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

Isolation Photography 1

Photography, and especially photography in New England is always about finding ways to make the best of the condition with which you are presented. Rain, fog, snow or just “bad light” all have their own particular challenges.  Capturing special images is always about getting the most from what nature provides.

Captain Rodolph Bowles Sargent

In the last couple of weeks, we have been faced with a frightening new challenge with impacts far beyond trivial questions of photographic subjects.  We are learning about Covid 19, about disinfecting, social distancing and “flattening the curve”.  I trust we are all doing what we can to blunt the awful effects of this pandemic, and for many of us, that means isolating ourselves in our homes.  During ancient plagues, measures were a bit more draconian such as bloodletting or flagellation.  A little time at home on the couch with Netflix doesn’t seem so terrible, but we are all looking for other options for sanity preserving entertainment.  Photography could be part of the answer.

For some professional photographers, social distancing and cancellations can be a devastating issue.  I assume wedding, sports and event photographers are hurting, but for most recreational and landscape photographers, there is still plenty to shoot.  I don’t have to worry about social distancing from trees, lakes or mountains.  All I must do is stay away from other photographers.  Still, self-quarantining has affected our lives in many ways and since photography offers chances for escape from these pressures, I thought it might be helpful to suggest some photographic opportunities both in and out of the home. 

Since on the outside, we are still in the middle of the dismal gray spring “stick season”, this week I’ll start with photography within the house.

Photography “In Place”

Details Matter

We live in a beautiful part of the country, but what can you shoot when you are stuck inside of your home.  After hip surgery, a few years ago, I was largely restricted to the house.  After the Hycodan wore off, I started looking within my limited sphere for things to photograph and actually found quite a lot.  I started with macro photography, and discovered detail all around that I had never noticed before. I hobbled from room to room scanning for compositions made from some of the simplest things, a clock face, detail in an old portrait and the decoration on a gourd from the Galapagos Islands.  Indoor plants and flowers were also great subjects.

Galapagos Gourd

Back-lighting

In floral photography, precise focus is always important.  The key is to make sure that, if nothing else, the stamen is sharp, and the background is soft and uncluttered. You might try shooting some of the flowers with backlighting.  Trans-illumination can have an electric effect on the floral colors.  You will find that the indoor macro subjects are endless.  You don’t need a special camera or lens to photograph the familiar around the house, but as you move close, depth of field and shutter speed can become an issue  A tripod or some other means of stabilization can be helpful to keep your images sharp.

Finding Friends

Nellie at Eye Level

As the days of isolation pile on, photographs of our aggravated fellow human cellmates may be problematic, but our pets always seem to enjoy the heightened attention. You can get close to your cats, dogs, turtles and more – none of them can get the virus.  Since we lost our Nellie a few years ago, Susan and I have desperately missed having a dog, and never more than since we have been isolated.  It is great to catch your pets in cute or mischievous activities, as long as they have nothing to do with chewing up the toilet paper. 

Just two quick keys to better pet photography.  First get down on your knees (if they still work), or lay on the floor, to shoot your friends at eye level.  Whether you are photographing wild animals or your pets, this is always a more personal and dramatic angle.  Secondly always focus on the eyes.  Everything else can be fuzzy, but if the eyes are sharp, no one will notice.

Black-capped Chickadee

Feeder Through the  Open Window

Don’t have any pets?  Just hang a bird feeder close to house near a convenient window, sit quietly and wait for the action to start.  As we see warmer weather, you can get clearer shots by opening the window.  Again, keep the background clear of distractions, but some stage dressing can help. Try sticking a few branches into the ground to provide more natural appearing perches.  Finally, unless you want to experiment with bear photography, you might want to bring the feeder inside for the evenings.

House Finch Pair

Image Management

Drowning Pool Iceland

Finally, considering all the extra time you have on your hands, you may want to consider editing some of the piles of pictures you have clogging your hard drive(s).   I have just finished my Iceland images, and now I’m neck deep in the mass of pictures from our autumn tour of Ireland.  This is a great time to learn how to use Lightroom, Photoshop or some other image management and editing software.  If the phrase “software program” tends to give you the hives, you can always start by just deleting all those pictures of your feet or those that are hopelessly out of focus. It’s a start.

Lightroom Magic

I hope this brief discussion will trigger your own photographic exploration of your restricted space.   I would welcome your ideas about other sources of indoor inspiration.  For the members of Keene State College’s CALL program Photography Club, I look forward to seeing some of your pictures as you find ways to brighten this challenging time.   To spare my mailbox, please send only small jpg images.

Tufted Titmouse

Doolin Rainbow, Ireland

For more inspiration, check below for some other links to my relevant blogs.  Also go to Part II of my Isolation Blogs where  I will explore some of the opportunities available outside as the drab “stick season” gives way to the buds of early spring.

• Short Leash Photography
• Birdfeeder Photography
• Backyard Birding
• Flower Photography
• Macro Leaf Photography
• The Photoshop Challenge

Jeffrey Newcomer, NEPG

www.partridgebrookreflections.com

jeffn49@myfairpoint.net