Landscape Photography: Lake Superior Memorial Day Weekend
May 27, 2009 by Alec
Filed under Landscapes
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Hi Gang,
Had a chance to get out this past weekend and do some landscape work. Today’s post features some of the color images I want to share and the following post will feature a set of black and white images.
One of the issues I was reminded of this trip was JUST HOW DIFFICULT landscape photography can be. Weather doesn’t cooperate, you have to hustle, scout, hustle more and take chances, lots of chances. You have to pay attention to everything and be willing to move. You have to pay attention to the light, the sky, the foreground. You have to be safe and you have to protect your equipment.
Image 1 was made using a 24-70mm Canon lens, a Singh Ray warming polarizer at twilight at the mouth of the Split Rock river. I was shooting Image 2 when I saw some serious changes taking place in the clouds. To take advantage of the changes, I decided to pack up and run 200 yards to an entirely different location, throw down my gear, compose and shoot as quick as I could to take advantage of the situation. Moments later it was all over.
Image 2 was shot a short while before image 1. I was struggling with compositions and sky conditions. This too was shot with a warming polarizer which was absolutly necessary to pull any contrast out of the clouds. I’m not yet sure how I feel about this image but thought it good to share in contrast to Image 1.
Image 3 was shot Monday evening at an area called Twin Points. The wind had come up out of the east in excess of 25 mph and 4′ white caps were breaking at the beach. Travis and I shot for a long time there, a number of these images seen in the next post of black and whites. This is the very last shot I took before we left, wet and cold. This was a 2 second exposure, using a warming polarizer and Singh Ray Reverse 2 stop Split ND filter for the sky.
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Like all three images, especially the third…………….you said it, there was a lot of work this weekend to get some nice images. Its great to get into these situations and figure out how to work, be successful or not, and to refine your workflow & tools. Waders are on the top of my list. Its pretty amazing to go from image one where the Lake is like glass and the very next day 4 foot waves and the tide on the beach is 6 to 8 foot. I just thought of this but I wish we would have captured some sound at Twin Points, I can still hear the thunderous sound when the waves were hitting the the rock wall at the point. Can't wait to see the B/W images. Hey, at least it did not snow!
Travis
Nice work Alec. I love the one with Travis in it. Awesome shot. Orange hat rocks in the color design.
AJ,
I am glad you could get away and enjoy the weekend. Outside and shooting is better than anything else, difficult or not.
I enjoy Image 1 and 2 but my favorite is Image 3 (hey Travis!). I love the story with Travis in the shot and I can almost hear the roaring waves crashing against the shore. It looks cold…windy…
Were you able to find play in your shooting during the weekend?
kg
I love image 1, Alec. How long was the exposure?
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for the kind words. The first image was a 2 second exposure. I shot as fast as I could on some variations in composition. The light was going away fast, the clouds were changing shape and color fast. One of the things I've seen in myself over the years is the images I get when I'm forced to let go…they're always my favorite…as is this one.
Hey KG,
I love the question. I'm not sure I did find it until Monday (shot with Travis) and I'm not sure why. You'll see this in the next set of images. Maybe it was my an anticipation of strong east winds and WANTING to play with that condition. I've rarely been on Lake Superior for that and so it was a real treat. Both Travis and I finished saying, “That was really fun.” If you were a fly on the wall you would have seen PLAY. I also think that getting stuck and unstuck has become a regular part of my work. I almost expect both to happen on any given outing.
“If its above 25 degrees, its warm.”
BA,
Good to hear from you brotherman. I thought the orange hat was nice as well. But there was no “design” in it. We were both wearing stocking caps and gloves. Brrrrr….his just happened to be orange and it worked.
I love Image 1 AND Image 2, and how they relate to each other. Either one could be the cover shot
Interesting that you are starting to include people in your landscapes – the beginnings of a new direction perhaps?