Looking for Complementary Colors in Nature Photography - Visualize the Potential

 The other day I was watching one of those Create programs that featured a landscape painter. In this particular episode, the painter was in Venice and spoke at length about some of the old masters whose paintings effectively used what is called Complementary Colors. 

The concept of Complementary Colors is rather simple and involves two colors that fall on opposite ends of a color scale. Yellow and purple, Red and Green, are two common ones but the combinations range across the entire spectrum of colors and they do not necessarily require them to be directly opposite of each other, just within the color range being used, like shades of yellow and blue, or shades of orange and green.

After watching this informative program, I began to wonder how this concept applies to photography. As I browsed through a few recent photos I started to notice a common thread between many of them. It was obvious that complementary colors were a major part of the appeal to the images. I did not realize it at the time the photos were taken, but my eye naturally seemed to navigate toward the appealing nature of this concept.

Digging deeper into the phenomena, more and more images began to materialize with the prevailing theme of complementary colors. Some were bold and bright, others more subtle. For some, one major color dominated with only a hint of its opposite being there, while with others the distribution of the color was more evenly divided.In some instances a progressive layering of color flowed across the image shifting from one extreme to another, but fully encompassing the complementary elements.  In some cases, there were subtle variation like deep browns taking their place within the color realm of red while its opposite complementary color varied in various shades of green and pale yellow. 

It became apparent that nature is filled with complimentary colors and our eyes are naturally drawn to those combinations. What this revelation accomplishes is to open your mindset boldly enough to generate a desire to actively seek out these kinds of combinations while photographing nature.

Many times when I am out attempting to capture a unique image, I find myself struggling to see the moment. When this happens, and it does happen a lot, I slow down and simply ask myself, "What is it I'm seeing that is catching my eye...what is drawing me to itself?" 

Before long, I begin to notice small subtle compositions and more often than not, there is an element of complementary color to it.

The Moon Rise photo taken at the National Corvette Museum is an example of very bold color variations that not so subtly adhere to the complementary color theme. Within it you see the bold, redish-orange glow and reflection of the SkyDome and even the moon's glow, which are set against the bluish, purple backdrop of a dusky sky.

Although this not a nature photograph per se, it is a strong example of how the natural blend of complementary colors projects a powerful influence on our ability to recognize and see such things within our world.

A more subtle use of complementary colors can be seen in the image of yellow blooms set against a shadowy, bluish backdrop. Taken around the perimeter of a pond on an overcast day, the soft color variation blends well to create a mystique that fully uses the influence complementary colors has on our senses. 

An even more subtle use of this influence can be found in the image of a Ring-Billed Gull backlit against the shadowy bluff in the background. The shadowy bluff provides the contrasting bluish purple tone, and the gull's natural buff and white tonal shades provides a soft yellowish glowing complement to the background shade.

 There is even a bluish gray tonal value across the length of the wings. The combinations are very subtle, but they do exist and offers an interesting blend of contrasty backlight.

Even the banner page on this blog is filled with eye popping complementary colors.

Complementary colors in nature are nature's attempt at creating beautiful combinations of light.

 Many times, as photographers we are naturally drawn toward those combinations, but just as many times we may not even realize why we are attracted to such lighting effects. When we consciously make an effort to recognize how powerful and even how subtle these combinations are, you may find yourself taking another step toward being able to visualize the potential even before you ever snap the photo.

Behind the Scenes - How the Photo was Made: Canoe Sunrise on Shanty Hollow

 If I were to choose my top five photos, this one would certainly be included in that list; Canoe Sunrise on Shanty Hollow. The story behind how this photo was captured always takes me back to one of the most memorable moments lived while exploring one of my favorite places, Shanty Hollow.

Shanty Hollow is about a 120 acre lake situated in northern Warren County in Kentucky. Surrounded by woodland rustic hills, covered in cedar, pine, and hardwoods, it retains a northern boundary waters atmosphere. There are hiking trails and a 60 foot waterfall tucked into the apex of a rock-walled ravine. 

Considering how relatively small the area, it is perhaps the most scenic of locations I've ever photographed. Year round it possesses a charm and exotic flavor to it that many much larger and expansive locations lack.

The canoe sunrise photo was made during a year long project I was exploring back in 2010-2011. Back then I was shooting with my old, but venerable Sony A100 camera. By today's standards, it is obsolete, but some of the best photos I've ever made were taken using that camera...many of them using a basic 18-50mm kit lense, Canoe Sunrise being one of them. How it came about required a great deal of forethought and a willingness to rise very early.

Shanty Hollow is about a 45 minute drive from my home. To position myself in the best location required I have my canoe gear pre-loaded on my Jeep and camera gear ready to go. That morning, I arose several hours before daylight, made the drive, off loaded the canoe, loaded the camera gear, and paddled in the dark the half mile or so to the far end of the lake where it opened up into a wider expanse with an unobstructed view of the sun rising above the eastern side of the lake. 

Paddling a canoe across a lake in the dark is a surreal experience for there is no sensation of movement. Above, the sky cast a faint star-lit glow across the lake and I could just barely make out the shape of the hills on either side. The lake was perfectly calm, no wind, no breeze, no sound except for the slight swirl from the paddle as it propelled me forward. A few bats still dipped and darted across the lake searching for a last meal before retiring into their lairs. A few of them whizzed by so close I could hear their wings whooshing through the air.

I arrived at the far end of the lake and turned to the west and drifted toward the dam. Only a very slight glow outlined the eastern side. Some fog drifted across the water barely moving in the calm air. Before long, that distant glow grew stronger and I tried to take a quick photo, but the light was just to faint, so I simply waited and enjoyed the moment. As the ridgeline grew more distinct with the backlit glow, the fog began to rise almost straight up. One mass of fog hovered a few yards above the water across the far side and the sunrise glow began to illuminate it from within which outlined the ridge line by its warm glow and was reflected on the calm surface of the lake.

I needed the canoe to be perfectly still and pointed directly at the sunrise. Using the paddle I gently nudged the canoe into position and waited for the ripples to dissipate. With no breeze, it remained motionless. I raised the camera, adjusted the composition by aligning the bow of the canoe to be perfectly centered, and fired off a couple of quick shots. What I saw on the view screen was encouraging, and I spent the next hour or so shooting numerous photos of that magical morning. 

Later that morning I returned home and loaded the images. Only a small amount of tweaking was required, a little contrast, a little brightness, a point or two of saturation. The photo pretty much stood on its own merits and, as an image, it became one of my favorites. As an experience, well, that morning was second to none.

A Backpack, a Canoe, and a Jeep - On the Edge of Adventure

The sickening crack happened so fast I had no time to react. The sequence of events that followed became one of those memorable and quite frankly, potentially serious, backcountry drama's I've often read about, but never dreamed would happen to me...but it did.

I found myself at the bottom of a steep, snow covered ledge, groaning as I thought I had broken my ankle by the tumbling slide and sudden jolting stop at the bottom. A moment before I had been safely standing on the edge of ridge that extended across the steep terrain for a good ways through the steep wilderness country contemplating whether I should just backtrack and follow my steps through the snow back to the trail. I was good mile or more off the trail inside the Rawah Wilderness in northern Colorado, hoping to find a shortcut to a series of mountain lakes I wanted to hike into and spend a day or two fishing. That shortcut proved itself unfollowable. I was just about ready to turn around when, CRACK!  In an instant I was at the bottom of the ridge. Apparently, I was standing on a root or stick or something buried in the snow and the combined weight of me and the backpack proved to much for it and it gave way causing me to fall to the bottom. I landed on one foot and the pressure jolted my ankle so much, I really thought I had broken it. If so, I was in serious trouble.

As it turned out, I only sprained it. It hurt something fierce, but I had another potentially bigger problem. There was no way to climb back to the top of that ridge. Even after checking my inadequate topo map, I realized the ridge extended way to far and too deep into the wilderness to follow it until I might find a way back to the top. Doing so would only put me into deeper trouble.

I did try to climb back up, but there was no way as too much snow and ice covered the ridge face and it was too high and too steep. With my mind racing and my ankle hurting I began to recognize early elements of panic setting in, so I simply sat down and fix something to eat with a hot drink. My backpack weighed in somewhere around 35 pounds or so and I knew I had plenty of gear; sleeping bag, tent, food, enough to survive for several days if I needed to. The problem was, how do I get out of this situation. Before taking off helter skelter, I finished my warm meal and hot drink which served to calm me down and I began to think through the problem. Looking at the topo map I realized if I moved down the slope I would eventually, probably, cross the hiking trail. I wasn't sure where I was, actually I was sort of lost and I wasn't sure how far down it was to the trail or even if I would cross it, but I couldn't stay where I was and the day was coming to an end in a few hours.

I hobbled to my feet gingerly testing my now swollen ankle. It hurt but I could walk, so I made my way down the slope hoping I wasn't digging myself deeper into trouble. After what seemed like a very long ways, there it was...the trail. Instantly, I felt a great deal of relief and managed to hobble the several miles back to my old truck before dark.

That is only one in a series of outdoor adventures my backpack, my canoe, and my Jeep (along with other vehicles) and I managed to experience over the years. Certainly, it was one of the more adventurous of adventures, and yes, I did eventually make it up to the mountain lakes about a month or so later.

Over the years I've approached my outdoor adventures from a minimalist perspective keeping my gear and effort to the basics for the most part. It's helped me to refine skills and build self reliance and confidence. Those three elements, backpack, canoe, and Jeep, have become the symbols really of my attempts at adventure. Without them, there would be few if any stories I can tell and retell about those days. 

My canoe(s) has/have provided a means to explore areas of adventure I could never have attempted without them. I've witness amazing sunsets, incredible sunrises, been caught out in storms, pelted by sleet and snow, blown off the water, and caught the reflections of a starry night on the mirrored surface of a lake. I have run rapids I thought too big to take in an open canoe, and watched Bald Eagles soar across the heights of breathless ridges. I've experienced perfect weather, high winds, freezing rain and sleet, and rising waters all on one five day trip. Most of those things one tries to avoid, but I've grown to look forward to them as they provide the avenues along the edge of adventure where the most memorable rewards are discovered.

One of the most enjoyable kinds of moments is when I am able to paddle my canoe early of morning after a night or two camping, across a calm lake with fog drifting across the surface. There is a magical feel to those times,  only discovered while slowly and silently making way through the fog while paddling a canoe. Not enough of those moments over the years, but when they do occur, I lock them into the memory banks of my heart to be recalled when I need them most.

My Jeep has discovered over 300,000 miles and is, after some improvements, still discovering. It may very well out live me. With it, I've been transported through snow packed roads, up washed out backroads, across hundreds of miles of open country, and witnessed amazing adventures through its ability. It has served me well and has developed a personality all its own. It needs a new paint job, but the way it looks actually adds character to its charms. The driver's seat has patches applied, but that simply shows just how much it has been used. The old canoe rack on top, scarred with a few rusty spots, has transported not only my canoe, but other friends kayaks and canoes, lumber, odds and ends, and even an old couch. 

I find myself drawn to the edges of the outdoors along with the challenges and rewards offered there. Being fully retired now, I for the most part have the time to seek out such adventures in spite of limited resources. It's the memories I cherish most of all. Being able to share them with others, well that's what this channel is all about, Beyond the Campfire. Yet, it's mostly for me so I can relive the memories and document some of the defining moments of my life hopefully for family and friends someday when my days are over. I keep much of it locked inside my heart but choose to leave some of it behind through the adventures found with a backpack, canoe, and a Jeep.

Those three elements have provided a great deal of practical applications, but most of all, they have been a part of, and contributed to, amazing memories discovered on the Edge of Adventure.

Beyond the Campfire 2022 Highlights

 Certainly experienced some fantastic adventures during 2022. Captured many photographs and video footages. Highlights include backpacking, canoe camping, wildlife, weather, scenery and landscapes. Here is a short three minute video covering some of this fantastic year of photography!

The Rainy Day Woods

All the leaves, long ago fallen, were now dampeded and softened by the rain. This made the walking much more silent as I slowly made my way into the little patch of woods behind where I live. Dark gray skies hovered overhead releasing in spurts their residue of moisture sometimes in a vigorous manner, other times just a trickle. At the moment the rain fell somewhere between the two extremes. I could hear the drops as they filtered through the trees some splashing across the back and hood of my dark gray rain jacket, most reaching the ground to be absorbed by what had already fallen. Thus began my walk through the rainy day woods.

I hoped the deer I had been following the past couple of months might be feeding in the cornfield stubble again. I had noticed on other rainy days some of the deer would make an earlier arrival into the fields. As I slowly moved through the woods, I kept one eye open for any signs of the deer and one eye open for whatever might catch my photographic attention. 

All through the woods cedar trees are scattered here and there, some small ones only a foot or so tall and others big and brawny reaching well into the canopy overhead. My eye almost always is vectored to those cedar trees as drops of rain filter through their aromatic green coverings to dance like small crystals attached to the ends. I stop a few times to capture a quick photo of this marvelous rainy display.

As I approached the end of the woods, I normally slow down so as not to spook any deer that might be feeding in the fields. I didn't see anything as I approached so I carelessly stepped into the open. In an instant, I saw five or six flashes of white dash across the center of the field as a small group of deer detected my clumsy entrance and lifted their tails high as a warning flash to other deer. Into the far woods they trotted. I retreated back into the woods to leave them alone.

On the way back I simply enjoyed the sights and sounds of the rainy day woods. A picture here, then another one there, slowed my progress and I noticed the rain had now stopped. I was about 2/3rds of the way back to the entrance of the woods, when I noticed what appeared to be a deer standing in the field. A quick view through my telephoto lense confirmed it was. I carefully move closer to the edge of the woods keeping some cover between me and the deer. By the time I reached the edge, five or six more deer appeared near the other one. 

They made their way into what I call the center field, a smaller field that connects with the main one creating a sort of T. The small saplings I stood behind provided some effective profile absorbing natural cover. The deer moved somewhat closer and afforded an opportunity to capture a few environmental wildlife photos. Before they caught wind of me and spooked again, I backed away deeper into the woods and left them alone for a second time.

A simple walk through a rainy day woods can offer a wonderful reprieve from your daily routine. Everytime I do so, I discover something new, something refreshing, and leave inside the woods a small part of myself, but more importantly, I take a small part of what a rainy day woods has to offer with me.

Behind The Scenes: How the Photo Was Made

For the new year 2023, a new Behind the Scenes series will be included for Beyond the Campfire called How the Photo Was Made. We'll mostly look at what it took to capture a particular photo, things like the concept idea, the set up, the physical and technical difficulties, and other pertinent revelations that apply to any particular photo. The story of how a photo was made is sometimes filled with drama, circumstance, knowledge, skill, and plain ole luck. Not all photos just happen. Sometimes it takes planning and perseverance to capture the natural world, and we will explore the making of a few photos that have a story behind them that led to the capture.

The first photo is one I captured late on New Years Day 2023. All through the fall and into the winter of 2022 I followed a herd of deer that ranged in the woods and fields behind where I live. Upwards to 30 deer in multiple groups I've seen scattered across the corn and soybean fields. They have been fun to watch and to photograph, however it's not as easy as it might seem. To capture an image of a wild whitetail deer like this one of the young buck requires an element of stealth, camouflage, persistence, observation, following the weather and wind direction, and overall planning the shoot. 

Whitetail deer are one of the most wary of natures wildlife. They have good to excellent eyesight and hearing, but most of all their keen sense of smell is what they rely on more than anything to avoid danger. Having been hunted for hundreds of years, these guys have developed an instinct for survival second to no other critter in the wild. Human smell causes them a great deal of stress and caution, and will almost always result in a flight out of harm's way. So, getting close requires all the same elements a skillful hunter would use.

The photo above didn't just happen. He did not simply walk out in front of me and I took his portrait. In fact, I almost never saw the guy not to mention capture his photo. The week before Christmas 2022, the weather took a deep dive into frigid territory with temperatures dropping to below zero-f. Snow followed the cold and covered the ground with an icy mix. I wanted to capture some photos of the deer in the snow so I braved the cold and managed to get a few images none of which were all that good. In the process I began to recognize a pattern of one group of deer. Eight to ten, along with a couple of young bucks would, about an hour and half before sundown, leave the woods at the east end of the corn field near a pond and venture into the field to feed. 

For several days, as the snow melted, I set up in my usual location at the west end of the cornfield, about 250 yards or so from that pond. It was a good location as it afforded me a commanding view of both the corn and soybean fields and I was able to capture some decent environmental images of the deer from long range.

 Several times, the sun would set behind me and cast a wonderful warm glow across the fields. I began to realize I was missing a great opportunity to capture some backlight images of these deer. Doing so required that I set up near that pond. Doing that created a myriad of potential problems.

In order to get the photos I wanted would mean I would literally be located in the midst of that same group as they meandered into the field if they followed the same pattern. The conditions would have to be almost perfect, especially the wind. If it were moving in the wrong direction, they would pick up my scent and be gone. If it was cloudy, there would be no warm light. If I were not completely camouflaged, I risked they would catch my movement and be gone. Everything had to fall into place. 

Jan 1, 2023...New Years Day...the conditions were close to being right. The wind was out of the south by southwest, a gentle breeze really, but enough to cause some concern by its direction. By mid-afternoon the sky was clearing and there would be some warm light late in the day. I packed my gear and headed out.

Next to the pond a cluster of cedar trees offered a dark background to setup against. I prefer setting up with a dark background behind me as it offers a better blending of camouflage. In front of me a few yards stood some tall little bluestem grasses which provided another layer of cover. I nestled close to the cedar trees and broke out the camouflaged burlap and extended it across in a slight arch connecting the center of it to my camera tripod and using two stout sticks to prop up each end. It made an effective, quick and easy, hide/blind to sit behind.

I was fully camouflaged top to bottom, with a facemask and wearing a 3-D leafy top cover to break up my profile. The camera lense was even camouflaged. I felt confident as long as the deer entered the field from my left as had been their pattern. If they did, then the wind would be in my favor. If not, odds fell off for a successful photoshoot. 

About twenty minutes passed and the woods around me settled down. Lots of birds were feeding in the field and I made a couple of photos. I noticed some movement to my right. In the woods a young doe was inching toward the field. I froze and knew she would pick up my scent any moment. Behind her another doe, a bigger one followed. They both entered the field. The young one seemed calm, however the momma doe was alerted. She had indeed picked up my scent but could not see me. The breeze was shifting at once from my left, then from behind, then from my front. This must have confused them. The momma doe pranced around and moved toward me coming to within maybe ten yards. I dared not move or try to take a photo. Eventually, she calmed down and moved a bit further into the field.

I was able to snap a few photos of them. After maybe ten minutes, she took a hard look toward the woods to my right. That is a sure sign something caught her attention. Several more deer were moving toward the field. My position was not good as they would come very close to me and the breeze would drift my scent directly into them. It was a worse case scenario for they did, and it did. One of the older does stepped out of the woods almost next to me, maybe five yards away. The human scent even with no breeze emits an aura that radiates out in a cone shape gradually dissipating with distance. That older doe picked up my scent and stopped instantly looking in my direction. I froze. In a few seconds, she turned and ran back into the woods followed by the others. The first two stayed in the field but were alerted.

I figured my shoot was over, but decided to stay until sundown to see if they might come back. As the sun inched toward the tree lined horizon, I heard movement behind me along with a snort or two. I simply waited. Another snort, then silence. The sun was very low by now but still a ways from setting. Then I saw movement to my left. They had indeed returned about 40 yards away. I watched them move into the field, snapped a few photos. The light was pretty good, but not great as my angle was off. 

They kept looking in my direction sensing something wasn't quite right. As they moved across the field in front of me maybe fifty yards out they sort of split up. There were five of them with the last one being a young fork horn buck I had seen before. Two moved off the left, two scurried across the field and the little buck drifted closer to the treeline to my right. He was bathed in beautiful soft warm light. 

Usually I just start shooting and forget to think about the exposure. On this occasion, I thought first, and purposely underexposed the image to generate a more dramatic look to the image, allowing the soft highlights to dominate the exposure. He stopped, turned his head to look behind him and I snapped two images...one of them...the image we are reviewing.

I managed a few more photos. What I hoped for did not materialize, but I did manage to capture a few nice backlit shots. When you plan your shoot you must learn to adapt to changing situations...then capture what nature gives you. 

Eventually, all the deer moved off and I was able to breath again. 

Every photo has a story tied to it. This one evolved into a memorable photo moment...a good moment to start a new year and new season of photography. Hope to see you out there Beyond the Campfire.