The creek draining Two Jack Lake in Banff.

Photography to me is about capturing the beauty of what I see.  This often deals with outdoor vistas and creatures great and small.  There is a difference in my mind between seeing something and photographing it.  That difference has to do with taking the time to really look at something.

When out for a walk without a camera in hand, my goal is often to get from point A to point B.  I certainly take in the elements in the process and enjoy whatever wildlife encountered as much as anyone.  A camera, though, gives me a certain licence to explore beyond what a stroll would allow.  It makes me look and examine.

The above photograph is a good example.  If you look closely, you will notice two people (small round figures just at the bottom of the visible mountain).  Those are friends I was walking with.  As they sat and enjoyed the moment the day offered, I was busy exploring the creek.  It was my hope to take advantage of the light and interesting riparian brick-a-brack to capture a few nice photos.

And so, while my buddies soaked up the view, I was busily scurrying along the banks of the creek, snapping pictures merrily as I went.  Of all the photos I got, this one is the most satisfying.  I love how the large rocks and the invading log capture attention.  The light was just right; providing enough illumination to be provoking while the shadows were not too deep (admittedly manipulated in Camera Raw in Photoshop).  Mount Aylmer in the background provided the perfect landmark to set the environment in which the shot was taken.  All in all, it gave me more than just a memory, it gave me a tangible reminder of a time the three of us enjoyed together.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I found a black widow spider in a plant pot today

Image
The spider I found is a western black widow spider, one of three species of black widow that occur in North America.  The fact that this one has another red patch on the back of its abdomen above the spinnerettes tells us that it is an immature individual. The one thing that people know about black widow spiders is that they are extremely poisonous.  Their venom is something like 15x more toxic than that of a rattlesnake.  The saving grace is that there is very little venom injected from a black widow bite than what a rattlesnake can deliver.   The good news is that black widow bites seldom lead to death.  You are more likely to suffer nausea, muscle pain, and swelling around the bite.  Symptoms usually last only 12 hours or so.  Death may be a result in people with compromised immune systems or in the very young or the elderly.   In 2018, it was reported that there were 1015 cases of people bitten by black widows.  Of those, there ...
Read more

The passing of a generation

Image
Kathryn's mom and dad with our children, Josh and Leanne. A generation, for North America, tends to be between 20 and 30 years.  During that time a couple will give birth and raise children to see them repeat the pattern as they themselves have done.  Each generation has its own set of standards, values, and ideals based upon their experiences and culture, and some of that is passed down to their offspring.  What changes are the life experiences of the following generation and the new customs and ideals that are blended together as a couple becomes a family. Kathryn's mom passed away a few days ago, she was predeceased by her husband several years ago.  Both of them were the grandparents of my children, the mother and father of my wife, Kathryn.  It was my pleasure to know them and to love them as my own, for to me they were Mom and Dad.  And they were there to welcome my children into the world just as my children were with them in spirit when they left it...
Read more

Hang in there, things will get better.

Image
The Svendsen Family - Eric, Samuel, Leanne, Joshua (top row), Nora, Kathryn, Chanelle, Emma If I could go back, in my mind, to a day in my life when I was really down, it would be nice to be able to see into the future.  If could see things as they are today, with the many blessings that have been given to me, it would give me hope knowing that things wouldn't always be so discouraging.   The message here is we do not know what the future holds.  When things are bad, it is hard to raise your head out of the mire to see beyond the darkness.  There are no guarantees, of course, that things will be better, but I think it is true that fortunes ebb and flow as tides do.  The trick is to see beyond the low points and not be too haughty during the high ones.  I know that, at this moment, things are very good.  What the future holds is unknown, but low and high points are likely in the forecast.   This is why taking satisfaction from the moment ...
Read more