Isolation Photography 2 (Outside)

Out on a Hike :Ashuelot River, Keene NH

County Champion Red Oak
Friedsam Town Forest, Chesterfield

I hope everyone is still managing to stay healthy and sane as we practice crucial measures for social distancing and personal protection from the Corvid 19 virus.  On the “keeping sane” front, last week I discussed how we can explore within our homes for interesting photographic subjects.  Possibilities included pets and floral photography as well as macro photography to study the details of everyday things. I also mentioned that I have taken advantage of all my free time to catch up on editing the volumes of untouched images that I have collected from previous travels and from the wonderful progression of our New England seasons.  There is much within our homes to keep our photography interesting and creative, but with proper precautions, there should be no reason to restrict our shooting within our walls.  With simple precautions, we can step outside, take a drive, a hike in the woods or just a stroll around the neighborhood.  

Early spring “stick season” can be drab, but life is returning to the landscape.  With eyes open, you will be surprised by the beauty that is all around.  Here are just a few suggestions of what photographic wonders you may find as you venture out into our early New England spring.

Look for Patterns

Maple Swallowing

During the stick seasons of both November and the early spring, much of my photography is focused on patterns in nature.  Bare branches, twigs, dead leaves, fences, and stonewalls can all be captured in interesting arrangements forming strong compositions.  Once you start looking, the patterns are everywhere.  Most days I walk along the same loop through my Spofford Village neighborhood.  It is all very familiar, but I always seem to find new things to shoot.  The weather or light may be different, or I may find fresh compositions or angles on scenes that I pass every day. Don’t be afraid to experiment.  After all those pixels are free.

Ice Out on the Edge

Try Black and White

In the spring, the subtle shades of color can be striking, but this is also a time when black and white images can be used to highlight the patterns.  When shooting for black and white, I always capture the original images in color, and later convert to B&W.  The underlying color information can be used to lighten or darken corresponding areas of the monochrome image.

I converted a simple picture of a twig on the ground to black and white, and I was able to darken the greens and yellows to highlight the curving form of the pine branch.  These sorts of adjustments are available in Lightroom, Photoshop and most other image editing programs.

New Life

In the early spring there are signs of new life.  A couple of weeks ago shoots of green had pushed through the snow and now the brave Crocuses are reaching up towards the light.  

The buds on the trees are beginning to swell and in just a few weeks they will be exploding into bizarre arrays of early growth.

Crocus Blooms

Lichen

I have always been a fan of the beautiful patterns and colors of New England’s ubiquitousLichens.  Lichen is actually a symbiotic composite organism combining a fugus superstructure in which lives a photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria.  When you start looking you will see that Lichen covers much of the substance of New England. Stone walls, boulders and even trees are hosts.  Spring, when the forests aren’t choked with leaves, is a great time to view and photograph the underappreciated Lichens.

Animals Emerge

On a much grander scale than the lowly Lichen, spring is a time when animals become more active.  If you are persistent, patient and lucky, you may capture squirrels, chipmunks, deer and many wild birds.  Visiting a nearby farm, you can find sheep, cows and horses all feeding on the new grass.  

On a recent walk, a passerby directed my attention to a juvenile eagle perched high above Spofford Lake.  The bird stayed in the tree long enough for me to run home and return with my long lens. 

I steadied my 800mm Lens (actually 400mm with a 2x extender) on my car roof and, with a rapid shutter speed, I was able to get some steady,  views of this magnificent raptor. 

Past Life

Spring is also decorated by the remains of the previous season’s growth.  Fallen leaves can be seen in various patterns of decay on the ground or floating on ponds and streams.  Recently I found a nice collection of Cat-o’-nine tails bunched in a patch of wetland next to Spofford lake.  Spring is also a great time to get a clear view of the weathering of old trees and stumps.

Beech trees are remarkably persistent members of our New England forests. During winter and spring their bright yellow leaves tenaciously cling to the branches and add color to an otherwise dull landscape.  I always look for ways to include these splashes of color in my compositions.

Beech Forest Spofford NH

The Usual

West River Sunset Brattleboro Vt

The Golden Hours

Of course, in additional to the special spring stuff, there are many of the usual New England attractions to be seen as you venture away from home.  Sunsets and sunrises should be as glorious as during any other time of year. Although I wonder if the reduction in vehicular air pollution might mute the rosy glory of the golden hours. 

It is easy to capture brilliant color in a sunset, but try to make the image about more than just a splash of garish color. Find something interesting in the foreground that tells a story and places the viewer within the scene. 

Moon Rising

"Super" Moon over Monadnock

The fullmoon will be rising on Tuesday evening (4/7)  and will be the biggest this year. Moonrise in Keene will be in the east (92.8 deg) at 6:58 pm, although as we look over the hills, we will see it later.  Try to catch the moon close to the horizon when there is still some light in the sky, the “blue hour”, and find a spot where you can place something interesting in the foreground.

Flowing Water

Partridge Brook Chesterfield NH

Finally, early spring is the best time to explore the many spectacular local waterfalls.  The Run-off and spring rains swells our streams and that is why I schedule my annual Waterfall Weekend Workshop for this time off year.  The weekend is always an exciting adventure.  

• Waterfalls of Cheshire County

This year the workshop is set for May 15^th – 17^th, but, unless we all travel in separate cars,  it seems unlikely that we will be able gather for the event.  This stupid virus has already squashed two of my classes, but I can always hope.  Meanwhile there is nothing preventing us from photographing waterfalls on our own.  Just stay distant from the crowds.  Remember to bring a tripod and polarizer to cut through the reflections and soften the rushing water.  And try not to slip on the wet leaves into the freezing water - not all of the dangers out there are related to a nasty virus. 

• Photographing the Magic of Velvet Water

Chesterfield Gorge Bridge

Gnarled Stump Spofford NH

I hope you are doing well, healthy and safe, and that this discussion will get you going on your own exploration beyond the confines of your home and into the growing beauty of our New England spring.  Let me know what interesting subjects you find.

Maybe I will see you out there – just stay safely distant!

Spofford Village NH

Jeff Newcomer, NEPG
www.partridgebrookreflections.com
jeffn49@myfairpoint.net

10 of my Favorite Quick Secrets of Photography (Here are 6 throug 10)

One Cow is Always Watching

This week I finish my randomly selected quick photography tips. These are just a few of the “take-away” points that have come from a few of my, over 350, blog articles.  I listed tips 1-5 last week, and I will probably add more as time goes by.  Without further introduction, here are my tips for this week.

6) Eliminate the dull sky on overcast days.

Pretty Scene - Dull Sky

I love shooting landscapes on overcast days.  Harsh contrasts are reduced, and without direct reflections, the color of the foliage shines through.  One of the greatest challenges of shooting on an overcast day is managing the dull, apparently featureless sky.  One approach is to use digital editing tools to enhance the subtle detail in what often appears to be featureless dome, but a simpler technique is to compose images to eliminate the sky from the picture. 

 The trick is to understand when the sky adds little to the interest of the scene.  Point the camera down and concentrate on the foliage and leaves, leaving at most, just a sliver of sky.

Software Solutions - Bringing out the Sky

• Working with Light - Part 2

7)  Go far from the foreground in front of a rising and setting full moon.

Far from the Old Saybrook Light

Every month, photographers watch the calendar for a chance to capture the dramatic rising of the full moon.  Full moons rise during twilight making it easier to capture the bright orb while the detail in the foregrounds is still visible.  The problem is that if you set up close to your foreground you will require a wide focal length that will render the spectacular moon as a very unspectacular dot of light in the distance.

Couldn't Get Back Far Enough

The trick is to get as far away as possible from your foreground, church, lighthouse or spouse.  When you pull it in with a long focal length, the foreground can be the same size, but the moon will be impressively magnified.  

 

The rule for moon photography is to get as far away as possible from the foreground and the challenge is to find subjects that provide angles with a clear view to the rising moon, but from a distance.  It is worth the search.

Miles Away from Mount Monadnock

• Shooting the Super Moon 
• What is Super about Super Moons

8)  In portraits always focus on the eyes.

We all know that portraits are enhanced by a shallow depth of field.  A wide aperture results in a soft background which removes distractions from your subject, but a small range of sharpness requires care in the deciding what will be in focus.  The answer is simple.  It is all about the eyes.  The eyes are the most remarkable part of any face,  and if the eyes are sharp, the rest of the face can be soft.  In fact, soft focus on the nose checks and lips can draw attention to the depth and hues of those colorful orbs. 

The “focus on the eyes” rule applies to more than faces.  Especially in macro photography, it is important to look for the “eyes” in any subject.  For flowers, it is the stamen.  For leaves it maybe water droplets. The point is to find the “eyes” in any image and nail the focus to that point.

9) Avoid condensation by allowing your camera to warm in a plastic bag.

Heavy Condensation

Living in New England, and especially this time of year, I am frequently shooting out in the freezing weather.  I love the stark, clean beauty of the winter season, but photography in the cold provides some special challenges.  Fingers freeze, batteries die and snow dusts the lens, but one of the most difficult problems is the condensation which forms on cameras and lenses when the cold equipment is brought into the warmth.  It is annoying when I must repeatedly wipe the moisture from the lens, but, more dangerous, is the water which collects inside the camera causing corrosion and shorting out the electronics.

Once again, the solution is simple.  I keep plastic bags in my camera bag and before I go inside I seal the camera and lenses into the bags.  The bags allow the gear to warm without condensation.  

 

View from the Cold Top

After shooting at the top of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington in March, with temperatures of 20 degrees below zero, I had to wait for more than an hour before I could take my camera out of its bag.  It takes patience to wait for access to your stuff, but it is an essential part of shooting in the cold. 

• Winter Photography in New England
• Gearing up for Winter Photography

10) One cow always maintains eye contact.

I am fascinated by cows.  They are all around in my corner of New England. These placid animals are great subjects to include in landscape photography, but there is almost always a problem.  A herd of cows inescapably becomes interested in any approaching photographer.  I want them to continue doing “cow stuff”; chewing grass and emitting ozone destroying methane gas, but they just keep staring.  The only thing to do is to stay still and, and trust that, eventually, the herd will get back to work.  

Reading Vermont

With patience, this always happens, but inevitably one cow is assigned the job of keeping an eye on the suspicious stranger.  This guy NEVER looks away and my only solution is to frame the image to exclude the bovine sentry, or accept the situation and focus in on the guy’s vigilant eyes.

 

• Lessons from Autumn

Well that makes ten.  I have many more quick tips and I hope to get to them in the future.  Keep checking in.

Jeff Newcomer, NEPG

partridgebrookreflections.com