Photograph by Mark Bowie
Title:
Heart Lake Sea Foam
Exposure Data:
2 Seconds, F/22, ISO 100
Nikon Z6 Camera, Nikkor 24-70mm lens at 29mm
On a blustery morning at Heart Lake, winds were driving whitecaps into the shoreline, now scalloped into tiny bays by the erosive action. Downed autumn leaves collected along the edges. Natural foam washed in and out with the wave action, riding over and around the leaves. I felt like I was at the ocean.
I was shooting video of the phenomenon when I realized that long-exposure still images could also be interesting. I attached a six-stop neutral density filter and a polarizer, stopped my aperture down to f/22 and kept the ISO low at 100, which allowed me to lengthen exposures to two- to four-seconds. I experimented with shorter shutter speeds, but two-second exposures best captured the water and foam swirling around the colorful leaves. The polarizer also cut glare off the water’s surface, allowing the leaves below to shine through.
It was a raw, rugged and wild scene—nature sculpting and reshaping the landscape, reminding me that our earth is always in flux, and that new photo opportunities present themselves with every turn.
Mark Bowie is a frequent contributor to Adirondack Life magazine and a much sought-after public speaker, offering presentations in-person and via Zoom for conferences, camera clubs and other groups. He is a staff instructor for the Adirondack Photography Institute. For the latest information on API’s 2021 workshop schedule, see their website: www.adkpi.org, or ask to be added to the contact list. Please visit Mark’s website, www.markbowie.com, to view image galleries and keep abreast of his workshops, presentations and product releases.
