Archive for the 'creek' Category
No bad weather
The day dawned foggy and drizzly, but all the weather forecasts I checked said it would get better. Rather optimistically, I trusted them and set out to the Kvarnsjön lake, which is an easy 3.5 km hike from home. Only problem was that it started raining shortly after I set out, and by the time I was at the lake it was pouring. And also rather optimistically, I had opted not to wear any waterproof trousers (my jacket is (almost) waterproof). But it’s not all bad, after a while you get wet enough to stop caring if you get any more wet.
I made some lame attempts at photography, the Stormjacket was protecting the camera anyway but my enthusiasm was rapidly waning in correlation with the wet and cold creeping up on me. When I got home, I was still freezing after dry clothes, a bowl of hot soup and a cup of tea.
There’s no bad weather, there’s only bad judgement for not wearing bad weather clothes.
1 commentWater
Every time I drive over the Björnån creek at Fågelsjö, I think that I should stop and take a picture. After three years, I finally did it today. Basically, I had to - I needed to create my picture-a-day and I really didn’t have any other ideas. So at first I took a cheap shot from the bridge, and then ventured into the dense forest lining the creek, hoping that I’d get a better opportunity at the next whitewater section. Well, it was a lot of work for nothing - when I got there, I remembered that I don’t like big creeks. I prefer small creeks, I think they are much more suited for the those really long exposures I like. So, I had to fight my way back through the forest and then when I was almost back to the car, I spotted this log and a crest of white water behind it. There’s my picture!
Picture is ever so slightly cropped. The colours and contrast are boosted way up because the original was quite frankly very dull - I even considered converting it to B&W. But in the end, I’m a colour photographer so I will have to stay true to my colours (if you please pardon the pun).
3 commentsLike winter
1 comment
Shots
So I drove to my favourite creek again. No rain, but very slippery rocks. As I was making my way through the bushes, I suddenly heard a gunshot. Very close by! I stopped to have a look around, but I was fairly well hidden among the branches so no way a hunter could mistake my blue jacket for a moose. It got my heart racing though, and then there was another shot. And another. I stopped counting after 10 shots and I had some trouble concentrating on my own shooting. I kept thinking, what should I be most afraid of? A trigger happy hunter or a wounded moose? Then I thought of wounded bears and decided that I should definitely be most afraid of wounded bears. I really had to breathe deep for a moment to convince myself to continue. I kept stopping to have a look around me and shouting some “haloo”s at frequent intervals though, just in case. The key is to make them know that you’re there! But after a while when the ridge got between me and the gunshots, I calmed down and just had a great time again, discovering new detail in the creek.
I don’t know if I was in any danger while I was there. I don’t know if it was someone just doing target practice or someone in need of it (how many shots does it take to kill a moose?). But maybe the shooting did frighten the local wildlife so there wasn’t any risk of running into a bull moose again. Other than maybe a wounded one. Anyone who thinks that photography is boring? Join me on my next excursion to an almost inaccessible creek during the moose and bear hunting season!
2 comments
Favourite creek
The morning started clear and cold and I got out already at dawn to catch the sunrise at Loossjön. It got overcast very soon after that, so I got home and started waiting for the rain. When the cloud cover got ever lower and I could smell the rain in the air, I drove to my favourite creek. In fact, I reckon this is my favourite photography spot in all of Loos! I figured it should be at its best now, with autumn leaves covering the rocks and low water to reveal some interesting detail. I was right about both and I was having an absolute blast, I couldn’t imagine anything better to do with my weekend! One thing that was missing though was the rain, so I had to make do with some dull rocks in the images. But I was too happy to mind that.

Because I had been so sure that it would be raining, I had taken the old 20D with me - you know, my bad weather camera? Getting the camera wet was not an issue though, but at least I proved the fact that the 20D didn’t go all bad with a new camera in the house.
The rain finally started in the evening. Since it should stay overcast until tomorrow afternoon (I hope anyway), I will make another visit to my favourite creek. I just want to see if those wet rocks make any difference… or the new camera, for that matter!
I will never be a wildlife photographer. Guaranteed. Before I start the story, I should mention the camera settings I was using before the following takes place (why this is important, will become obvious a bit later): mirror lock-up, ISO 100, f16 and 0.8 sec, IS switched off.
When I was walking back to my car, I followed the ridge above the creek (just because it’s a lot easier to walk there, instead of the treacherous rocks and thicket down at the creek). At one point I got a good view down to the water and I stopped to consider if I could frame a picture. When suddenly I saw some movement down below - a bull moose! So I pulled out the camera, the moose unaware of me, when the animal moved behind a bush so I couldn’t see it. I moved sideways to get a clear view again, simultaneously trying to change the settings in the camera (I hit the wrong button twice before I finally found the ISO button and changed to 400) when the moose spotted me and started to run up the opposite bank. I take a picture… with the freaking MLU, f16, 0.8 sec and no IS! But the moose was still working up the hill, so I switched on IS, changed to aperture priority so the camera can figure out the rest and take another picture. With mirror lock-up still on! Not that it made any difference. I was in a dark forest on a dark day, so I would’ve struggled to get a fast enough shutter speed even with ISO 800, f4 and appropriate exposure compensation (-1 stop, at least). Those two pictures I had taken, they were stunningly blurry and over-exposed and not a moose in sight. Not that you could tell anyway.
My hands were shaking, seriously. To be honest, I was worried that the bull would come up on my side of the creek because when I saw it, it was sure heading directly at me. The best scenario would’ve been that I got the picture and then made myself known so the moose would run away. It wasn’t a big bull, just a 4-pointer I think, but I didn’t feel like going head to head with it.
Nope, I think I will stick to shooting flowers. And a favourite creek every once in a while.
The light of spring
Anyway, I made an effort to shoot the crocuses in Färila yesterday. The wind seems to have beaten them into submission and I only found a couple of flowers that were borderline photogenic but not enough to bother to make a spectacle out of myself by the busy road so I gave up before I even started. And the hepatica behind my garage are taking their time to bloom properly… they probably don’t quite appreciate the cold weather, but I reckon they’ll be just fine for the next weekend.
I hate April.
*sigh*
But, as some wise photographer once said, if you can see the light - then shoot it!
Creek art
And so it happened that my only photos from today were from the small nameless creek I have visited many times before. Argh! There has got to be some other pictures to take than water all the time! I just can’t find them…
Speaking of water, I ventured out on the ice at the Kyrkbytjärnen lake. I’ve seen that the ice has been building up steadily despite the weather, and I’ve also seen people on the lake so the ice should hold for sure. I kept close to the shore though… and then I heard it crack under my foot. A few more steps, and more cracking. I didn’t waste any time in turning back. I have this thing about falling through ice - I don’t like it. I’m funny that way.
Blue and Gold
Here’s a little series to demonstrate the effect of polarizers. Image P is shot with a normal polarizer. N is “naked” - no filters. B is the B/G polarizer with a blue basis, and G is with the same filter rotated 90 degrees for a gold basis.

When I arrived at the creek, I was surprised to find it almost iced over. I guess we’ve had more below zero temperatures than I thought…

I quickly changed my plan to look for interesting ice formations instead of interesting white water formations, and ended up with a very nice photography session. A blue day with a golden lining!
Small but powerful
Missing
[back to our regular programming]

I think a snowmobile trail crosses the creek at one place, or used to do anyway. There is another bridge a few hundred meters upstream, and that one is a whole lot sturdier. My self preservation instinct took over and I used the other bridge.






