Reflections in the Wetlands /  by Todd Henson

Reflections in the Wetlands. Click on the image for a larger view.

When I visit wetlands parks I am most often looking for wildlife to photograph. But these sorts of locations can provide much more subject matter than wildlife alone.

The photograph above does, in fact, contain wildlife. If you look closely there is a Great Blue Heron near the center of the far shore. And a number of ducks are hidden in various locations. But I don’t consider the wildlife the subject of the photograph. For me, the photograph is all about the reflections and the patterns they create.

I was photographing several species of duck far closer to my location, using my 200-400mm lens. As I looked around the wetlands I noticed the beautiful pattern in the reflections along the far shore. This was mid-March in Virginia and all the trees were bare, a little too early to begin growing leaves. So the reflections formed fascinating lines and patterns, lighter where the sun shone on a tree trunk, darker on the shaded side and between the trees. There was a small amount of movement to the water that added a slight shimmer further from shore.

I turned my camera towards the far shore and looked for a focal length that would capture what I was seeing. This particular photograph ended up at 280mm. I framed the image to focus mostly on the reflections but also capture some of the trees being reflected. I did intentionally include the Great Blue Heron. I figured it was a nice addition, though it is standing behind a pole in the water.

I thought about creating a symmetrical composition, including the same amount of each island on either side of the image. But instead I opted for a bit less symmetry, showing the entirely of the island on the right and giving the heron more room since it was facing in that direction.

This image was created at a fast shutter speed (1/1250 sec) because that’s what I’d been using with the ducks. I would have been curious to create versions of this image with slower shutter speeds, perhaps several seconds or more, to smooth out the water and possibly create more clear reflections. I don’t know if I would have preferred that version, but would like to have seen them both. However, slower shutter speeds are not as easy with the longer lens. If I’d had a 70-200mm with me I could have used that along with a neutral density filter, if needed, to slow the shutter speed down. Perhaps next time.

Next time you find yourself in a wetlands park take a look at the wetlands, itself. Are there any interesting compositions, any reflections, patterns, or colors that could make a nice image? Let me know what you find in the comments below.

 

Used Photography Book Roundup - March 2018 /  by Todd Henson

Three photography books recently found in a used book store.

Used book stores can be fantastic places to find interesting photography books. I like to stop by various stores every so often to see if anything new has found its way to their shelves. This post is a roundup of books I’ve recently found and purchased. Maybe you’ll find one of these interesting enough to look for your own copy.

These books may be difficult to find new. In case you don't have a good local used book store, I've included links below to Amazon where you may find new or used copies. These links are affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. This is at no extra cost to you.

Steichen in Color: Portraits, Fashion & Experiments by Edward Steichen

I admire Edward Steichen’s work, even though my own photography differs greatly from his. The majority of his work was monochromatic, but in this book we get to see some of his color work, created using many different techniques. It’s a fascinating collection, and I look forward to reading the text that accompanies the photographs.

If you’re interested in Steichen’s work take a look at my review of the book, Edward Steichen: Lives in Photography, a book I highly recommend.

At First Sight: Photography and the Smithsonian by Merry A. Foresta

This book contains a fascinating collection of photographs from the Smithsonian Institution. It briefly discusses the history of photography, and then discusses in a little more depth the history of photography at the Smithsonian. The book includes a very diverse set of photographs from the Smithsonian’s collections. This book is a beautiful piece of history.

The Family of Man by Edward Steichen

The Family of Man was a huge photographic exhibition put together by Edward Steichen for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It had been called (both in the book and elsewhere) the greatest photographic exhibition of all time. Through a collection of photographs by photographers from all over the world, the exhibition essentially tells the story of mankind. There are some very moving photographs in this collection.

I had read about this exhibition but had never seen much of the work from it. This book collects 503 pictures from the exhibition, and I’m very pleased to have found a copy. The paper in the edition I found is of low quality and has colored with age. I’d love to find a better copy one day.

I highly recommend frequenting any used book stores in your area with good photography sections. You never know what you may find. Leave a comment below if you’ve found anything interesting, or if you have a copy of any of these books.

What's That Out There In The Water? /  by Todd Henson

Northern Watersnake swimming in the water.

It’s a Northern Watersnake! Up till now every Northern Watersnake I’ve photographed has been on land, though most were near water. But I’ve finally photographed a water snake swimming through the water. I watched this one as it dove under the water, resurfacing some distance away. These snakes can move fairly quickly through the water and can be difficult to follow.

Northern Watersnake approaching shore.

I don’t consider either of these photographs particularly great, and neither is in any way artistic. But I’m pleased to have created them for the behavior they document.

There can be many reasons for creating a photograph. In most cases I’m trying to show some aspect of landscape, nature, or wildlife in an artistic, pleasing way. But other times, as in this case, I’m just trying to document a species, to capture any behaviors, or to capture different features of the creatures.

Next time I observe this behavior I hope to create a more pleasing set of photographs. First, capture the moment, document the behavior. Then work to create a better version of the photograph. There is always room for improvement. So keep trying!

Do you have any pleasant memories of when you captured an animal’s behavior? Let me know in the comments below.

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