I was nominated by a fellow blogger, Project Relish, for a 7-Day Nature Photo Challenge.
So for the next week, let’s see, if I can come up with some interesting nature images and pass the challenge onto some of my fellow bloggers.
Guggins Brook
This photo is the result of my curiosity. All over Massachusetts, many towns have their own conservation areas, which usually are buffer zones to keep development in check. Often, these areas are wetlands that are a habitat for many native species, which would otherwise be driven into urban areas with little chance of survival.
Although one can search the internet and find many of these areas with some amount of description, it’s often hard to tell what they will be like and if they are worth the drive over. The other approach is to notice the (usually) small signs that indicate a conservation area, pull over and start exploring them.
My discovery of Guggins Brook came from my curiosity about what lay behind this sign, which caused me to pull into the small parking area one day on my way to work. As it had been a wet early April, I was greeted by lots of water and trees just beginning to recover from Winter’s regime.
The short hike through this land was refreshing and had several pleasing vistas, such as this simply composed patch of trees in the wetlands.
Technical Details
This image was captured with my trusty Canon EOS 5D Mk II and 24-105 f/4L lens. Exposure settings were f/16 at 1/250 second at ISO 400.
The Rules
Post a #naturephoto every day and nominate another blogger for this challenge.
Nomination
The challenge of nominating a fellow blogger… AgathaO‘s blog provides a wonderful view into the world, as seen by her, which is particularly interesting, as she tends to observe what many of us might miss. If she accepts this challenge, I certainly will look forward to the results!
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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Dutch goes the Photo! 