Features of Four Forty-Six Photography

Behind the Camera is a monthly feature where I place the spotlight on one of my own pictures.  Around the end of each month, I will choose a single photograph from my collection and talk about what went into creating the picture.  I will also discuss a little about what I "see" in the photograph.  Art touches everyone a bit differently, and the creator of the art is also touched by what is created.

This is your chance to ask about that favorite picture.  Feel free to suggest images for Behind the Camera.  There is a story behind each and every one of my photographs.  This feature will be updated around the end of each month, so don't forget to drop by and see which photograph is currently being featured.

If you miss an installment, there is no need to worry.  I duplicate the feature in Photo Trek so these features can always be found in the archives filed under "Behind the Camera".  Another reason I duplicate the feature is to give you the opportunity to share your opinions by way of leaving a comment attached to the entry.

A few days into the month of February I had the opportunity to go out on an early morning Trek.  The forecast was calling for a good mix of clouds and sun for the day which was promising for some landscape photography.  I set out early, a little before sunrise with a location in mind just down the road from home.  My intention was to get a nice sunrise shot over a field with a fresh blanket of snow.  I arrived at the field and found a lot of things that I just didn't like about the setting which I had no noticed before.  I quickly changed plans and made my way to a barn located off of Highway 158 which I had wanted to photograph for some time now.

There have always been some concerns with compositions on this barn which have kept me from trying it previously.  On this occasion though, the snow really made the scene pop.  The barn now stood out from the surrounding field and trees which made it a nice focal point for the photograph.  Because this was not my original destination, I arrived very close to sunrise.  The sky was looking very nice as I pulled off the road and set the camera up.  However, the color faded quickly as the clouds rolled across the sky.  Having stopped and set the camera up, I decided to stick around and see what presented itself to me.

Part of what makes this picture special to me is that it is one of the first series of photos which were made with my new Canon EOS 5D Mark II.  There were several things which I was having to get used to with this camera which really slowed down the photographic process.  I knew that I wanted to capture the snowy field with the old barn, and I wanted the barn to be a predominant element.  For this to happen, I needed to use a wide angle lens which happened to be my 17-40mm f/4L which gave me the exact perspective that I was looking for.

With the sun quickly approaching the horizon the lighting was getting harsh and I knew that exposure was going to be a problem.  For the barn to be an integral part of the image, I was going to need detail in the wood.  This would cause the sky to blow out which I didn't want to happen.  I really liked the way the clouds were looking and I wanted to be able to capture the sun as it was cresting the trees.  My only option here was to fit a graduated ND filter.  In order to get the proper exposure, I selected a 3-Stop grad to sufficiently darken the sky.  Even then I was concerned on how the photograph would turn out.

I waited as the sun climbed in the sky and saw that it was going to rise right in the niche of some trees at the far right of the frame.  This was going to be great for the composition and I became rather excited at the prospect of getting the sun in the frame.  I waited and waited until the sun was above the main trees, and fired off a series of shots.  Within minutes the sun was up too high and the clouds were all clearing.  It was time to pack it in and head off to the next location.  As it turned out this was to be my only destination for the day.

My biggest surprise of the day came when I processed the image.  I was concerned about the shadows and highlights in this scene and was wondering how the final print would turn out.  I was very impressed with the 5D Mark II's ability to capture detail in both the shadows and highlights.  With very little help from the processing phase I found that there was plenty of detail in the barn as well as in the sky.  After seeing this image printed out, I was sold on the capabilities of the new camera.

The title of this photograph was a natural and didn't require much thought at all.  The obvious presence of the snow sets the scene for the time of year and gives a hint as to the temperature outside.  The barn itself doesn't really look to be much of a shelter from the cold, but you can see that there has been some melting of the snow from previous day's sunshine.  The key to this photograph is the rising sun in the far right of the frame.  Here is the warmth that the scene needs so badly.

I always look for dichotomies in my photography, and I like how this element is present here.  There is light and dark, along with hot and cold.  There is a lot of visual drama and tension in this image which gives it a life of its own.  It is no longer just a picture, it is a story, and there are lots of visual folds to keep your eyes busy.

You can view this photograph in the Rustic Room.

Photo Trek is my online journal, or blog as some would say.  It is a place that I have created to document my Treks into the field in a relaxed atmosphere.  With every Trek that I embark on, I will come back and share some of my experiences and an occasional funny story as well.  It is a chance to learn about what goes into creating the images that you see here in the gallery.  Of course, comments can be left and are always welcome.  If you are interested in my past Treks, you can view an archived list of my Treks in the "Photo Trek Features" block.  Just click on the Photo Treks link and you will have access to each of my previous Treks, as well as Studio Sessions.