Under the Sun

Have you ever considered that all your wonderful camera equipment is not much more than this: weeds? Both will eventually break down. One more quickly than the other, of course, but neither of them will last very long.

And why do I say this? To warn you first of expecting from equipment more than you should, and second, to beware of using a tripod in deep snow. Tripods, especially lightweight ones, do not hold up well against the atypical pressure incurred when the legs, fully extended and opened to a leg angle of 25 degree or more, are placed without appropriate caution into snow 20 or more inches deep. While still providing a degree of stability, this depth is enough to make the tripod literally “float” in the snow without actually resting on the ground. It’s the equivalent of a person doing a leg split; it induces incredible stress on the upper portion of the legs, more than a tripod was built to endure. In my case, this resulted in a snapped tripod leg lever after only two weeks of use.

As far as I know, to prohibit this from happening, one must open the legs less than 25 degrees or not fully extend them before placing them into the snow. However careful one may be, there will always be problems and evidences of break down. Give your equipment to God, be as careful as you can, and just expect misfortune along the way!

There is one last photography-related activity worth taking note of: an activity most unique to anything I have ever experienced.

In, or should I say beneath, a portion of downtown Rochester, New York, there remains an old, abandoned subway tunnel. Allen, my friend and host for this part of my trip, brought me and a few other of his friends along to explore and take pictures. Though for a majority of the time there was not enough light for much good photography, the location provided for some very unique compositions!

In retrospect, I would say I do not necessarily recommend expeditions such as this because of the dirt, filth, or simply the fact that, being in the inner city, it is unknown what such a location contains. But in this situation, I was part of a large group, well equipped with lights, and with someone who knew where we were at all times. Indeed it was unique.

The fact that it took pretty much all day to travel by car and train from Beachburg to the US border at Niagara Falls, resulted in the serendipitous event that I arrived at the falls after dark. I can attest that Niagara Falls is spectacular at night. But it is ultra-spectacular at night in the winter!

Everything was covered in deep snow, which in turn was overlaid by a peculiar sheet of ice. Thankfully, the wind–so cutting it was that night!–was blowing the right direction and kept us from being glazed by ice. Very few people were milling about, afraid to endure the freezing temperatures. It was picture perfect.

Of course, every picture was taken with a tripod. Positioning the camera for pleasing compositions was probably the most difficult task. I kept a tight hand and a close eye on all my equipment; under those conditions, one mistake could have been costly.

The last evening and morning in Beachburg was probably the most picturesque. It was clear, which was uncharacteristic of my stay in Canada. Having gone to bed late, due to travel the day before and a desire to take pictures that night, I almost missed the colorful sunrise of that last morning.

For most of these shots, I used a tripod to allow for creative development. The picture of the house at night is close to an 8 minute exposure. Exposure bracketing was used on the sunrise and shack for a simi-HDR feel. The only picture taken without a tripod is the one looking up at the frost covered weeds; it simply got too uncomfortable kneeling in knee deep snow to adjust the camera to the perfect position.

The day I visited Parliament Hill, situated on the banks of the Ottawa River in Ontario, Canada, was probably the most intense of the entire trip. There were deadlines to meet and established limits to the amount of time spent in various places. The rhythm was rapidity. And hence a competent knowledge of camera functions was absolutely necessary.

I was constantly switching settings such as exposure mode and ISO. Aperture priority of f/2.8 at 400 ISO in the rotunda simply didn’t work in the Peace Tower shooting bright-daylight vistas!

What helped me the most was to glance at my settings every time I walked into a new room. If they weren’t correct for that location, I would change them immediately before looking around for compositions. I shot rather consistently in Program and Aperture Priority modes using auto WB and RAW image quality. Things went pretty well despite the pressure. Only once do I remember catching myself taking pictures with incorrect settings.

As we approached the the colossal structure known as Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, near Magog, Quebec, I felt the thrill of excitement that accompanies every photographer upon entering a particularly photogenic location. However, the opposition was clearly exhibited: a stone building, bleak against a gray sky, overlaid with a thick blanket of white snow is not exactly a colorful subject. Hence, I determined to rely heavily on pattern and perspective.

I was grateful for the inclement weather; I knew most folks never saw this place under these conditions, so any attractive extractions would be prized beyond any typical post-card picture.

If you can, do it. It’s not always possible–nor is it always right–to do everything. But if it’s possible, and if it’s right, do it!

I have not traveled often by myself, nor do I recommend it, but over the past two weeks, the pieces fit together perfectly to allow for a journey north to places that expanded beyond my scope of travel heretofore.

The first few days of the journey took me two hours northwest of Ottawa in Ontario Canada, to a little town called Beachburg. I stayed with an affable, friendly family where I found myself happily immersed in the country Canadian way of life. Lennoxville, in southeastern Quebec, just 30 minutes north of the Vermont border, was the next stop: a place where I had the delightful opportunity of visiting with several other like-minded Christian families.

Every day was different; no two people were the same; every place was unlike every other. But while I was there, I purposed to make the most of it, despite how I felt nor how unexpected the situation might be. And with a camera at my side, I tried to make the most of that, too.

That’s right; completely sold out! Thanks to you and the many who purchased Lenspiration’s Observe 2011 calendar, I have no more left to sell. The endeavor was a success!

“. . . if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability
which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter 4:11)

I am indebted to your generous support. This endeavor has enabled me to purchase a durable, high-quality tripod which will be of great service to me in the future.

It arrived only a few days ago, so I was able to put the new tripod to use for the first time today. Having the ability to take pictures with me in them is a blessing, as shown here with a friendly neighbor for whom I had the privilege of shoveling snow.

I’m looking forward to what the Lord has in store for the rest of this year. Hopefully it won’t be long ‘till I start working on a calendar for 2012!