Newsletter No. 38: September 2008

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CONTENTS

1. The Search for Light – The Rainbow Mountains – Part II
   
2. Cardiff Mountain Ecological Reserve – Part I
   
   
3. A Writing & Publishing Workshop with Chris Harris & Harold Rhenisch

Hi everyone,

What a fabulous month of hiking, exploring and photographing. But in the end, at least from a photographer’s perspective, it all comes down to the Search for Light. Enjoy the adventure and the imagery, and I hope you too will be inspired to take up your own search for light, no matter where you are or what you are doing.

Award winning poet/author Harold Rhenisch and I will be giving a writing & publishing workshop in Salmon Arm in October. I hope you will join us if you can and pass on the information to friends who may be interested. Thanks.

Enjoy the Newsletter, and pass it on to interested friends. Our goal here at the Chris Harris Gallery is to share the creative process, promote the arts, and strengthen our artistic community. Thank you.

1. The Search for Light – The Rainbow Mountains – Part II

Searching for the Light

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III;
Focal length: 70mm; ISO: 250;
Shutter speed: 1/125 sec; Aperture: f11
Exp. mode: AV; Exp. Comp. +1

What an adventure – the search for light. After hiking nearly 20 kms the previous day, through swamps and across several streams, I awoke to another day of mist and shrouded mountains. Still feeling optimistic, however, I convinced Aileen and Mike to accompany me up to a ridge jutting off the eastern slope of Mackenzie Mountain. I had visualizations in my mind of the sun breaking through the mist; lighting up the volcanic colours of the Rainbow mountains…I could hardly wait. After two hours of hiking , however, the clouds grew thicker and it began to rain (above).

Yellow Paintbrush

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III;
Focal length: 70mm; ISO: 400;
Shutter speed: 1/800 sec; Aperture: f8
Exp. mode: AV; Exp.comp: -1/3

There was to be no magic light and we were forced to retreat to camp, 500 meters below. But wait…not all was lost. While up in misty alpine, Mike noticed a rare variety of Paintbrush. We had seen every shade of Red Paintbrush but never Yellow Paintbrush. In my research to-date I have found little about this Yellow Paintbrush. If any of you have any information about this plant, I’d be happy to share it with our readers.

Hoping for Light!

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III;
Focal length: 48mm; ISO: 250;
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f22
Exp. mode: AV; Exp.comp: +1

There is so much discussion made about photographic equipment these days, that we almost always forget the most important ingredient – the play of light. As a photographer, I constantly watch the weather, wait for that break in the clouds, and hope for that elusive beam of light from the heavens. It is the magic of light that transforms the landscape.

It’s day three and once again, Aileen, Mike and I hiked up to above 7,000 ft. elevation. It’s still socked in but I sense a change in the wind. The mist began to swirl and the light finally began to penetrate (above). I sensed my whole body move into the present. My spirit began to soar.

The First Beam of Light

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III;
Focal length: 200mm; ISO: 250;
Shutter speed: 1/640 sec; Aperture: f13
Exp. mode: AV; Exp. Comp. -1

What had taken millions of years to create was unfolding before my very eyes. Someone yelled to me that it was lunch time. I heard the call but it meant nothing to me. Any hunger I may have had for food was transferred into a hunger to capture light. This is what I had come for. I had to subdue my excitement and try to concentrate. The very conditions I had dreamt of for a year were in my viewfinder. I was living the dream.

Did someone say lunch? What lunch!

Rewarded with Light – Finally!

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III;
Focal length: 50mm; ISO: 250;
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f20
Exp. mode: AV; Exp. Comp. -1/3

The mist kept rising and the light burned through. It was an amazing spiritual high. As I look at these images on my computer monitor now, five weeks later, the memory is vivid and the excitement is like a drug. I want to go back for more, and once again be in the mountains, watching the weather, and hoping for that elusive beam of light.

2. Cardiff Mountain Ecological Reserve – Part I

Nemiah Valley from Cardiff Mountain

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; Lens:17-35mm;
Focal length: 17mm; ISO: 100;
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec; Aperture: f22
Exp. mode: AV; Exp. Comp. -1

As part of my new book on the volcanics of the Cariboo Chilcotin region of British Columbia, I set off in early June to discover and photograph Cardiff Mountain; an Ecological Reserve that was established in 1974 to protect its outstanding volcanic basalt columns.

Ecological reserves in British Columbia are areas selected to preserve special natural ecosystems, animal and plant species, and special features. They are not created for outdoor recreation but non-destructive pursuits such as hiking, nature observation and photography are permitted.

The journey to get to Cardiff Mountain was an adventure. I had brought along Max, a young student from Germany who was working at our home as a WWOOF’er (willing worker on organic farms) and exploring B.C. We drove to the Nemiah Valley where we recognized the mountain from the highway but we had no idea where the trail was. We went to a local guest ranch and got specific directions. The next morning we headed off, but to our dismay, we soon discovered that the trail we were told to take was leading us in the wrong direction! We had been spoofed – the sort of joke that often happens in the wild West Chilcotin!

Taking charge of our own destiny, we headed off through the forest, eventually reaching the top of Cardiff Mountain in late afternoon. The view of Mount Tatlow and the Nemiah Valley was a spectacular one.

Basalt Boulder Garden

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; Lens:17-35mm;
Focal length: 29mm; ISO: 400;
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f16
Exp. mode: AV; Exp. Comp. -1/3

I soon realized that the beautiful basalt columns I wanted to photograph were down below us. After another bushwack and scary cliff descent, we reached a garden of basalt boulders. As loose and unstable as these boulders were, we climbed up until we were directly beneath the object of our search.

Lava basalt columns

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; Lens:17-35mm;
Focal length: 24mm; ISO: 400;
Shutter speed: 1/200 sec; Aperture: f16

These are the most spectacular basalt columns I have ever seen. Their bright orange colours together with lichens, grasses and flowers, made them extremely photogenic. Unfortunately, by the time I reached the spot from which I could photograph them, I was so exhausted, I didn’t have the energy to set up my tripod on the dangerous scree I was standing on. That is why I made this image at 400 ISO. If I had used my tripod, I would have set the ISO at 100 (less noise and higher quality) and used an aperture of f22 for maximum depth of focus. That will be when I go back…and this time I know how to get there!

3. A Writing & Publishing Workshop with Chris Harris & Harold Rhenisch

On October 25th, Harold Rhenish and I will be collaborating to give a workshop in Salmon Arm, organized and sponsored by the Shuswap Association of Writers. Below is a copy of the Press Release which provides full details. That evening, Harold and I will also be presenting the show “Spirit in the Grass”. There will be a book signing after the presentation. Please join us if you can and forward this Newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested in attending. Thank you.

Every Picture Tells a Story
Award Winning Authors Coming to Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm, September 3, 2008 – For Immediate Release: For the first time in Salmon Arm, award-winning photographer/writer Chris Harris and award-winning poet/author Harold Rhenisch will be presenting an all-day workshop, “Every Picture Tells a Story: Binding Words and Images” on Saturday, October 25 at the Podollan Inn, 1460 TransCanada Hwy. NE, Salmon Arm, BC.

“Every Picture Tells a Story: Binding Words and Images”, will be an extraordinary workshop that draws on the immeasurable experience of Harris and Rhenisch, who worked together on the successful project, “Spirit in the Grass: The Cariboo Chilcotin’s Forgotten Landscape.” Their book was published in 2008 and nominated for two BC Book Prizes.

Participants in the workshop will be able to explore and benefit from the expertise and collaborative efforts of the two co-creators who worked so successfully as photographer, writer and editor of their project. Their goal is to help participants learn how to create a volume of pictorial essays The “Every Picture Tells a Story: Binding Words and Images” workshop will run from 9:30am until 4:00pm.

Cost of the workshop is $75, with members of the Shuswap Association of Writers paying $65. Lunch is included. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Registration deadline is October 18, 2008.

For workshop guests, the Podollan Inn in Salmon Arm is offering a $99 / double occupancy B&B special.

In the evening, Chris Harris will be giving a slide show and interpretation of “Spirit in the Grass” from 7:00pm until 9:00pm. Cost is $5/person. Location is still TBA.

For more information, bios, headshots and interviews, please call 250-833-5634 or go online to www.saow.ca