Early Summer 2011

Often it is the time spent around, on, and contemplating water wherein I find images that resonate for me. Such is the case here with these photographs taken recently. I'll start with the most recent and work back over the course of a few weeks.

Sailing into the afternoon sunshine...

Bright sunlight, reflective water, dark shadows and the sharp angulation of a sailing vessel ~ all of which are enhanced here with a young woman riding the wave tossed bow of the boat. Really enjoyed bringing this image into focus. One of those moments when you pick up the camera and know the shot in the can is going to be a good one.

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Lake Roosevelt and the Kettle River Range...

The continuous interplay between sky and water often fascinates me. The varying detailed textures of this image caught my eye as the sunset and the clouds changed so too changed the water's surface.

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Watersprite...



I am delighted to have captured this image of the woman and the waterfall. The subject here appears to be communing with the continuous flow of pure water cascading down the moss cover rock face.

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The Sailing Vessel AQUILA and 1st Mate Catherine Brown...



I really like this image for several reasons, not least of which is the fact that Catherine had just run the vessel through her paces in a pre-regatta sea trial during a substantial breeze. Thus seen here she is fully at ease with her vessel and ready for what's to come. The dramatic evening lighting lending to the silhouettes adds to the over-all affect of the composition.

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Three Mergansers lining a log along the waterfront...

Mergansers are some of the most intriguing of the waterfowl. Not only do their distinctive appearance set them apart from other aquatic birds but their behavioral patterns are also unique. From the perch aboard our vessel we have watched a swimming flock on Mergansers hunting as a pack, curving their approaching line to trap small fish against the shore line and taking turns diving into the trapped fish. Here they are at rest upon a floating log as the morning sun warms and drys their fluffed feathers.

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A cluster of sailboats crossing the starting line of a regatta race...

The shape of a vessel under sail is something I find pleasing to the eye. The concept of harnessing the wind to travel has led to this ancient practice amongst humans. Technology changes the equipment and design but the movement and reflection of boats in the water remain the same.

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Crescent moon reflected in the lake...

This simple image captured my attention and became a photograph while we sat aboard watching the start populate the evening sky. Often I find myself drawn to simple compositions of light and dark with shadows in between...

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Northern Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, the Columbia River, NE Washington State...



It was the pastel colors of this dawning day which caught my attention and led to the creation of the photographic image. A calm body of water and the promise of a new summer's day. Doesn't get much better.

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Storm Cloud Sunset...

I've chose this one to close with as I find it to be a powerful image. As a firefighter, sailor and outdoors photographer the weather is not far out of focus for me at any given time. When nature gives one of her brief showings like these few moments were I am always thankful to be there to capture it. 

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COASTAL & SHORELINES...

Experimenting with a new look to the pictures posted on FIREWATER IMAGES. The photos will most definitely view better slightly enlarged, which you can do by double left clicking on the photographs themselves.

We'll start this series of Coastal & Shoreline off with one of my favorites...

This image above, #1 of this series, is titled 'Roper Cove Mists'. Taken early one October morning from the foredeck of the sailing vessel Aquila while at anchor in Roper Creek Cove, Lake Roosevelt, WA. An over night had just passes and the eastern sky held promise of a clearing day.

Staying on Lake Roosevelt, that 130 mile long body of water behind the Grand Coulee Dam, this rendered image, #2, is 'San Poil Arm, Lake Roosevelt'. Rendered in a manner representing a water color painting this landscape is located where the Keller Ferry crosses southern Lake Roosevelt, allowing state highway 21 to span this expanse of water. The San Poil river enters the lake from the north (top) of this image.
Remaining on Lake Roosevelt a little longer, these next two rendered photographs (image #3 above & #4 below) have historic significance in that while it is common to see Hayes Island during seasonal draw-downs of the lake, it is very uncommon to see the top of Kettle Falls, a magnificent waterfalls spanning the upper Columbia River before the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam. There is still controversy between Colville & Spokane Tribes, the Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, the local communities, Washington State Fisheries and sportsman groups regarding the management of the lake. None of which will I delve into here.

As a final shoreline view of Lake Roosevelt I'll give you image #5, below, 'Passing Twilight Thunderstorm'.

Moving right out onto the 'big pond' (a cruising sailor's term for the Pacific Ocean) rendered image #6, below, is titled 'Mother, Mother Ocean'. All you Jimmy Buffett fans will know the tune.
And speaking of sailors, I threw in this one called 'Departing Smuggler's Cove' as image #7 below.

For image #8, below; I chosen 'Mount Baker, Rosario Strait' photograph taken from the eastern slope of Orcas Island in the San Juan Island group, Pacific NW. In this rendition I enjoy the soft pastels and rich, dark textures of the final image.

Sunrise breaking through a dense, multi-layer cloud cover in Desolation Sound, B.C. creates the stage of light for the passage of this fishing boat in photograph #9 entitled 'Kinghorn Island, Desolation Sound'.

The image of 'Moonlight Sail' represents that juncture of photograph and digital darkroom. It is a highly rendered image but finally after many tried and much contemplation I truly enjoy the final product. As in any form of art some things flow quickly and easily, some things take much longer and somethings, try as we might are never meant to be.

Leaving the coastal waterscapes behind for the end of this posting in the final image, #11 below; we change locations to a small inland pond, Cochran Lake, where the trout fishing is good and the neighborhood usually quiet. There's a certain magic in the air of this piece of photo-art. I hope you agree...

Foster

P.S. Speaking of moonlight sailing; here's a link to a profile I keep on Cruising World's Community Site. The link will take you to a video vignette of sailing in the moonlight which won Cruising Worlds Autumn 2008 video contest.

http://forums.cruisingworld.com/videos/viewVideo.php?video_id=280&title=AQUILA__Rising_of_the_Moon___