"...the dark nights are drawing in again...” ~ Van Morrison
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Celebrating moments...
As photographers we're blessed with this mission.
This privilege.
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For me, for this month of September as the early leaves begin to change, High Summer images are my happy place.
And nothing says summer more for me than reflection abstracts.
Abstract Lake Reflection
How can you capture these "reflection" images, too?
SO glad you asked.
My secret formula: patience, bright sunlight, gentle moving water, patience, landscape reflection, a fast lens and shutter speed, patience, lots of ISO but not too much, working with patterns until they reveal themselves, patience, getting down to the water's edge, crouching, standing up, squatting halfway down, playing with whatever it takes reveal the image nature is painting, and did I mention PATIENCE???
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Seriously, and I know I've said this before, all you have to do is play.
And be willing to see what's not there, until you see it, and the it's all you can focus on.
Or at least it's all I can focus on.
These are low resolution, webpage images. Can you imagine the vibrancy and detail of the originals?
They're not crops. Over the years, I've learned the value of having as many pixels as possible in my abstracts (to limit the noise and pixelation in larger prints).
Which means you have to be even more open than you'd think at first to what you and your lens can see when you're shooting on one of these magical days.
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Yes, I capture full landscapes, too.
Which are actually harder to grab sometimes than the more detailed work.
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For full landscapes, focal length and angle of view become crucial.
Realize, you're capturing these images upside down and will be flipping them in post.
"Seeing" the potential of the capture is a challenge from the start. But the results are SO worth it.
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Even with more "realistic" reflection landscapes.
How surreal and yet representational can you make them?
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Can you compose a dreamy look, and still make it realistic?
Will it draw the reader in, closer, wondering exactly what they're seeing, until the image is all they can see?
I call this image "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Abstract Lake Reflection
But more than that, what about getting closer and closer still?
What can you see and show others if you tweak your telephoto and aperture and shutter speed and ISO?
What will you remember most from your High Summer?