Tag Archives: rocks

Photography

Fast Water and Rocks

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Mile30317

Colorful rocks and fast water make for some wonderful compositions. I purposely kept this shot tight. I just showed enough vegetation at the top to add color and a bit of framing. I chose a couple rocks for the foreground for added depth. Then I recorded different shutter speeds but left my f-stops at f22. At the pace of the water coming through here I need a shutter speed to stop the fast flowing water. This how you  can create what I call character with flowing water. You make the water come alive with power and movement. You want that water to be vibrant.

After you get home, upload your shots to the computer. Then it is just a matter of selecting the composition that turns you on and process it. I am a photo artist so my work for the most part does not look like a standard photograph.

The above scene was taken on the Aux Sauble River just North of Massey Ontario

I have just published a book at Blurb consisting of my photos and poetry. You can check it out here.

http://www.blurb.ca/b/4071212-a-widerness-experience-through-photos-and-poetry

Well that is it for now. Thank you for stopping by. Until next time Happy Trails

Photography

From Dark to Bright

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BirchCreek1984

I have been going through my files and redoing a lot of my work. I now have Adobe CS6 loaded on my desktop. Cs6 has been greatly upgraded to the better. I highly recommend upgrading to it. Let me tell you, CS6 will improve on your work.

Getting to the photo above. This was taken on a Fall day trip a couple years back. The left side of the shoreline had some interesting rocks covered with green moss as well as a mossy ground cover. Some fallen leaves to break the color. But the problem was that the foreground was sheltered by overhanging trees. Being late afternoon it had become quite dark there. The background was the other extreme. Due to the low sun shining on the background creating a very bright scene there.

I set up my tripod very low. This meant that I had to lay on the ground. I proceeded to take a number of exposures at different shutter speeds without changing my f-stops, that were set at f22. Uploading the files I selected the dng file I wanted and came up with the above composition. It was a matter of opening up the foreground to what I wanted. The flowing water I wanted to have character there. This has all to do with your shutter speed. I wanted to show the power of the water here.

I was selected to the 2013 Quest Art 9th Annual Juried Art Show Midland. The show runs from Mar. 8 – May 4. I will be at the reception. If anyone that comes here for a visit please come to the reception and we can have a chat.

Well that is it for now. Until next time happy trails.

 

Photography

Color Along The River

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Westbranch7801

Last Fall Paul Smith and I were wandering along the Wakanasin River. Paul and I had looked at this scene many times but could not put it together. We looked at it during many seasons other than Winter. Up the Westbranch there is not a lot of Maple and Oak for the red and orange Fall colors. There is mostly Evergreens, Birch and Poplar in this part of the country.

I stepped out in the water to set up this composition. Having placed the tripod and camera I set about composing the above scene. There was cloud cover, which cut the glare of the sun on the running water. You can just make out some reflection, reddish orange on the right in the crystal clear water.

Well that is it for this week. Until next week, happy Trails.

 

Photography

Abstract and Color in Nature

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Westbranch0147

It is a beautiful sunny day. It is late afternoon, mid June. The ferns scattered along the river bank are a lovely lemon green color. There is a slight breeze so the bugs are not too bad yet. It is always a joy to walk the shoreline of a river looking for photographic opportunities. As the sun lowers on the horizon the surface of the water takes on the colors of its surroundings. A great time to look for abstract type of compositions. I came across some rock just below the river’s surface that created some interesting water flow and color. The trick here after setting up your tripod and camera ad getting the composition you like is to take a number of shots at different shutter speeds. This will allow for different looks to the movement of water in your photo. Then it is just a matter of selecting the one you like on your computer.

Well that is it for now. Thanks for coming by. Until next time happy trails.

 

Photography

A Unique Waterfalls

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McGeeFalls0045

Unique rock structure; Color and the sound of water rushing and splashing over the rocks add up to an impressive scene. McGee Falls on the Aux Sauble River North of Massey is such a place. There is not a lot to photograph here. But what there is  will delight any artist. When I was here it was a cloudy day with the hint of rain. This created even lighting and saturated colors. With the lighting good and the colors beautiful, it is time to set up.

I set my equipment up at an angle to the falls. This falls consists of a series of drops from elevation. The water flows into the scene from two different locations due to the rock cropping between the flow of water. There is so much depth here to add to the depth of the composition. There is a small plateau in the middle that the water flows over and around. The best part is the neat piece of rock sitting right on top of the plateau. It reminds me of some type of shell. Boy does this rock ever have character. The first thing you will notice about the rock formations in this composition is the many edges, shadows and color. I wanted to have rock in the foreground so I placed the river edge in front of me for that depth. This photo is about the rocks. I kept the water to a minimum, but it is still a integer part of the photo. I have water coming in on the left and exiting out on the right.

I exposed at 1.3 sec f22 with an iso of 100. At this shutter speed I was able to maintain the soft look of where it was needed, but allowed for definition of the water where required. Specifically the water that flowed off the plateau and the little falls on the left. There is just a spot of vegetation in the background to tell you that the river is in a forested area. There is enough water to tell you that over countless ages the flow of water has transformed the granite rocks to what can be seen today.

Well that is it for today. Until next time happy trails.

Photography, Poetry

Nature’s Spirituality

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Johnscreek

You have had a bad day

Your body is tensed

Nothing has gone right

It is time to relax

Off you go along the woodland trail

Following a meandering stream

Till you come upon a pool.

Scrambling carefully across the rocks

Made slippery by splashing water

You edge down by the pool

Unlacing your hiking boots

Slowly easing your feet

Into the cool pool water

The stream is cascading

Over water smoothed rocks

To drop into the pool

Close your eyes momentarily

Listen to the sound

Of the ever flowing stream

Splashing and bubbling

Every fibre in your body

Slowly loosens to the rhythm

Of the small stream movements

You are now part of the spirituality

That a person feels

When you let go

To the senses of Nature

That completely surrounds you.

This is one of my favourite photos. The color, texture and form of the rocks are captivating. The yellow and orange lichen. The yellow leaves can only add to the appeal of this scene. The scene was captured on John’s Creek at the ladder. This small falls drops down in elevation in a series of drops like rungs on a ladder. The hills close in fairly tight. While that is it for now. So until next time, happy trails.

Photography

The Dramatics of Lighting

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This post continues my series of works dealing with the French River in the French River Provincial Park,Northern Ontario.With rainfall the previous night the early morning lighting is intensified as the rocks and vegetation are wet.There was heavy,dark cloud cover that morning.The sunrise was to my left.There was a small amount of mist on the water.Not a breath of wind to be had.

Suddenly a beam of light broke through the clouds creating the effect you see above.Golden yellow in color, it highlights the morning mist,illuminates the vegetation and creates an awe inspiring composition. These type of shots do not come everyday.But it sure makes for some interesting photographing when it occurs.It is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.It also helps to get splashes of lighting on the trees on the far shore to create the extra dramatics to the composition.

Well that is it for this week.Thank you for visiting.Until next time happy trails

 

Photography

Rugged Shorelines

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While exploring the shores of the French River early one morning I happened upon the above scene.There was some small white flowers in front of me along with a fern growing on the rocks.With an island before me,mist and calm waters.The sky was unique with good cloud formation,There was a lovely pink color to the clouds.

When I processed this photo I enhanced the yellow part of the fern along with yellow highlights on the far shoreline.If you want to take your work to the next level this is what you have to do.It brings the artist out in you.Mind you it is supple, but that is all it takes.

My work is been featured at Upstream People Gallery

http://www.upstreampeoplegallery.com/exhibition/default.asp?XD=9/1/2012&AN=Bennison%2C+Ken

Well that is it for now.Thank you for visiting and commenting.So until next time happy trails

Photography

The French River Provincial Park

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Friday August 17 With all my camping gear,easels and my art work I finally got on the road by mid morning.I stopped in Sudbury to pick up some last minute supplies as was soon heading South.I was on my way to the French River Provincial Park visitors center.

I will give you a little bit of history of this large water system.The French River flows for 110 km from its Lake Nipissing source to Georgian Bay.For thousands of years the First Nations people followed the river system fishing and hunting.The French River was a major highway for explorers,traders and Jesuit missionaries as they pushed into the West to open up the country.Later the timber barons sent rafts of White Pine South along the river.Today many people paddle and boat on the French River camping and fishing.In 1986 The French River was designated Canada’s first Heritage River.A prime example of a glaciated Canadian Shield river environment.The above info was taken from the French River Visitor Information Guide.

My first stop would be the Flat Rapids Camp on the French River.Turning off the highway onto the Hartley Bay Road. Arriving at the campgrounds I checked in and soon had the camp gear set up.The Flat Rapids Campsite is run by very wonderful down to earth folks.I truly enjoyed my weekend here.I had a quick supper and soon was back on the road.

I crossed the bridge over the French River and turned off onto the road leading into the French River Provincial Park Visitor Center. This is a magnificent building that is well worth a visit.The layout inside is very well done.There is a lot of history to learn here as well as enjoying the visual display.The people that work here are wonderful folks and they go out of there way to help you.I can not thank them enough for their help and hospitality well I was there for the weekend.

Returning to Flat Rapids Camp that evening I hiked along the river shoreline looking for photographic opportunities.It was not a good evening and it was soon dark.

I awoke at dawn and was greeted by some spectacle scenery on the river.On this section of the river there are islands and exposed rocky shoals.There was mist to be had,heavy cloud cover.I set up for the above shot by using the point of one island in the foreground  and keeping another island in the middle ground.I then had the far shore and sky for my background.The sunlight was highlighting various sections of the scene when it would pop out.This is very important in getting that special composition.Just be aware of your surroundings.You will also note the position of the far island and the point were by I have created a S curve to lead the eye.At this time of day with the cooler morning temperatures that creates mist over the warmer water temperatures you can create mood in your composition.The rocks were wet and along with the reflections in the still waters created wonderful detail in the rock structure.All in all it was a great morning to be there.

Well that is it for now.So until next time happy trails.

Photography

Blue Skies and Rocks

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I will continue discussing my day trip into Killarney Provincial Park last Friday.One of my goals was to do some shooting in Little Shageleander Lake.I love this location for its rock structures along the shoreline.I have also produced some award winding photos here.

I set up for this composition at the only campsite on this lake.I added shoreline in the foreground and the left side of photo.There was a beautiful blue sky along with nice white clouds.This composition was a two shot pano.I darken the sky a bit to enhance the tree line for better effect.When you have reflections in the water you will find very interesting patterns with a rocky shoreline.Being well into summer there are now lily pads floating on the surface.Some folks may consider them a nuisance in this type of photo.I consider the lily pads a part of the scene and at a later date you will know that you took this photo during mid summer.

Well that is it for this week.Thank you for visiting and I enjoy the comments.So until next time happy trails.