The Location
I have several favorite photographic locations to which I return at different times of year. It’s interesting to see how they change during the different seasons. Of course, I photograph them at those different times. This post is about the seasons of a favorite stream.
This is a favorite creek in Summit County, Colorado. It’s a small river that’s kayakable in places, but then narrows down to be just a stream or creek in others. It is quite shallow in spots, so there are many good “rapids” to photograph. It’s popular for fly-fishing, so wading fly-fishermen and fly-fisherwomen are often seen along the way.
The creek flows along a hiking path I frequent. There is one particular spot where I enjoy the torrent of water and the beauty of the nearby mountains. There are Aspen trees and a variety of fir trees. Bears and moose frequent the area, and beavers build lodges here and there, creating wide spots along the way. Overall, it’s a lovely place to hike and photograph.
The Process
Recently I’ve decided to begin a series of images at one specific location in different seasons. I’ve marked the location of my “tripod holes” at this location. If my (natural) markers don’t get disturbed, I’ll be able to set up in the exact spot during upcoming visits. That said, from late-October through the winter months, it’s quite possible deep snow may totally bury my markers. One is next to a tree, though, so hopefully I’ll be able to at least get very close. We’ll see.
On my last two visits here, I happened to be “armed” with a different camera system each time. The focal lengths of my lenses were different, so I couldn’t make identical images. But below on the left is an image from mid-March. On the right, one from mid-June. Almost exactly 90 days apart. Same tripod holes. The first image made with an ultrawide zoom, the second with a standard prime.
I have done this at a number of places I visit, but I’m sharing this one today as I’ve been working on these images this week. Going forward, I’ll standardize on one specific lens at this location, for a consistent perspective. Overall, a fun process that brings a bit of extra fun when in a favorite location. This one, the seasons of a stream.
