually…
Surprisingly, the trails were not as crowded as the parking lot indicated. I believe there were a few group gatherings in the park and showing up around lunch time allowed me to explore relatively uninhibited. I was disappointed to see a family, or two, at the base of the waterfall climbing on the rocks. I guess all the signs prohibiting entrance to the falls went unseen… ???
I let the unwanted subjects for my image bother me for only a few minutes. There was nothing I could do about them and I was fairly confident I could make them disappear in Lightroom when I processed my images. Let me know if you think you know where they were in the image… 🙂
The falls face South and there is not an optimal time to grab an image as the gorge walls will be in shadow most of the day. I thought my best option would be at noon, which most photographers would say is when the light would be the harshest. But, the shadows on the walls help tame the overall appearance of the image. For each of the compositions, I captured a bracket of images in the event I would need to combine a few different exposures. This view didn’t need extra processing. The -.7EV image tamed the highlights well and I was able to pull out the shadows to show the detail in the gorge walls.
Classic Cascade Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 100
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