photography Archives - Page 4 of 11 - Loree Johnson Photography

The stuff of dreams

by Loree | Sep 26, 2014 | National Parks, Oregon, Significant Dates, The Vagabond Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Wildlife

My first week on the road has been dreamy and a bit surreal. I intended to write a “bon voyage” post when I set off, but leaving day was rather stressful and very emotional. I didn’t expect the tidal wave of emotions that I experienced. I also didn’t expect it to take ALL DAY to load up and depart, especially since preparations had been ongoing for more than a month. The first two days of this new life were spent in Lava Beds National Monument. This is one of the reasons it was a bit surreal. I have gone on many day trips to the area over the years. The Lower Klamath and Tulelake Wildlife Refuges in the area are a couple of my favorite places for wildlife photography. Only this time, it wasn’t just a day trip. Very weird to think I wouldn’t be heading back home at the end of the day.

After spending the first day organizing my new space, absorbing the monumental change, and getting my emotional balance back, I was ready to get out there with my camera.

Perched

Elegant Egret

The plan was to move on to central Oregon and explore new territory, go some places I had never been. But, after passing a mileage sign on the highway that said “Crater Lake – 38 miles,” well, a spontaneous detour happened. As is the case with most National Parks I have camped in, Crater Lake has few amenities. Two days of camping without any hookups, wi-fi, or cell phone service also happened to coincide with the autumnal equinox and my 52nd birthday. Instead of a cake, I had Oregon-made dark chocolate covered toffee from the gift shop. Yum! It was a birthday unlike any I’ve ever spent, and it was the best!

First Light on the Pinnacles

Cloudcap Sunset

It was hard to leave Crater Lake because it seemed every time I went out to photograph, mother nature obliged with an amazing light show.

Crater Lake Glory

But, after being off the grid for the better part of three days, it was time to get back to civilization, or at least electricity. And this time, it truly is new territory.

So here I sit, in central Oregon, surrounded by mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, waterfalls, and volcanoes, wondering what amazing sights await and where to go next. So far, it’s been even better than I had hoped. And now I wonder why it took me so long to go ahead and live the dream.

The revisit list

by Loree | Sep 7, 2014 | Blog, Mountains, National Parks, Oregon, Rivers, Siskiyou County, The Vagabond Lifestyle, Waterfalls

With such a short time left before becoming a perpetual wanderer, my mind is already drifting off into the great beyond. I’m very anxious to get started on my journey, but there are still some things that need arranging before I can take flight. More on that later. Of course I have a long list of places I have never been that I would like to visit in my travels. I’m also accumulating quite a list of places I have already been that I would like to go back to. One such place I was recently reminded of is the Pinnacles at Crater Lake.

The Pinnacles

I’ve been to Crater Lake numerous times, but only once to the Pinnacles. It was very windy that day and the light was kind of harsh. It would be nice to have more time to spend exploring and photographing these unique, otherworldly formations.

Another place on the revisit list is Zion National Park. Having spent four days there in 2011, I’ve longed to go back ever since.

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The Storm Clears

Of course, California’s giant redwoods call to me to come visit them. Not only are these trees amazing to behold and humbling to spend time among, but they are also a great opportunity to hone my skills. To say that giant redwoods are a challenge to photograph would be an understatement.

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Giants in the Fog

Also in 2011, I visited the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. I had planned the trip for a week in October, hoping to be there for autumn foliage. As it turns out, I was a week or two early. Although the waterfalls of the gorge are breathtaking any time of year, I hope this time to also catch the fall colors.

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Multnomah Falls and Benson Footbridge

Elowah Falls

There is no guarantee when, or even if, I will be back to any of these places. And, I’ve learned that sometimes when you revisit a place, you often find that things have changed since you were last there. The forest fires raging in northern California right now, for example, will alter the view in many places. So, as I say “so long” to Siskiyou County rather than “goodbye,” I know that when I return to visit, some things will have changed.

Wild and Scenic Scott River

But, thinking about these places, and others I hope to enjoy, as well as the inevitable and unexpected surprises that often happen on the way, is helping me make it through these last few days of managing details before I can actually set sail. Next post will be “Bon Voyage!”

Before and After

by Loree | Jul 9, 2014 | Art, Mountains, Oregon, Photography, Rivers, Siskiyou County, Waterfalls

Okay, maybe just after. Because of the recent spate of oppressively hot weather, and numerous projects in the works to transform a motor home into a home, I haven’t been getting out with my camera as much as I would like. So, in my relentless quest to improve my craft, I’ve been learning new things about editing images.

Peaceful Path

Thankfully, I made the decision to shoot my images in raw format soon after I started taking photography seriously. This means that the raw data, exactly as the camera captured it, is saved and available to me so I can start from scratch when re-editing an image. Having the raw material to work with allows me to “cook” it properly, rather than try to redeem an image that I had inadvertently “overcooked” in the past.

Spectacular Shasta Valley Sunset

Since most of my early learning in photography was concentrated on exposure, composition, depth of field, and other technical aspects of capturing images, much of the raw material I have is quite suitable for re-editing. It seems clear to me that taking my photography to the highest level possible involves both capturing of good images, and enhancing those images to convey a vision. Whether that vision is exactly what my eyes saw at the moment, or a vision in my mind of how the scene should appear really depends on the image. Usually, it’s a bit of both.

Whitehorse Falls

Looking back at some of these images, I realized that in my efforts to enhance them and convey my vision, I went too far. I’ve since learned that less is more and subtlety makes all the difference in photo editing. Whether it’s gently enhancing one color while leaving the rest alone, softly subduing the highlights without darkening the shadows, or selectively burning and dodging the way Ansel Adams once did in a darkroom, it’s really the small moves that make the biggest impact.

Columbia Gorge Sunrise

When contemplating this article, I had originally intended to show before and after of each of the images. However, when I looked at the before images, I was quite frankly a bit embarrassed by them. That’s when I made the decision to only post the “afters.” I do believe that some of the “befores” have been posted in earlier articles on this website, so those of you who really want to see them will just have to do some searching.

Blue Layers

My goal has always been to share my unique vision through photography, with images that capture not only the actual sight, but some of the feeling of being there, or the emotion of witnessing a scene. Hopefully, as I continue accumulate knowledge and tools, I move closer to fulfilling that goal.

The natural order of things

by Loree | May 5, 2014 | Art, Gratitude, Lakes, Siskiyou County, Wildlife

I’ve been thinking lately about how we humans have distanced ourselves so much from the natural world, sometimes we forget we are a part of it. Not only is this disconnect bad for nature, I truly believe it’s not good for people either. I notice this sometimes when I post a photograph involving predator and prey. It’s fascinating to me when I see a bird of prey killing and/or eating another animal. I can’t help photographing it. I was even joking with someone the other day about the Canada goslings which have hatched recently in large numbers, calling them “eagle snacks.” It’s true that the bald eagle, which has not been seen around this lake for a couple of months, has recently been spotted again.

Swim Class

The person I was talking to was repulsed by my joke. I meant no harm, and I certainly don’t wish death on any of these cute little fuzzballs, but it is the natural balance that they won’t all make it to adulthood. There is only room in the world for a certain number of geese and nature tends to oversupply in order to assure a reasonable survival rate. I notice that many people find photographs of predators with prey repulsive. I think they are beautiful.

The Catch

There are drops of blood from the fish among the water splashes in this photo. I could probably edit them out and sanitize it more, but that would remove some of the beauty in my opinion. The more disconnected we become from the natural cycles, the less we embrace and accept them. To be repulsed by nature is to deny you are a part of it. For at least twenty years, my natural habitat was a cubicle. It wasn’t a healthy environment for me, and I can’t help but wonder how many others out there are feeling trapped inside while longing to be outside. Since I’ve started going out into nature nearly every day with my camera, I’m much happier and less stressed.

Sunset at Trout Lake

Don’t get me wrong–I love hot showers and I would hate to have to spear my dinner–but I think there is a balance needed between living in the civilized world and living in the natural world. Our ancestors had fears of cougars and hungry coyotes. We have fears of not making the mortgage payment and losing our possessions. Each person has a balance of their own to reach. I’m still working on finding mine, but I know nature photography has helped. I hope my photographs also might help others in some small way who are striving for their balance. Bringing a little nature into your day, no matter where you are, or what you happen to be doing, might move you closer to your balance.

Unfurling Fern

Often, when I am out in nature, especially near the ocean or the giant redwoods, I feel very small. But, small in a good way. As if I’m but one tiny, intricate bit of a vast, amazing, integrated totality that’s always changing and evolving. My balance involves knowing that life is all too short and that whatever amazes me today may not be there tomorrow.

Web of Sunlight

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Sunset at the Grove

So, here’s to the joy of feeling small, and finding a balance.

The fine line between courage and insanity.

by Loree | Apr 23, 2014 | Birds, Blog, Gratitude, Wildlife

Very often I feel brave for giving up a dull, but stable future in favor of a more rewarding, but uncertain one. Then, the “what-ifs” start swirling in my brain and I feel more crazy than brave. I suppose the truth is, I am little bit of both–brave and crazy. There are days when I’m so excited I can hardly wait to start my adventures, traveling around the country, leaving most of my material possessions behind, exploring new places, experiencing new things, and meeting new people.

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Perfect Pink Rose

There are other days when I’m filled with a sense of dread. What if I don’t like living on the road? What if I can’t afford it? What if I regret giving up my “things?” What if I’m just kidding myself about being a photographer?

Shattered

Quite often, I must remind myself that there are no guarantees in life. That staying in a safe situation can also mean stagnation and tedium. That taking a risk, even if I fail, is better than never knowing what could have been. Sometimes, when I tell someone my plans to downsize and go on the road, I see their eyes light up, and they tell me they’ve often dreamed of doing something similar. But they haven’t, and likely won’t, because it’s too scary. When that happens, I often feel very brave for a moment or two, and then I wonder if I’m insane.

Unfathomed Peace

Then I think about all the things I would never have seen if it weren’t for my wanderlust. And all the things I have yet to see. And I decide that maybe I am insane. But, no matter how this experiment turns out, it’s something I have to do, or I will forever regret not doing it. Hopefully, all of you reading this blog can come along and join me. Maybe live vicariously through my adventures, big and small. If it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but weren’t quite crazy enough, maybe you can tell me how brave I am.

Time to Fly

Or at least remind me that being crazy isn’t always a bad thing!