explorers of lake portland

lake portland
portland, oregon

Discovering new frontiers in photography is for the long serving or most talented artists among us. For each of us on our learning journey, we are the beneficiaries of their work as we get to explore those frontiers and in doing so, we discover something about ourselves. Take for instance this image from last Saturday down in Portland, Oregon. A group of eight of us were part of Bryan Peterson’s workshop when our plans to shoot along the coast changed due to a severe weather forecast. By the time we set out for Portland from Silverton, heavy rains had soaked the city and when we arrived beautiful big puddles were abound.

I’ve been wanting to nail one of these shots ever since Bryan wrote about Lake New York in one of his emails to students of his Perfect Picture School of Photography. The first time I attempted this shot was at Granville Island but the puddle was quite small. This location was much better not just because the puddle was larger but because there weren’t too many people around and we could get up close and personal.

To get this shot you have to use a wide angle lens; I used my Sigma 10 – 20mm at its widest angle. Knowing that the wide angle lens really calls for an interesting foreground, I’ve been practicing how close you really need to be.  Set up your camera on the ground right at the edge of the water so that you do not get any of the road in your frame.You will need to lie down on the ground to compose your image. It may be awkward to see through your viewfinder so take your first shot and then review it on your LCD screen and make adjustments to our composition as required.

Through the process of trying to get this shot I learnt a few things about myself. First I realized that I can anticipate photographic opportunities in a way I wasn’t able to in the past. This comes from not just knowing a particular technique but from understanding how that technique can be used in your creative process. Second I am less afraid than I have been in the past, of doing what it takes to get the shot (more on that epiphany later). Normally I’d think twice before I get down and dirty but when you want something badly enough, you will literally sink to any lengths to get the shot. This second point might see trival to seasoned veterans but I have noticed that even in a workshop full of photographers, most seem reluctant to hit the ground.

Bryan has already announced his 2010 workshops on Facebook and he’ll soon publish the schedule on his website. I highly recommend his workshops. He always delivers on his promise of some amazing images for each and every student and at the very least you will leave with a whole group of new friends who share your passion.