Saturday, July 26, 2008

Muncho Lake and Light

Alaska Sunday XV

I am going to take time out from the regular Alaska Sunday Travelogue and show two photos that were taken only a couple of minutes apart at different focal lengths and slightly different light conditions. The lighting changed during those few minutes and the matrix metering interpreted the scene differently. I always shoot raw so I was able to make some small adjustments to the photos before saving them in tiff format.. The reason I wanted to show these and bring this to your attention is an interesting post over at Transient Light Photography. Read this at your peril. It will cause you to rethink your approach to scenic (or other) photography. It is not about equipment or software but discusses "light".

Muncho Lake is a highway services community in northern British Columbia, Canada, located at Mile 462 on Highway 97, the Alaska Highway, within Muncho Lake Provincial Park. A person could spend a lifetime in B.C. engaged in hiking, photography, camping, skiing, canoeing, fishing, exploring, prospecting, or just admiring nature (Sorry if I left out your favorite pastime. Leave it in the comments.). Follow the British Columbia link to learn more about this fascinating Province or check out the BC Interior link. Rocky Mountain Girl is from the B.C.Interior. Check out her blog here.

I won't bore you with technical details, but just be aware that the two photos which are vastly different in appearance, are only very slightly different in handling technique and light capture. In the second photo the light was blocked by a darker cloud which caused the exposure to differ slightly. For instance, the small change in light and scene contrast cause the clouds to appear to have darker bases among many other small noticeable details.

Grandpa used to say, "Grain and oats is what makes the Mare go".
Well, light is what makes photography go.

Yes, that is the un-retouched color of the lake with its high copper content.
Depending on light angle of light, it can appear dark blue, turquoise, or green.
(Click on the photographs for better views)







Plan your photo shoot. Even if you are "just taking snapshots", watch the lighting, direction of light, and color balance and experiment if necessary to achieve "that perfect shot". Make every photo a perfect photo.

Troy

18 comments:

Genie said...

I have SO much to learn about photography that it intimidates the heck out of me. Sometimes I just want to put my camera down and say, "Forget it! I'll never be able to do this." Ugh!

Sorry, had to vent.

Anonymous said...

These are both absolutely beautiful examples of how light transforms the familiar into something new, Troy. It is so fascinating how those little photons of energy can create mood, drama, surprise, texture, pattern, mystery, and/or stunning beauty--either singly or all together to really knock your socks off.

They are both very nicely done and each has its strengths and qualities, so I can't decide which I like the best. So, I'll take one of each!

BTW, thanks the link to my latest post/rant and the head's up E-mail. I surely appreciate it.

I always enjoy "rambling around" your blog for the photography and your writing. I just wish I could get over here more often.

Well, it's now time for me to head back to the salt mine. Talk with you again; but, soon I hope.

Jim

Isadora said...

That color is utterly amazing. I don't think any picture postcard could beat it. Lucky you.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Troy: Very nicely done, that place looks surreal.

AphotoAday said...

Unusual lake, to say the least...

And yes, light does make the photograph... Those are true words...

And yep, Jim Moore's Transient-Light website is truly a masterpiece -- I've got some reading to catch up on...

Best regards, Don

Shelley said...

I love the bright blues in the first photo and the "moodiness" of the 2nd photo!

Daryl said...

Light .. ah light .. its can make or break a photo ... these are perfect examples of how it can make a photo ..

:-Daryl

Anonymous said...

Nice photos. I am a morning light photographer. All the rest on my blog are just photos. I prefer, if I can, to shoot only just after the sun comes up.

Abraham Lincoln
Brookville Daily Photo

Unknown said...

I want to go! Please! Those are the best!

Michele said...

Wow, what a difference in that photo. Beautiful! I am amazed by how much difference light can play on photography. I have seen it. I normally take a bazillion photos because living here in BC over 40 years, I know the weather can change on a dime which can be a good thing. It brings on beautiful lighting conditions and spectacular backdrops for the mountains, lakes, rivers, trees and even the wildlife when I least expect it.

Jim over at Transient Light Photography is awesome as you have already explained in this "light" topic.

I'm hoping one day that my photos will use that information as well your photography skills that I see here everyday, Troy. I know to become a wonderful photographer, I have a long ways to go but I am patient.
But for now, I love to show what British Columbia has to offer in the best way I can!

Thanks Troy for the shout out... I appreciate it.

Take care!

~Michele~

Anonymous said...

That is a noticeable difference. They're both great but I do like the darker one better.

I'm with Genie - so much to learn and remember.....

Willard said...

Both are excellent photographs, but the second is stunning!

bryan said...

Wow, those photos are beautiful!

myonlyphoto said...

Oh this is a definitely nature's art. Beautiful. Anna :)

Jo Beaufoix said...

Beautiful photographs Troy. Thank you so much for the link you left on my post about Pulmonary Haemosiderosis. I've been really amazed by the response and we're hopeful we'll find more information for her.

Bob Johnson said...

Hey they are both awesome shots, thanks for the info.

Raven said...

Wow! What amazing colors. Just beautiful. The visual world is so extraordinary in so many ways - one of which is how the same place can have so many "faces."

Louise said...

Fantastic photos. Amazing how they were taken so close together. I love them both, though. The colors in both, though so different, are spectacular. And the clouds, well, they're just perfectly wonderful clouds.