Ripples
Sometimes photography is a good metaphor for life; it is what you make of it. This photo started off quite differently from what you see here. This was shot on a gray, overcast day. The water reflected the color of the sky, offering little interest to the eye. Even the blue of the kayak seemed washed out under the dull lighting. Yet still, I thought there might be promise.
To begin with, I wasn’t even using my standard equipment. Due to a recent surgery, I decided to forgo my 5D and heavy glass for our walk along Lady Bird Lake. Instead I used my wife’s much lighter T2i, along with a new lens somewhat less ponderous than my usual wide-angle. The tripod stayed in the truck as well. When you can’t do what is ‘normal’, you have to improvise. The time of day, and the lighting, were all wrong for me as well. I love to shoot early morning or late evening, when the light is more dramatic. But the important thing is that I was shooting, after a too long hiatus.
Again, the scene held promise, and by selectively toning the water, and saturating colors overall, it was transformed from something drab to this. The kayak is vibrant, and the intricate, interrelated patterns of ripples on the water surface are revealed. Just as in life, you sometimes have to look more deeply in order to see the richness of detail and color. And sometimes you simply have to step in and add that color and complexity yourself.
Enjoy the photo, and have a great day!
I not only like this photograph, I love it! And yes, photography often provides life metaphors. An overall wonderful post.
January 23, 2012 at 8:07 am
Thanks, Cecilia!
January 23, 2012 at 8:53 am
Like what you did here. The color of the water is great! Looks like a 4th Infantry Division patch on the back of his vest, but I don’t think it really is. Nice capture!
January 23, 2012 at 8:11 am
Thanks, Evan! I don’t think it is, either, but you never know.
January 23, 2012 at 8:54 am
Nice! Reminds me to go fishing!
January 23, 2012 at 9:54 am
Thanks, Chris! Just dangle a line over the Pfluger pedestrian bridge.
January 23, 2012 at 11:54 am
Wonderful photo! Love the detail on the ripples. Makes this photo that much more special and appealing to the eye. Very nice work, as always
January 23, 2012 at 10:27 am
Thanks, Amanda!
January 23, 2012 at 11:55 am
Very nice rendering. In terms of post processing, I have started to see a lot more potential in the images that I have captured, that on first glance do not seem to be “keepers”, when I explore all the possibilities that are limited only by imagination.
January 23, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Thanks, Wayne! I shot this simply because I liked the subject, and thought I could make something of the composition. And you’re right, sometimes you just have to imagine what an image can be.
January 23, 2012 at 1:26 pm
very nice, I like what you did with the colors
January 24, 2012 at 9:20 am
Thanks, Mike!
January 24, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Ooooh! You’ve really brought this one to life!
January 25, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Thanks, Icewolf! I rather like this image.
January 25, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Makes me think of the muscles under the hide of a thoroughbred.
February 8, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Interesting thought, Paul. As always, thanks for stopping by.
February 9, 2012 at 6:45 am