by tmoffett | Dec 7, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings, Uncategorized
Winter Morning, Payette Lake
Photographing in the winter can be a wonderful experience. It can also be miserable if not prepared. I learned this fact many years ago. The cold of a frozen tripod goes right through the wrong type of glove. Viewfinders fog up if your breath is not directed away from them. Focusing and changing camera settings is nearly impossible with bulky gloves or mittens. However, with clothing that is warm and allows for easy finger movement, photographing in the coldest of temperatures can be quite rewarding.
One cold December morning found us at Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho. It was a beautiful, but cold morning. It had snowed the night before and all was quiet and calm. We were the first to stamp our footprints in the newly fallen snow as we walked the shoreline behind the resort at sunrise. The light fog lifting from the surface of the lake revealed snow capped rocks rising from the frigid waters. We captured image after image in this winter wonderland for about an hour following sunrise, then headed off to find a hot breakfast and enjoy a relaxing day around town. This was the perfect beginning to a wonderful holiday season!
by tmoffett | Dec 6, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Photographic Philosophy
Snowed In
The other day I was spending some time out at the lake after a snowstorm had passed. It was a beautiful sight. The lake was starting to freeze over and the terrain was covered in a blanket of snow. It was quiet and calm. A perfect day to spend thinking and pondering… and photographing.
While many times I go photographing with others, this day I was alone. Just me and my camera, and the lake. Normally I work quite slow. I see something, I think about it and then photograph it, after I have determined what it is that has drawn me to the subject. When I am alone I work even slower. I really like to soak up the environment and feel my surroundings. Then I attempt to photograph my feelings. On this day, in the bitter cold there was still a warmth in the environment. I love the fresh fallen snow and could feel the warmth exuding from its depths. As I walked the shore of the lake I was drawn to individual, isolated brush and leaves protruding from the depths of the snow along my path. It was this that I chose to photograph. The warm, yellow brush extending beyond the surface of the cool blue of the snow showed a clear visual of exactly what I was feeling. Even though the color in this image is very subtle, it is necessary.
by tmoffett | Dec 4, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings
McGowan Peak
When I don’t have a lot of time and need to get away, Stanley Lake is my favorite place to go. This small mountain lake nestled at the base of the rugged Sawtooth Mountains is the perfect, quiet getaway, and a great place to make photographs! I don’t think I will ever tire of visiting this mountain retreat.
On a recent stop at the lake, Christeena and I photographed until dark and then decided to cast our fishing lines for a few minutes. Before long we had a couple of fish on. We headed back to camp, fried up dinner and watched the stars until we fell asleep. It really doesn’t get much better than that. Before sunup the next morning we were up and headed toward Stanley. We stopped and photographed Valley Creek then on to Little Redfish Lake. There is so much in this area that a person could spend a lifetime exploring and never see it all.
by tmoffett | Dec 3, 2010 | Landscape
Stumps, Lake Cascade
I’m at a loss for words today (doesn’t happen very often!), so I thought I would just post an image and hope you enjoy.
Have a great weekend!
by tmoffett | Dec 2, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings
Solitude
Yesterday was a snow day at school. We had the one of the top ten snowstorms on record here. It was wonderful! I realized how much I miss the snow… real snow. I grew up on the Wasatch Front where lots of snow was the norm in the winter. I lived in Upstate New York where snow and ice was expected. Then I moved to Nampa where the norm is to snow in the morning and rain in the afternoon. The snow doesn’t last long here, so when given the chance to photograph fresh fallen snow yesterday I did not hesitate! It was great to get out in the cold and tromp through the snow with camera and tripod in hand. It was quiet and peaceful and cold, but so worth it.
I have a very simple style, but even more so in the winter. When everything seems to be quiet, I think it really rubs off on me while I am photographing. I see things in a very simple way. This image is a great example of that. While I was walking along the shoreline of the lake I noticed several leaves partially buried in the snow, and then I came across this one. It must have just fallen as it was completely on the surface. The soft light allows the intricate detail in the leaf to be recorded, as well as the texture of the fresh snow. It seemed as though it was just waiting for me to come by and photograph it, and I did. The warm hues of the leaf against the coolness of the snow just seems to speak to me. I hope it does for you, too.
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