Variety, style and boredom

Another photographer’s recent video prompted this post. So many photographers only shoot one thing or a narrow subset of things and then wonder why they grow bored with their chosen genre. That single-minded strategy can produce expertise in certain types of photography like wildlife, but it is just too constricting for me.

I prefer variety in my subjects and that’s mostly borne from a wonder of nature in all its forms, but also because if one thing falls through, I have plenty that can step up and give me something to work with. This means I’m rarely disappointed and I can happily spend hours shooting when others pack up and leave; usually under a dark cloud of frustration. So you’ll probably never have to worry that I’m giving up this or that aspect of my photography because none of them consume me.

How many articles, videos and books have the word Chasing in them? Chasing light, storm chaser, chasing sunrise/sunset, chasing blue hour – this implies you’re always behind, never catch up and are never in control. Does that sound like fun to you?

My photography and experiences in nature are pretty satisfying overall. I’m almost never bored or exhausted at the prospect of heading out for a shoot. Another reason is that I’m not a chaser. I much prefer to encounter, not chase.

Here’s a perfect example – a recent trip to Lasalle falls with a photographer friend. We have much the same relaxed, distracted-by-curiosity style and, while she went onto the falls which we could hear at this point on the trail, I stopped for these –

Isn’t that the most amazing wildflower? The scientific name is Chimaphila umbellata and they are in the wintergreen family. I’ve only ever caught them blooming once before and that was when I lived in New Hampshire. So I was beyond excited to see several plants in peak condition right on the side of the trail. The breeze nearly got the better of me, but I didn’t let it and managed this 54-image stack of two perfect umbels and a bud behind. They remind me of the villain’s city-destroying “laser” in bad science fiction movies or parodies. And there’s even a tiny bug on the right one; a springtail I think.

So while nearly every other photographer would have passed these by, they alone would have made the outing a success for me. But there was more to come of course.

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For years photographers have been told they have to carve out a particular style to their work. Having an identifiable look is something many photographers aspire to and it suits some to have one, especially if she has to compete with others for jobs. When art directors know what look they want it’s easier to dial in talent to fill the need. Since I’m not out flogging my product, a particular style doesn’t matter to me. Instead I let each image speak for itself and I decide on processing to bring out the best aspects of the scene.

Even when the subject stays basically the same, sometimes the changing light or, in this case shutter speed, requires a different handling in post.

While many of the color photos are similar, I didn’t cut and paste processing settings from one to the other, but let each image progress through from beginning to end, applying each edit for a reason.

So that’s it – that’s what we came for – Lasalle falls in all its high-summer glory. If you click here you can see the post for the first time I visited these falls. Somehow I missed the path down to this location across from them and so was really glad my friend knew where it was and could get us down there. It was very steep and slippery after the rain, but so very worth it. A storm passed close by, but we never got any rain and soon the sun was out again. Did we pack up and go home because we “lost the light”? Not a chance.

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Although I didn’t photograph as many as I might have if there wasn’t such a persistent breeze, the ferns clinging to the rock faces were too much to pass up entirely. I don’t have an ID for the one above, but this next one is probably a member of the Cystopteris genus of ferns. They are fragile on the whole and adapted to rocky cliffs. I really need to do more work with ferns. The textures and that stripe of moss knocks me out –

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After carefully climbing the bank up to the main trail, we headed up river to an area above the falls to see if there was anything photo worthy up there. Darn good thing we did, too –

Michigan Lily! Another common name is Turk’s Cap Lily, but the scientific name is Lilium michiganense and it was only my second time seeing and photographing it. At first I didn’t think we stood a chance of getting anything it was so windy. These plants are very tall – 5 to 6 feet is normal – and they sway around like mad, but we persisted. Shooting wide open with fast shutter speeds helped.

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I didn’t do as many slices as I normally would since I was occupied taking video, but I did come up with a couple from just above the falls –

While working the shot of those purple beauties, I nearly squashed this poor little leopard frog –

But I didn’t and eventually it fled to a more hidden spot.

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Which segues nicely to another observation. Things right out in front of you can be hidden from you if you’re focused on something else (like your single-minded purpose). On our way to the falls we were chatting and anticipating the waterfall shoot and hoping the clouds would stick around so we walked by these, completely oblivious –

Granted, we were semi-rushing to get to the waterfall because we did want a particular light, but it showed just how blind we became to everything else. Having priorities is important for some nature photography, especially if there is timing involved like for sunrise, but oh it does rob you of other things along the way.

We just waltzed on past these dainty pink flowers. Not twice though. Once our primary objective had been fulfilled, we had the leisure to really notice the landscape as we walked through it. These members of the pea/bean family go under two common names, but the scientific name is Desmodium illinoense and according to my Wisconsin Wildflower book, none has been reported in Florence county. Mostly the plant is found in the southern parts of the state so no wonder I’d never seen it before. That and I hardly hike in July, something I guess I’ll have to rectify.

Once again the persistent breeze made the job of picture taking a bit tough without flash, but a wide aperture and high shutter speed worked well enough. They were growing right on the edge of the trail in a sea of Bracken fern that made for great backgrounds.

Definitely a successful outing! If I’d only been a Big Game Photographer, I’d never have made most of these images. If I’d only been interested in landscapes, most of these photos wouldn’t exist. Oh sure, others would, but would those tell the whole story? That hasn’t always been my goal when visiting a location, but the story of the place has become more important to me over time. Rounding out styles and genres to convey more information, share more beauty and more fully explore what makes a place live and function. So you can’t probably tell all of these photos were taken by the same person, I don’t really care if you come away with a more complete story or feel more connected to my experience through them.