High Falls Detail

Well this isn't High Falls, on the Pigeon River which marks the border between the US and Canada, but a small section of it. The water running over the falls was the most I've ever seen, enough to make this small area very interesting. The water gave the rocks a dramatic look that contrasts against the 'smooth' flowing water.

Roger

Showy Lady's Slipper

The Showy Lady's Slipper is the state flower of Minnesota. It can be seen from June 20 thru July 5. This image was made at Cascade State Park on July 5. It's past it's peak but ages very well.

Roger

(Click on this or any image in the blog to get a better look)

Blowing in the Wind

A few weekends ago my wife and I went to Grand Marais to begin our annual time on the North Shore. In past years we've kept our 5th wheel in the campground in Aug, Sept and part of Oct. This year we started a month earlier in July.

I hadn't spent any time on the North Shore during July and a big surprise was the wild flowers, lupine, daises, orange and common hawkweed. I wanted to stop every few miles to make images.

This image was a test. I shot 16 images with different focus points from near to far and combined them with Helicon Focus. I knew this would be a challenge since there was a light breeze blowing and Helicon Focus works best with stationary objects. The first output was not very good but with the Pro version of the program you can copy from one image to the composite and that cleared it up a bit.

This is the progress to this point and I think it looks pretty good.

What do you think?

Roger

A Calm Afternoon

Spend the better part of the week of July 4th with my wife in Grand Marais on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It's the North Shore from a Minnesotans perspective, the real North Shore is much further up into Canada.

Made this image in the afternoon while sitting on the rocks. I'm enjoying the calmness of the image the most. I feel the warmth of the rocks yet the coolness of the water (the water is actually very very cold). I had not been to Grand Marais in July and I was struck by Lake Superiors silence. I am familiar with the lake in late summer and fall when waves are always crashing against the rocks.

Hope you enjoy the image and please leave a comment.

Roger

Reminder Notes

Do you read books on photographic technique, listen to Radiant Vista critiques, take workshops, read photography magazines only to go out in the field to shoot and forget all you have learned. I find I do. I get all excited setup my tripod and camera and start shooting away.

This became very apparent to me when I was shooting with Ralph and Jack in Oregon. We would stop somewhere and I was off shooting in a second while Ralph and Jack walked around surveying the possibilities. I had been so accustomed to working quickly, when I was with non-photographers, I forgot what it was like to take my time. Ssslllooowww Dddooowwwnnn I started telling myself. In my haste I would forget about what I had read and supposedly learned. I'd get home and be disappointed that the depth of field was not right or the ISO was to high or, well, you get the idea.

So as we were driving around Oregon, Jack told us of his preparation process. He listens to comforting music, sits quietly and generally puts his mind in a creative mood. This got me thinking about my own shortcomings and how I might prepare myself better for a photographic outing.

I haven’t tried Jack’s techniques but I have decided to prepare myself with psychological and technical reminders. Today I created my first set of ‘Reminder Notes’. I have taken tidbits of information from influential photographers, typed them on sheets of paper then laminated them. They will now go into my camera bag.

Before I set out on a photographic journey I will pull them out, sit for a while and ponder their messages. They will help me slow down, think of what it is I want to say, be more deliberate and in the end make better images.

Roger