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2007 > December
by RR Jr on December 18, 2007
I’m really proud and honored that Scenic Hudson has chosen to use some of my images for their promotional emails and marketing. They are the leading non-profit conservation organization in the Hudson Valley committed to preserving as much of the landscape and beauty for public recreational use. Their latest newsletter features one of my photographs “Highlands Sunset”, and they have shown interest in using many more for future promotions, This is a great opportunity for me simply because many of my images feature lands either protected or owned by Scenic Hudson, and the opportunity to photograph and enjoy these resources would probably not exist were it not for their existence. Hopefully my images will help their cause in some small way, and help promote the natural beauty and landscape of the Hudson Valley. This is an endeavor that many great landscape photographers have committed their time and talent to, notably Ansel Adams and Yosemite National Park. While I don’t pretend to be anywhere near that category of importance, it is extremely satisfying when one of my images helps a viewer to see a familiar location or scene in a totally different and positive way.
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2007 > December
by RR Jr on December 18, 2007
Winter is finally here, and the last week has brought snow, ice, sleet, rain, and more sleet and snow. While hiking in the snow is fun and provides all kinds of photo opportunities, sleet and ice is a whole other matter! Although I’ve been fairly comfortable in most conditions ever since my bad ankle injury last fall, the ice certainly makes me uncomfortable to say the least! I have managed to create some good images the last few days however, and I’ll be posting them to the website as soon as I have time to develop them. Much of my shooting this winter will focus on scenes that I have photographed in other seasons, and challenging myself to see them in a new perhaps unique way. We’re all too familiar with the same subject and composition shot in different seasons, but I’d like to go beyond that and use the changing season to inspire a different view or perspective. After all, it certainly feels different in the winter, so why not see it differently?
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2007 > December
by RR Jr on December 9, 2007
This month’s featured print is titled “View From Crow’s Nest“, taken close to my home in the Hudson Valley on a cold, brisk, fall evening. Looking for new and different views of the river and surrounding mountains, I headed out to some hiking trails I was aware of, but had not had a chance to explore. The Hudson Highlands are full of trails, and many yield different views depending on the time of day and year. Because the river lies in between several mountains, it is always a challenge to find a location where light during the golden hour will be where you want it! As I hiked northward along the trail, I noticed a high ridge east towards the river, and decide to climb my way to the highest spot I could see. When I finally reached the top, I had a commanding view of the Hudson, and I became excited with the potential for a special photograph. After some exploring, I found a huge rock about the size of a small car, and knew I had the ingredients I usually look for in a landscape image. All I needed now was the right light, and the right composition.
With so many details in the frame, I struggled quite a bit to find the perspective that would simplify the image, but include a sense of scale and grandeur of where I was. Finally I felt confident, and all that remained was the light. As usual, a huge bank of clouds moved in to obscure the western sky, and I started to have my doubts about my chances. But I didn’t give up, and the sun broke through the clouds at the very last minute before sunset, throwing a beautiful warm light across part of scene, and I took full advantage of it! I shot about 3 frames, and no sooner than that, the light was gone for good. But I was exhilarated with what I had seen and captured, and the hike back to my car was effortless.
Landscape photography is certainly about craft and technique, but it is also as much about perseverance and vision, and about the pure desire to share an emotion with the viewer. And this for me, is its greatest reward.
