Sunday, November 17, 2019

You don't make a photograph just with a camera

You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved. - Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams is arguably one of the most influential photographers of our time. I know that his work has greatly influenced me, shaped my view of photography and the world around me. I have studied his work far more than that of any other single photographer. It is almost impossible for me to see a moonrise without thinking about his photo - Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico. It is one of my favorite images - if you aren't familiar with it, you can read about it here, or search for it on YouTube and listen to Ansel recount how he got the shot. I have written about the importance of studying the work of others in an earlier blog post - Improve Your Photography: Study other Photographers and Artists so I won't get into it here.

I chose the quote above as the inspiration for this post because it is about as insightful as any I have read over the years. Ask any photographer what his most asked question is - more often than not they will say, "What camera do you have?" or the variant, "You take such great pictures. You must have a great camera." Okay, so the second is a statement, not a question but the sentiment is the same. The camera is just a tool, no different than van Gogh's paint brush, Julia Child's frying pan or Stephen King's typewriter. The creative process is a deeply personal one, as are the tools used by the creator. The best camera in the world does not "take a picture", it is merely a tool used to convey what the photographer sees and feels at the moment he trips the shutter. A great photograph can be made with virtually any camera.

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept. - Ansel Adams
Absolutely! If you spend $48,000 you can buy a top-of-the-line Hasselblad H6D-400c MS Medium Format DSLR Camera, add a 35-90mm zoom lens for $8,500 and I guarantee you will get incredibly high quality images. They will be tack sharp, crisp, clear - almost everything necessary to be a "great picture"! You've now spent more than $56,000 and not a single person has told you that "you must have a great camera." Why? You haven't done your homework, you haven't taken the time to learn what makes a great photograph. It could be something as subtle as the focal length of the lens or moving the camera a couple inches in one direction.
The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it! - Ansel Adams
That brings me to my last Ansel Adams quote for today. This is, essentially, a summation of the first two. The photographer is responsible for the success or failure of an image and not the equipment being used. We decide the composition, the aperture, shutter speed and the exact moment in time to trip the shutter. We don't always get it right but if we are passionate about our work, we will learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.

I have been an avid photographer for more than 45 years and I am still learning my craft. I am constantly trying new techniques when I am out or developing new editing skills. I follow a lot of photographers on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. I am still a student and I hope that never stops being true. I never want to feel totally comfortable with my art, never want to feel like I have gotten as good as I will get.

I hope I have given you something to think about. I will end this post with another of my favorite quotes but not from Ansel. This quote is one that I found quite a while back and is one that I firmly believe.

Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow. ― Imogen Cunningham

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

A Rare Photo Shoot With a Friend

Collaborating

If there is one thing you have probably noticed about me is that I tend to shoot alone. There are very few times when I get together with another photographer and virtually never a group. It's not that I am particularly anti-social but I value my solitude and, honestly, most of my shoots are last minute events. That is not to say I am always alone, my wife and I enjoy going out to parks and I will shoot. My son has also accompanied me on a couple occasions recently. This past Monday was one of the rare exceptions.

Jim and I grew up in the same town and have known each other forever. I think Monday may have been the first time we have seen each other in more than 40 years.... I've been meaning to get together with Jim for a while and we even had a shoot scheduled once before but I had to cancel. I sent Jim a quick message on Sunday to see if he was available to shoot a sunset, fortunately he was.

Where Should We Go?

I checked Clear Outside1 to see what kind of conditions we could expect for the sunset; it was calling for 98% high cloud coverage. That isn't good but it's better than low clouds - at least we had a fighting chance of some color. Luck was on our side because the full moon was appearing on Monday, this gave up a second opportunity for images. I decided on Chestnut Point at Manasquan Reservoir because I knew we would be able to come away with some images even if the sunset was a bust. A quick check with MoonCalc1 showed me that the moon was rising at just about the same time as the sun was setting. I was actually looking forward to the rising moon than the setting sun.

So Many Compositions!

This was Jim's first time at the reservoir and I wanted to make sure he came away with some good images so I arrived a little early to look around. I have shot here before (Manasquan Reservoir - A Sunrise & Sunset Weekend) but things change with the water level of the reservoir, dramatically changing the landscape at times. It didn't take long to find this little pool of water, the water was almost mirror smooth making a nice contrast with the small waves in the reservoir. It has a nice foreground, too.

We broke out our tripods, set up the cameras and waited for the show to begin. It was nice catching up after all this time and having someone to pass the time with while waiting. As the sun was setting the reality hit - we weren't going to get the amazing sunset that I was hoping for. The cloud cover was just too thick, although there was a nice red glow around the Environmental Center, just no decent composition to go along with it.

This is one reason I don't often invite others - it is one thing to drag myself out and leave empty-handed but it is another thing when you drag someone along with you and they come away with nothing. I think that is one reason why I haven't done any workshops....

It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the Moon. – Galileo Galilei

The Silver Lining

As it became clear that sunset was a bust I was desperately looking for something to salvage the excursion. That is when the moon made it's first, faint, appearance over the distant trees. Okay, we are going to witness something special if the moon peeks thru the clouds for us. We stayed where we were but turned the cameras slightly to the north and awaited our chance. I took a couple shots but decided there was too much foreground and that moving closer to the water would make for a better composition. I don't want to brag, but I was right.... 😉

The word of the day was "bracket" and I did. The last time I had the moon in a landscape I ended up with little more than a bright orb in the sky. I knew I wasn't able to get a well-exposed moon and well-exposed landscape so I went to far extremes in exposure; the plan is to use blending in Photoshop to come up with a good composite image. I will do that at a later date and dedicate an entire post to composites and exposure blending. The images shown here are all processed from a single exposure - there was no HDR or exposure blending used.

In the end, I think I walked away with a few reasonably good images and hope that Jim did the same. I haven't seen his work yet but hope to soon.

At The End of The Day

When all is said and done, I'm glad that I invited Jim to join me for a shoot. The intended purpose of the get-together was for me to deliver a calendar to him and we originally were going to meet at my office for the exchange. I had to cancel that somewhat last minute and it turned out for the best.

I may have to re-think some of my planned outings and change them from solo outings to collaborations. Only time will tell.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the story and images. I would love to hear your stories about plans that go awry but turn out better than expected. Leave me some comments below. Thanks again!

1 I wrote about Clear Outside and MoonCalc in Manasquan Reservoir - A Sunrise & Sunset Weekend. I will be writing full reviews after I spend more time working with them.


Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Parks of Monmouth County - Manasquan Reservoir

Manasquan Reservoir

Welcome to another installment of my series - Parks of Monmouth County. In this installment I will be discussing Manasquan Reservoir in Howell. There are three (3) parking areas, Chestnut Point, Environmental Center and Visitor Center, each providing access to one or more trails and each affording their own incredible views of the reservoir.

The thing that draws me to the park more than anything else would be the dead trees in and around the water. It can be difficult to find interesting compositions of large lakes but the trees are perfect, as are the rocks around the perimeter of the reservoir. The trees make great subjects for silhouettes, like in the black & white image below.

The Trails - Environmental Center

Bracken Trail

I just recently discovered the Bracken Trail, it made for a nice hike after work. It is a half-mile Pedestrian Only, EASY, trail with informational placards describing the flora and fauna you are likely to encounter during your hike. There are a few spots along the way that afford a wonderful view of the reservoir.

Cove Trail

The Cove Trail is a 1 mile, MODERATE, trail bringing you thru the wetlands near the Environmental Center. This is a Pedestrian Only trail. This was the first trail I hiked at the reservoir and enjoyed it. There are some small grades and the trail is a bit rough at times; you have to watch for roots and rocks and the trail can be narrow in spots.

The Trails - Visitor Center

Bear Swamp Connector

Bear Swamp Connector is a .7 mile EASY trail that connects the reservoir to Oak Glen Park, a Howell Township municipal park. This is the only trail that I haven't hiked and so I don't know anything about it.

Wetland Spur

The Wetland Spur is a .2 mile trail connecting the Visitor Center parking lot with the Perimeter Trail. This is the trail that I most frequently find myself as there is a small bridge that affords terrific views on both sides. If you are a photographer, this is one of the best places to explore. There are endless compositions and the landscape is ever-changing.

Perimeter Trail

The Perimeter Trail is a 5.1 mile MODERATE multi-use trail. The trail is reasonably flat and well-maintained, you still need to be mindful of rocks and roots because you will be in the woods for much of the way around. The trail starts at the Visitor Center although you can enter the trail at any of a number of places. If you start at the Visitor Center and hike counter-clockwise, you can use the mileposts along the way to track your progress.

Other Activities

Boating & Fishing

Boating is permitted, including boats with electric motors. Boat rentals are available, in season. If you bring your own boat, there is a launch fee - check website for current fees and restrictions. All boaters must wear approved personal flotation devices at all times on the water.

The reservoir is stocked with large and small-mouth bass, hybrid striped bass, tiger muskie, bullhead catfish and various species of panfish. A valid New Jersey freshwater fishing license is required for all fisherman between the ages of 16 and 69.

Biking

Bikes are allowed on three (3) of the five (5) trails - the exceptions being Bracken & Cove trails and rentals are available at the Visitor Center between May 23 and October 30, weather permitting. Of course, you are welcome to use your own bicycle but remember, the trails are unpaved so leave your expensive road bike at home.

Playground

There is a nature-themed playground near the Visitor Center for children.

Environmental Center

The Environmental Center has something for everyone, including nature programs, interactive exhibits and a live view of a bald eagle nest. If you want to do some exploring on your own, you can get a free "Safari Backpack" to help you with your self-guided nature walk. The backpacks are free but you need to leave a valid New Jersey drivers license. The programs at the center are free and many are "self-directed" - check the website for dates and times as they change.

The Environmental Center is open for area groups, offering a wide-range of activities, including boat tours and kayaking. You can get more information on the Environmental & Outdoor Education Programs for Groups page.

For a full list of the series, with links, check out the "Parks of Monmouth County" page.

How to get there

  • Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, Interstate 195 west. Proceed on I-195 west to Exit 28B, Rt. 9 north-Freehold. Stay in right lane when entering Rt. 9 north. At first traffic light, turn right onto Georgia Tavern Road. Follow Georgia Tavern Road for 0.3 mile. Continue straight for Environmental Center on right or turn right onto Windeler Rd. and continue 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center Reservoir Area on left.
  • State Hwy. 9 south from Freehold to Georgia Tavern Rd. Use Jughandle to turn left onto Georgia Tavern Rd. Proceed as above.



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