I spent the weekend in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks looking forward to some winter photography, but the weather did not really cooperate as I had hoped. Regardless of the forecast, I always stay committed to whatever plans I’ve made because you never know what can happen. Fortunately, I had one morning with good light and took advantage of whatever nature offered my way.

Though I do not tolerate cold temperatures very well, I love winter photography for the physical challenge, as well as the way it seems to transform the landscape visually.  I’m fascinated with the colors and textures that the snow and ice create, and there’s also the stark and subdued feel that pervades the forest this time of year – I just can’t get enough of it.

Setting off in the dark to reach the summit of Pitchoff Mountain just east of Lake Placid before sunrise, I managed to stay warm as I climbed about 1200 feet in just over a mile and a half – believe me, that kept me warm for a while! Though the snow wasn’t too deep, it was hard packed, so I opted for my Kahtoola KTS steel crampons which were perfect, especially for the ice covered rocks at the summit. These are essential for winter hiking in snow and ice.

Boulders of all sizes provided lots of photographic possibilities, but I struggled for a while to find compositions that conveyed the way I felt. Ultimately your instincts take over, and I tried to react to both the changing light and my own sense of what I wanted capture at the moment.

Visual rhythm is always something I think about in an image – does the eye move in a pleasing and natural way from one point of interest to another. While many consider this the essence of composition, I like to think of it as the final element that completes an image. The points of interest are what matter most in my mind, as they create the emotion and feel of what it is the image is trying to convey. During the time I spent on this rocky summit, I felt rather out of place, as though I didn’t quite belong in such a harsh environment, and certainly it influenced my choices with the camera. It was certainly a beautiful moment, but I was happy to leave and head back down to relative safety.

I’ll be returning to the Adirondacks in a few weeks for more winter photography, so until then I’ll be working extra hard on my physical conditioning which always pays off when tackling steep mountains trails with a heavy backpack and very cold temperatures.

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1. February 2010 Desktop Wallpaper-View From Pitchoff Mountain, Adirondacks
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3. Photo of the Day- “Winter Paradise”

Mt Beacon Firetower

My wife Brenda and I hiked up to the summit Mt Beacon and then proceeded to the historic 78 yr old South Mt Beacon firetower yesterday evening. The Scenic Hudson trailhead is a very short drive from our home, and  once at the top, the views are fantastic from the Catskill mountains all the way to new York City. Reaching the tower half hour before sunset after a mile hike, the light was changing rapidly, and dramatically as well. It was one of those instances when I barely had any time to react to the changing conditions, and I just enjoyed the views and had fun with the camera. Though I often have preconceived  ideas of how I’d like to approach a location, experimenting is always the best way to learn, regardless of the outcome.

It really helps to know your gear well, as a few seconds making adjustments can make all the difference between capturing or missing something special. Most cameras have presets that you can program to give you one click access to common settings, and I have one as a starting point for landscapes: Manual Mode, f16, ISO 100, mirror lock-up, and 2 second timer. All I need to adjust afterwards is shutter speed, and aperture depending on the composition. Of course, this is a very basic explanation, but the concept is to eliminate the technical, and focus on composition and emotion.

Cloud Patterns

Improvising visually felt very much like my younger days playing bass in a jazz band as the leader looked in my direction and nodded for a solo. When the rest of the band stopped playing except for the drummer and all eyes rested on me, I said “oh $@%@” in my mind, and attempted to make believe I knew what I was doing.

I learned much from those valuable experiences, as well as countless mistakes, and in the process gained the confidence to follow my instincts. Always follow your instincts, regardless of what you do, and more likely than not, you won’t be disappointed.

It felt good descending in the dark after enjoying a great evening in the outdoors. And the company couldn’t have been better. Map and More Info.

Hudson River View

“I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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