Newsletter No. 72: July 2011
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CONTENTS
- Newsletter #72: That’s 6 Years of Sharing What I Do and Why I Do it
- The Turner Lakes. Part II: An Extraordinary Day in the Ark
- The Chilcotin Ark Grasslands: Amidst the Grass there is the Unexplored
- Aerial Photography: Pushing my Comfort Level
1. Newsletter #72: That’s 6 Years of Sharing What I Do and Why I Do it
Lazuli Bunting
© Chris Harris
It’s hard to believe that six years ago, I wrote my first newsletter and sent it out to the 75 people on my email list. It’s harder to believe that during that period, I have published three major books and am sending out my 72nd newsletter to some 2,000 subscribers.
I am extremely grateful to be a nature photographer, for it is my way of inspiring an ethic of respect for the generous Planet that is our sustenance. As a photographer I create to participate in the human experience and to express my truth as a human being.
I share my images in the hope that they refresh our passion for wild places, and I publish books to inspire a greater understanding and appreciation for the natural world, especially the part of the world I call ‘home’, the Cariboo Chilcotin region of British Columbia.
The reason I am able to do this is the result of your support for me, my work, and my publications.
These newsletters are therefore my way of giving back to the global community. I am totally transparent in what I photograph and how I photograph. I feel that by promoting the value of observing beauty, we will place greater value on the Planet, it’s biodiversity, and the entire human experience.
Beauty feeds the soul and may very well be the most important factor in sustaining our survival on the Planet.
For all that I have expressed above, I am truly grateful.
‘When the soul is alive to beauty we begin to see life in a fresh and vital way.’
John O’Donohue
2. The Turner Lakes. Part II: An Extraordinary Day in the Ark
Paddling toward the Talchako Mountains; Junker Lake
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: The trick to making a successful image of a canoeist is to make it look genuine. I had Teresa rock the canoe gently, make a stroke, and then have the paddle out of the water and separated from the canoe. Wearing the appropriate hat, holding a professional looking and relaxed stance, and looking up at the mountains (not at her paddle), was the result of her natural modeling instincts. I also wanted her to appear moving into the picture frame from the left and out toward the mountains. Also, Teresa’s hat could not merge with the darker reflections of the forest. I love making images like these, it’s truly exciting. But if you think it’s easy, try it!! Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 400; f-11; 1/200 sec; lens at 67mm; on a tripod. At 5:40am, one hour after I made the "moon-set at sunrise" image as shown to you in Newsletter #71, I created this photograph of Teresa paddling out toward Talchako Mountain.
The conditions were perfect: calm water and early morning light on the snow-clad peaks; but the most important aspect to this image is the paddling skill of Teresa. There is nothing more apparent and more wrong than a photograph of a x-c skier who can’t ski, a golfer who can’t golf, or a canoeist who can’t paddle.
I brought my step-daughter Teresa along for this very set of images. She knows her strokes perfectly, can manoeuvre exactly where I ask her to go, and looks relaxed and professional. Thank you Teresa!
Burnt Forest Reflection
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: When I first saw this little pond in the forest I was so excited. There had to be numerous possibilities for image-making here, but where? I walked all around the lake, considering the angle of light and the distracting elements in the pond. Eventually I found the composition that excited me the most. Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 200; f-22; 1/15 sec; lens at 67mm; on a tripod. After the canoe shoot and a hearty breakfast cooked over a fire, Mike and I headed out into an area next to our campsite that had been burned the previous year. This little pond provided a perfect reflection to accentuate the vertical lines of a standing forest. The repetition of form provided me with a sense of balance and intrigue.
The First Seedling of a New Forest
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: The story here was about the seedling and regeneration. To emphasize this narrative, I got down to within inches of the seedling with a wide angle lens. Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 100; f-22; 1/5 sec; lens at 23mm; on a tripod. Actually, there are many stories to be told here. While I was on the ground composing an image that would emphasize the story of life and death, Mike was expounding on a different slant to the story.
He said, "When this forest burned the last time, oil had not yet been discovered. In a little more than the life cycle of one forest we have managed to ignite nearly all the fossil fuels it took nature 2 billion years to create! Where will the world be when this forest burns the next time?
No matter where our thoughts took us, we both realized that this was the seminal discovery of our day in the forest. We decided to have lunch here and we have talked about this very scene ever since.
3. The Chilcotin Ark Grasslands: Amidst the Grass there is the Unexplored
Where is Mike? Churn Creek Canyon
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: The juxtaposition and balance of the three major triangular shapes in this image was my primary concern when creating this composition. Canon EOS-1D MkII, iso 200; f-11; 1/200 sec; lens at 28mm; on a tripod. There is no better walking or hiking than on the grasslands of Churn Creek Protected Area. However, along the northern and eastern borders of these grasslands there are canyons. In this image, Mike and I are exploring above Churn Creek, admiring the colours, enjoying the physical exercise, and contemplating the passage of geological time.
Patterns of Erosion. Fraser River Canyon
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Upon examining the lines, the major shapes, and the pronounced colours of red and green, I composed my image. Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 200; f-22; 1/13 sec; lens at 60mm; on a tripod. Following the same path that water takes as it drains off the grassland tabletops, I descended into the Fraser River Canyon. Over many years, architectural wonders are created and colours are exposed as if to paint them.
More Patterns of Erosion. Churn Creek Canyon
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Placing an emphasis on these beautiful forms was aided by using a long lens. The resulting compression of distance creates the illusion that these forms are closer together than they actually are. Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 200; f-16; 1/15 sec; lens at 300mm; on a tripod. I love this image for its softness, of both colour pallet and rounded contours. The challenge is deciding on the composition. There is a complex arrangement of shapes, and the amount and placement of green grass is critical. The process of composing this image required considerable thought and this is why a tripod is so important when photographing.
4. Aerial Photography: Pushing my Comfort Level
A Different Interpretation of the Cariboo
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: I quickly discovered that making the slightest camera movement with a fisheye lens made a huge difference as to how the curvature of the earth looked. Compare the difference between this image and the one below. These decisions are made quickly! Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 800; f-8; 1/3200 sec; 15mm fisheye lens; Handheld. An aerial shoot comprises of a vast area to photograph during a relatively short period of time. There is also a huge cost factor involved. The result for me is the tendency to stick with the ‘tried and proven’ way of shooting. The idea of experimenting could be costly. I could easily miss out on a good image I know I could make if photographing traditionally.
During the night prior to this shoot, I woke up with the idea of using my 15mm fisheye lens, a lens I haven’t used for years. I tried to envision the result and became quite excited. I decided to give it a try. The images above and below are two results.
A Global Perspective
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: For this image I angled the camera down further as compared with the image above. The result is a greater curvature of the earth. Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII, iso 1250; f-16; 1/500 sec; 15mm fisheye lens; Handheld. While shooting the Spruce Budworm Spray Program (see Newsletter #71) the president of the organic spray manufacturer told me how the product is being used throughout North America and beyond. This provided me with the idea for this image.
Building on my new confidence level based on the first experiment above, I made this global interpretation of the spray program. To me this images speaks of a program far more reaching than just the Cariboo region of B.C.
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