Newsletter No. 123: October 2015

Newsletter #123: October, 2015
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.

Contents:

1. A Hiking & Photographers Paradise: Nuk Tessli & the Dynamic Landscape
2. The Rainbow Volcano: Search for the Motherstone
3. Studies in Composition: with a wonderful photographer, Cathie Wright
4. Duggan takes me for a Walk: and shows me a beautiful wetland !
5. Photographic Workshops: for 2016

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my one hundred and twenty-third consecutive monthly photographic Newsletter sharing the beauty of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.

There is never a shortage of photographic trips to be made in the Cariboo Chilcotin region of BC. The challenge is how many I can fit into each year; each month, each week! Join me and let’s see where we end up this month!

Chris

1. A Paradise for Hikers & Photographers: Nuk Tessli & the Dynamic Landscape

In my September Newsletter I described the setting we had chosen for a four day holiday in the mountains. Our basecamp, which was set up by Nuk Tessli Wilderness Experience, was on Moonlight Lake, a small treasure, tucked into the foothills of the Coast Mountains. Rita and her friends were there to hike; I was there to photograph.

Moonlight Lake has become one of my favourite places to photograph. It’s a small and intimate lake with a glacier feeding it, but what makes it so powerful for me is its landscape created by ice and water. It’s visual elements are simple, graphic, compelling, energetic, and dynamic.

I’ve told hundreds of people in my photo tours and workshops that the best photographs are often made while chasing bad weather with its dynamic light. It’s true. But on this occasion I didn’t have to do any chasing; it found me. One of the worst storms of the year was on its way (I didn’t know that at the time), and I was fortunate enough to be there to capture it’s changing light.

The early morning, with mist lingering over the glacier, represented the calm before the wind it. It was magical. I eagerly went to work.

Thoughts, feelings & information: The distant mist over the glacier captured my imagination that morning but to provide context, I used my wide angle ‘landscape lens’, my 16-35mm lens, to make this image. Lowering it to where I almost included my toes, I provided ambience to the landscape I was working in. I made the image at a focal length of 17mm, at f-11 and 1/15th sec. on a tripod.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: While walking along the shoreline I came across a compelling arrangement of rocks in the water. They form part of the narrative, for they were deposited by the glacier just a few years prior. Compositionally, I decided to give the three shapes of sky, ice, and water equal space. They each contributed to the mood. This image was made at f-11 on a tripod.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: With mist rolling around, parts of the landscape continually disappeared and reappeared. I kept a constant look out for elements that evoked a response in me. Because I felt the sky elements were of greater importance than the lake, I gave it greater pictorial space. I also made this image at f-11 on a tripod.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: As the mist began to rise, parts of the glacier itself were revealed. I was so excited at this point, but I kept my calm, assessing the elements, to make compositional decisions. Being aware of how our eyes move through the picture space is a topic I continually discuss in my workshops. I made this image with my zoom lens at 120mm in order to slightly compress the distance between compositional elements. F-16 on a tripod.

Moonlight Lake is in the Charlotte Alplands, an area that has the greatest concentration of alpine lakes anywhere in North America. For information on holiday travel in this region, contact Nuk Tessli Wilderness Experiences.

2. The Rainbow Volcano: Search for the Motherstone

This little story is a continuation of the greater story I started in my previous Newsletter. While travelling with Rainbow Mountain Outfitters, I was in search of a giant volcanic feature which I could very easily call the Motherstone of the Rainbow Mountains.

I had visited this colourful basalt rock over 20 years ago and I wanted to photograph it once again for my upcoming book publication. My itinerary for this trip was especially designed to get us there. I think you will see why!

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: I knew the ‘Motherstone’ was just around the corner but the terrain under foot did not make for easy hiking. From my photographic narrative perspective, I needed to make this image. My challenge was to separate the hikers in front of me; not an easy task. Trying not to trip with cameras on both shoulders, I got into position where all 5 hikers were separated and well apart. I made the image at 1/250sec. at f-11; handheld.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: To show the view down to the Beef Creek Valley and the Coast Mountains in the far distance, I placed the ‘Motherstone’ on the far left of the image. While standing in a precarious position, I handheld this capture at 1/250sec at f-11.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: One of the reasons for this promotional photographic expedition was to shoot video footage. This picture captures Mike Bernard filming the Jorgenson sisters. I made the image at f-11, on a tripod.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: We chose a longer but easier route home. To capture the narrative, I stayed behind and made a composition that included the enormity of the landscape we were travelling through. I made the capture at 1/200sec. handheld.

3. Studies in Composition: with a wonderful photographer, Cathie Wright

Three years ago, a most friendly petite lady from the remote gold rush town of Likely, BC, arranged to bring a small group of photographers from the Williams Lake Camera Club to my Gallery for a small talk on photography. We spent an entertaining two hours discussing the creative process of image making. Before leaving we had a brief chat where she introduced herself as Cathie Wright and passed me her business card.

Our short conversation intrigued me, so I went to her website as soon as she departed. I was not disappointed. Her images spoke to me instantly. She was a master of composition. I emailed her immediately, expressing my enthusiasm for her work; we have been friends ever since.

Cathie, once a commercial artist, has an honours degree in Visual Arts and Creative Writing. While working with Olympus cameras, Cathie later became highly involved with camera clubs and multi-image presentations. In retirement, Cathie is a fine art photographer with deep roots in the Interior Rainforest landscape. She continues to produce powerful multi-image productions.

Earlier this month, Cathie invited me and my photographic friend, Shayne Middleton, to visit her for a few days at the height of fall colours; she wanted to share some of her favourite photographic ‘hotspots’ with us. We were thrilled.

At 6:30am on day-one, we drove to Poquette Lake. Cathie said, the best light and conditions are between 7 and 9am. After that, the sun and wind breaks the mood. She was right!

Poquette Lake is a small narrow lake alongside a gravel back road. Most people wouldn’t give this lake a second glance, but fortunately for us, Cathie had.

Thoughts, feelings & information: I made this image to give readers an idea of what one saw when they looked across the lake. Not much really! But for Cathie it had become a magical place. We quickly saw why. F-14 at 1.3 sec. on a tripod.

For photographers, it had all the ingredients for exquisite studies in composition; line, form, texture, as well as tonal and colour contrast. We went to work! Here are five compositional studies I made that morning.

At 9am the wind came up and the mood changed, just as Cathie had predicted. Thank you Cathie!

4. Duggan takes me for a Walk: and shows me a beautiful wetland !

Every morning our dog, Duggan, insists on taking me for a walk. He says it’s necessary for my heart condition. I agree, and follow!

Thoughts, feelings & information: To capture the feeling of following Duggan though the forest, I made this image at 1/8 sec. while walking. I never broke stride.

 

It was a beautiful place, and I have an emotional soft spot for wetlands. I made my traditional documentary overview image first, but then what? As always, I pretend I am a painter-artist and ask myself, how would I express myself artistically after making the above representational painting?

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: I made this using camera movement at f-22 and .8 sec. handheld.

 

 

Thoughts, feelings & information: From my 6 foot perspective, I later looked down to see movement in the cattails and grasses as a slight breeze came up. I accentuated that feeling with a combination of multiple exposure and camera movement.

The process of going from the ‘real’ to the ‘feel’ of what I am looking at is a creative journey I enjoy.

5. Photographic Workshops: for 2016

The details for next year’s workshops will be published in mid-November.

For those of you who were here during this year’s 3-day workshops, you will remember visiting Bridge Creek, in Centennial Park, in 100 Mile House. It was late spring and the water level was high.

Last month, I decided to re-visit the creek and was pleasantry surprised by what I saw. The subtleties of mute colours together with the texture of the exposed rocks, made for a peaceful and tranquil beauty not felt in the more vibrant spring. I exposed it for 20 seconds at f-11.