The Way I See It!

Let’s talk about water. It’s a huge part of our lives. The majority of the earth and our bodies are made up of the stuff for goodness' sake. But, an important fact that several great minds under-appreciate is this: it's so much fun to photograph!

There are many ways to approach this subject. Looking back at my images, I see a clear evolution that I will dive into here. Shout out to TJ Thorne and Mike Curry who inspired my fascination with water abstracts over the years.

If you've ever stood by a calm lake or any body of water, you may have noticed the mirror-like reflections of your surroundings. There’s a wonderful satisfaction in capturing a perfectly reflected scene. This type of image began my love affair.

Add a bit of turmoil from a windy day. Or, as is often the case for me at the dog park, dogs swimming by. Their ripples create patterns I think are well worth exploring. The colors vary with the scene, time of day or year. The patterns can change dramatically within seconds. Only those who spend the time, appreciate these nuances. And after all these years, I still can't resist taking a photo or two (hundred).

Other avenues of play include adjusting the shutter speed. My preference, as is in life, is to slow things down. Experiment with different looks at different speeds and with a panning motion. With these images, the exploration continues with the editing process. Here, I aim to add a unique spin to what I’ve captured.

Most recently, I’ve tried a new approach that has produced some of my favorite water abstracts to date. Recency bias may be at play here, but who cares. I've been isolating and focusing on certain sections of a reflection. Photographing the same area as the reflections change. It has produced images with a more whimsical feel. Their abstractness encourage new questions. What do you see? What does it remind you of? Rather than what or where is it? It's a new dimension to the creative process. It has also increased the fun factor significantly.

The beauty of water is multifaceted. It’s also so much fun to photograph, play in, and is essential for sustaining life. What's its best feature? You don't need to travel to exotic places to create a portfolio image. Here’s some unsolicited advice for the water-curious. Water happens to exist every freakin’ where, so do yourself a favor and dive right in.