Newsletter No. 106: May 2014

Newsletter No. 106: May, 2014
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.

Contents:

1. The 100 Mile Project: Re-acquiring a ‘sense of home’.
2. My Journey to Bella Coola: Always an exciting drive!
3. BC Fjord Lands Photo Tour: A space has opened up. Join us.

Hi everyone,

This month, I want to share two stories; one is a new ‘stay at home’ project, while the other takes us on a 600km drive along Highway 20 to Bella Coola.

As always, both stories are told with images. It’s my way of expression. Enjoy!

 

1. The 100 Mile Project: Re-acquiring a ‘sense of home’.

Somehow, on my journey to explore and photograph the entire Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region of BC, I have drifted apart from the very place I call home; 100 Mile House and its immediate area.

During this summer when I am at home, I will explore locally with my camera, and I will post pictures daily (I’ll try!) on my blog. The hope is to encourage all of us who live here to better appreciate the beauty, and the value of our ‘homeplace’ in our day-to-day lives.

Join me in this adventure and tell your friends. You can find my blog on my website. You can also subscribe to receive blog post notifications.

Notes on composition & technique: The Visitor Centre was already lit so I just had to paint the ski’s with the light from my flashlight. That took approx. 4 sec’s of painting. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 200; 15 sec.; f-13; 24-105mm lens; tripod.

The ‘100 Mile Project’ starts at our Visitor Centre; the place where both locals and visitors can obtain a wealth of information about the area. The staff are always helpful and full of ideas. No matter what your interests, they can point you in the right direction.

Notes on composition & technique: A simple composition using the line of the creek to lead one’s eye through the picture space. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; 1/15 sec.; f-22; 24-105mm lens; tripod.

In the heart of town, Bridge Creek flows through beautiful Centennial Park. I must admit, I had not been there for several years, but it was the first place I headed for to start my project. What a pleasant surprise!

 

 

 

Notes on composition & technique: By using a slow shutter speed I softened the water to eliminate any competing elements with the willow, my centre of interest. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 50; 1.5 sec.; f-22; 24-105mm lens; tripod.

I continued my walk along the creek, making my way toward Bridge Creek Falls.

Notes on composition & technique: All the elements of composition are put to good use in this image. One’s eye goes to the brightest area first, then the lines, shapes, textures, and the areas of contrast, guide us through the entire picture space. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; .5 sec.; f-22; 24-105mm lens; tripod.

Alongside basalt cliffs, this delightful trail travels through high-reaching trees on its way to Bridge Creek Falls.

 

Notes on composition & technique: You will note three distinct areas in this image; the foreground, middle ground, and background. The small and active foreground leads our eyes through the middle ground to the background. The swirling water gives vitality to the image. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 200; 1/15 sec.; f-25; 100-400mm lens; tripod.

Notes on composition & technique: The placement of high contrast areas play an important role in the overall composition. In situations like this, I seek an overall sense of balance. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 200; 1/4 sec.; f-25; 100-400mm lens; tripod.

Notes on composition & technique: As described below, it took deliberate study and split timing to get the areas of colour and tonal contrast in the right places for a pleasing composition. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 400; 1/6 sec.; f-25; 100-400mm lens; tripod.

While walking back to my truck in the early evening light, I noticed colourful reflections in the flowing creek. By using a tripod, I was able to shoot at a slow shutter speed. It also granted me the time to study the composition.

I soon noticed that there were certain spots where the tiny waves crested and where areas of colour remained static. Once I figured out the rhythmic patterns, I waited for precise moments before releasing the shutter. It took several attempts to get two crested waves where I wanted them. I also made simpler compositions with single crested waves. I spent a wonderful thirty minutes there.

2. My Journey to Bella Coola: Always an exciting drive!

Last week I drove west from Williams Lake, across the Chilcotin Plateau, and then down “The Hill” to the Bella Coola Valley. From there, snow clad peaks and lush green vegetation lured me on to Hagensborg and the coastal town of Bella Coola.

I am always excited to travel west across the Plateau. It’s vast, remote, and for the most part, little-known and untraveled. I always feel the call for adventure when I go there.

There are few signs of habitation along the route. Then, in what seems like the middle of nowhere, an old burner appears beside the highway. There are no other structures around it, but I felt there was an interesting human story there.

Unsure of my directions, I ask if I am on the correct trail to Bella Coola. He assures me I am !

Beyond Anahim Lake, home-town of goalie Carey Price, of the Montreal Canadiens, a 40 minute drive took me to the Heckman Pass (1524m or 5000 ft) viewpoint. This is the beginning of “The Hill” , also known as the “Freedom Road”, which has never been paved.

After 30 years of trying to convince the BC government to build a highway that would connect Bella Coola with Anahim Lake and the outside world, exasperated local citizens took it into their own hands, cutting a rough cat track down the mountainside. Despite grades of up to 18 percent, the road handles traffic year-round. It’s a driving adventure but I love it!

Here are a few signs I saw along the descent !

 

 

Eventually I reached the valley where spectacular snow clad peaks and the Coast Mountains escort my visual journey to the coast.

Once in the valley, I drive slowly, often stopping to photograph. For those of us who live up on the plateau, the vegetation is lush and appears so photogenic. It is!

Notes on composition & technique: To help create a greater sense of depth, I included an alder tree that was much closer to where I was standing. It appears slightly darker in tone. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; .7 sec.; f-22; 24-105mm lens; tripod.

I have always wanted to photograph an alder forest, but have never done so. This time, not being in a rush, I stopped my truck, and out came my tripod.

It was a very thick alder forest that extended several hundred metres toward the mountain. At first I didn’t know how to approach the image making challenge.

The depth of mid-tone tree trunks was extensive. They were evocative but my first images didn’t capture that feeling. Eventually, by including some foliage and an alder tree that was much closer to me than the rest of the forest, I was able to collar some of the feelings I experienced there.

Notes on composition & technique: For a slightly more ethereal look, I made a multiple exposure of two, one at f-22 and in focus, the other at f-5.6 and slightly out of focus. EOS 5D Mark III; multiple exposure of 2; tripod.

After making several documentary style images, I began to move more toward abstraction. After experimenting with different camera movement techniques with different numbers of multiple exposures, I settled on two exposures; each with different settings as described above. I was now getting closer to capturing how I was feeling there.

These two images were made from the highway. Next time I visit the valley, I am going to enter that forest. I feel an attraction there.

Notes on composition & technique: This composition was based on repetition of form so I took special care in choosing the placement of the thickest trees. I used vertical camera movement during a relatively slow shutter speed to make this capture. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; 1/3 sec; f-22; 24-105mm lens; handheld

A little further down the road, I saw another alder forest on the other side of the highway. This time it was a brightly lit immature forest. Using a totally different approach, I made the above image to capture the contrast between the tall thin tree trunks in shadow and light green foliage in sunlight.

Before reaching Bella Coola, I visited Snootli Creek Park where a well groomed trail took me through an ancient cedar grove. It’s a wonderful location to photograph and experience a coastal rainforest.

While sitting under a huge Western red cedar having lunch, I looked up and saw the tonal contrast provided by the overhanging branches. I never had to move an inch. I just set up my tripod, composed, made the image, and finished my lunch! It was made at f-22 over and a 3 second exposure.

Eventually I reached the end of Highway 20. It is a fabulous drive, and there are many opportunities to stop and make images.

Don’t be put off by all those road signs I photographed while driving down “The Hill”! I took them in jest. It’s actually a wonderful experience on a very well maintained road.

 

One of my primary photographic destinations on the coast was the Tallheo Cannery, seen here across the inlet from Bella Coola Harbour.

I spent a day shooting there and I plan to go back. If you enjoy coastal history as well as an amazing place to photograph, contact Garret and his wife who offer an historical B&B service.

This place comes highly recommended. I’m going to do a photographic story here. Wow. I can’t wait until I go there again!

3. BC Fjord Lands Photo Tour: A space has opened up. Join us.

A space on the BC Fjord Photography Tour has opened up due to a cancellation. This is a rare opportunity.

I am being taken to the best photographic locations on the central coast to photograph for my upcoming book. You can join us. We are a very small number of photographers looking for the most diverse and stunning locations. Our captain, Len Ellis, has spent his entire life on the coast and he is anxious to show us the areas of greatest photographic potential.

Full details can be found on my website.