Several weeks ago my photography buddy for the last seven years passed unexpectedly. As a veterinarian it always hard to lose a patient, but infinitely more so when they are your best friend. This is the first chance I’ve had to get out and take an image since. I missed him hanging by my side.
I time blended two photos to make this image. I took a photo of the mountain, trees, and reflection after sunset while hanging at the boat ramp with a fellow photographer, two bike packers (part of a large group of women bombing around the National Forest), and an elderly cowboy poet. I returned at midnight to find I had the place to myself, and enjoyed the stillness while photographing the sky and its reflection.
I've hit the saturation pretty hard here, trying to bring out a lot of the color variation.
Nikon D7100
Nikon 12.0-24.0 mm f/4.0 at 12 mm (18mm equiv.)
Blend of 1/6 sec. at f/16 and ISO 100 & 15 sec. at f/14and ISO 6400
Comments
10 commentsI recently purchased a new recumbent trike, and the bike shop owner said to send in a photo from the road. Figuring Mt. Adams and Tahklahk Lake is a good backdrop, I tossed the bike in for the drive up, and played with an image as the sun was getting low while waiting for the night show to begin.
Perfect comp and I really like the saturation you've brought out. The somewhat blurry reflected stars really top off a great image. Good job!
Wow, I camped here with my family in 1991, John. This sure brings back memories... Very sorry about your friend!
I really like the image, especially the sky. The glow of the Milky Way and subtle color changes across the sky are real eye catchers. However, Mt. Adams and the tree line seem a bit posterized (for lack of a better description). As I spend more time looking, I'm wondering if that's because they seem dark relative to the brightness of the stars and maybe Mt. Adams is a touch too purple.
Good work on the blend. I also like the processing. Beautiful work
A moving scene, for sure, John. It's a shame that such great companions can't stay with us as long as we are here, but memories of them can. Even when missing him, I hope that the memories warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.
Speaking of memories, your title for this image -- "Heartfelt Reflection" -- and the technique of combining images from different times reminds me that photography can be more than simply instantaneous visual documentation. I have come to realize that preserving memories in our photographs is often more appropriate and more important than preserving the precise physical reality of a scene. For much of my life I was a scientist, making purely documentary images, so I found it odd to see photographs with super-intense colors, and bright stars in blue skies. Now I have come to realize that there are different levels of reality, and often the most relevant and moving ones are the images deeper in our hearts and minds than the typical "realistic" photograph. Our memories of the night are more than dots of light in a black sky. Our deeper memories contain more than just visual information. The ability to illustrate emotions in our memories with words, music or images in any medium is a gift.
Sorry about the loss of your friend...
A very nice star photo "postcard", Nice IQ and cold blue color....
This is a fine night image John. I especially like how you handled the far shore trees and the snow capped mountain. The lighting looks very natural for moonlight. I don't find it oversaturated. I do find the sky a bit brighter than what I normally see. But I don't know if a darkened sky would lose some of the impact that a star lit sky has one's senses. So it would be something to experiment with. How dark is too dark.
A fitting tribute to your companion, John. We have recently added a new companion to our family after losing both my buddies last fall. I never thought i could replace them, but Lucy, our new dog, brings a smile to my face often. Love the saturated presentation. Really a beautiful image.
I'm definitely a sucker for these milky way and mountain compositions. This is really well done.
Hi John! I'm very sorry about your partner and friend.
This is a beautiful image! The sky is very well done and not too saturated. I think the lighting on the Adams and the trees is just right. The blend is also very well done.