Creating an Illusion of Depth

One of the most effective compositional tricks in photography is to create the illusion of depth in your images.  There are about as many ways to accomplish this as there are photographers who do it.  No one way is better than another as they all have their own merits.  What's important is being able to recognize those subtle ways to add another dimension to your images and to transform the ordinary into images with power and impact.

Lets look a some examples.

Create that Layered look:  Often the way the landscape rolls toward the distance can be used to generate that Layered look.  By its nature, the further away a hill looks, the lighter it becomes.  When you have multiple hills that dip and roll in front of each other, then a natural layered look is created by the effects of the atmosphere.  An effective way to take advantage of this layering is use Spot Metering.  By switching to this metering mode, you can select the degree of the layering by placing the metering spot on the layer that appears to be a middle tone in value...then locking in the metered value...recompose the shot and let the rest of the scene fall where it may within the set exposure.

Reflections:  Reflection on a calm body of water can provide some of the most dramatic illusion of depth for photographers.  Capturing this kind of photograph begins well before the opportunity presents itself.  To really take advantage of it, you should identify potential locations where a great reflection could materialize under the right conditions...then watch the weather reports and plan your outing on one of those calm mornings.  One thing to remember is that reflections are usually one to two stops darker than the object being reflected whether it is the sky or an object...so be sure to carry and use a one or two stop graduated neutral density filter to help even out the exposure for both the sky and water reflection.

Include Something in the Foreground:  Too many times I will see a great landscape and shoot the scene from eye level...then when I really take a close look at the image I realize too late that it lacks depth.  To remedy this, I try to remember to get down low..close to the ground...and include something of importance in the foreground.  Using a small aperture (f/22) will increase the depth of field where the foreground and background remain relatively in focus at the same time.  Adding something to the foreground not only helps to create that illusion of depth, it add interest and dynamics to the image.

Raise or Lower the Horizon:  Take advantage of the situation and recognize that generally speaking most landscapes do not look good if the image is split down the middle evenly between sky and ground.  For an open expanse like a prairie region use a wide angle lens and add more landscape in your composition with just a sliver of sky to create that sense of distance.  For big sky shots, use a thin base of landscape to open up the sky with wide angle.

Use a Zoom Lens:  A zoom lens will create an effective illusion often used by artists to generate a three dimensional effect on a two dimensional plane;  Foreshortening.   A zoom lens is very effective at bringing distant objects closer and condensing the depth of field.  This condensing action is what adds a sense isolation and depth.

Use Light and Dark to Create Depth:  As in every image, light is the key ingredient.  Dark can be used to make Light look brighter...and Bright light can make darks look darker.  The contrasts between the two is what creates mystery and is an effective way to add depth and mood.

Use Leading Lines:  Leading Lines are great depth indicators and can be used to guide the viewer into the image.  Leading lines can come from just about anything including roads, fences, tree lines, crop rows, even the suns rays and shadows.  One thing to remember, leading lines should lead INTO to the image...and not out of it.

These are only a few of the more common ways to create an illusion of depth in you images.  Thinking within the context of depth and mystery and mood, is when you as a photographer start looking beyond the obvious, and start being able to see photographically.

Keith

Equipped for the Field

Photographing in the field can range anywhere from shooting from your front porch, to driving around in your car, to hiking over hill and dale.  The trick is have with you all the necessary equipment without being loaded down so much it becomes awkward to function.

Too many times I've missed the shot because I wasn't prepared.  What usually happens is when I need a long lens I usually have a wide angle attached...or the other way around...or I forget to reset the high ISO on my camera back to 100 from the last time I used it, but the most frustrating is when I stumble onto a great photo op and my camera is sitting safely at home and I miss the opportunity.

Although I don't get out nearly as much as I used to, I still find time to explore new opportunities from time to time, and when I do, I like to be ready for any opportunity.  So here's a list of equipment I take into the field.

Camera Equipment:
Camera Body
18 - 80 zoom lens
50 - 500 zoom lens
1.5 teleconverter
Cokin graduated neutral density filter
Polarizer for the 18-80 zoom
3 foot remote shutter release
Tripod
Extra Camera battery
Flash unit with extra batteries

Accessories:
Lens cleaning tissue
Soft cloth/cotton scarf
Plastic grocery bags (2)
A couple of Bandaids
Rubber bands
Soft lens brush/bulb


Hiking Gear:
Tamrac Cyber Pack camera pack
Hiking boots
Floppy hat
Rain gear
Sunscreen
Sunglasses

Water Bottles

Snacks

Cell phone

Extra pair of dry boot socks

Dry Sneakers

Pocket knife

Compass

Clothing:

(Depends on the season)

When its cold:

    Flannel shirt over one or two layers of cotton t-shirts

    Camo hunting pants over warmer flannel pants

    Gloves/Mittens

    Hoody Jacket

When its warm:

    Light cotton T or sleeveless-shirt usually a dark color or sometimes a light long sleeve shirt

    Nylon fishing pants - these are great for warm weather hiking as they protect you legs but are cool and dry quickly

And that's about it...I don't always include everything mentioned here unless I plan on hiking into someplace where I will be some distance from my vehicle... and I may take more if I am canoeing into someplace.  

Equipping for the field is really a matter of personal preference.  Over time you develop what works for you through trial and error.  The most important thing is to never be caught unprepared, but at the same time to remain flexible and unencumbered.

Keith

    

    

    

Rawah Wilderness Adventure

The Trail Head

Backpacking is one of those activities I wish I would have done more of when I was young enough and capable enough to do more of such things like that.  Often I have dreamed of hiking across the Rocky Mountains or the length of the Appalachian Mountains, or hiking and canoeing along the Lewis and Clark trail...much the same as I have dreamed of flying to the moon...a great dream, but not very practical.  Even so, I have managed to make a number of backpacking trips over the years.  There is one trip I made back in the summer of 1996 that stands apart from the others; a hike into the Rawah Wilderness region of Northern Colorado.

First view of the lower lake - Elevation 10,200

For eleven months in 1995 and 1996 I worked a contract job in Denver, Colorado, performing various mainframe program job evaluations for an insurance company.  It was a great job, except I was away from home for extended periods of time when my boys were pretty young and I was only able to make it back to Edmond, OK one or two weekends a month.  I hated being away like that, but it was an obligation I needed to fulfill and in the long run it worked out very well.  On my off days I spent a lot of time just checking out the wonders of the Colorado Rockies...taking day hikes along the Colorado Trail and in the Rocky Mountain National Park or making fishing trips to the Colorado River and other locations, or just making ordinary Sunday drives to see what I could find.

One of my favorite places to hike into, and indeed I managed one backpacking trip into, was a place called Homestead Meadows, not far from Estes Park...the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It's a great 4 mile or so day hike in where a number of old homestead ruins are located.  The trail head starts around 6,000 feet or so and climbs up to around 8,000 feet...but that's another story that I may write about someday.

My trip into the Rawah Wilderness area began with some research at the local outdoors shop.  I was looking for an isolated place that offered a degree of challenge but still very doable.  There were so many options I found it difficult to focus in on one location.  I ended up attending a program at one of the local branch libraries that was presented by one of the hiking clubs in the area.  It just happened to be a program featuring the Rawah Wilderness area...and it was exactly what I needed.  Rawah it would be.

My destination were some mountain lakes situated between 10,000 and 11,000 feet elevation and around 10 miles from the trail head.  They were stocked with trout so I was looking forward to not only the hike, but a chance to do some real mountain lake fishing.

Hiking in the mountains is a lot different than hiking in Oklahoma...a lot different...not only is the altitude an issue, but the weather and time of year play a significant role I was to discover.  My first attempt into the area ended in defeat as I made the attempt too early in the year.  It was mid-May and the day started off great, but after I had hiked a few miles in, I ran into snow pack.  The trail was completely obliterated and I had to turn back.  A month later...mid-June...I tried a second time.  This time I made it maybe 3/4 of the way in before the snow pack once again defeated me.  Frustrated...I decided to continue the hike cross country.

Campsite - See the Tent

Using a topographical map, I made a best guess as to where I was and where I needed to go...which was to follow uphill what I thought was the outlet stream from the lakes area.  A mile or so of following the stream, I began to realize my evaluation of the situation was flawed.  I stood on the crest of ledge with a 20 foot drop contemplating weather to backtrack back to the trail or continue on.  While standing on the ledge, underfoot was a hidden snag that suddenly gave way and I lost my balance and ended up sliding, bouncing and tumbling to the bottom of drop...landing with a rather undignified thud.  Fortunately various boulders, roots, and saplings broke my decent, but I did manage to slightly twist my ankle upon the hard landing.  After a few choice words, I took stock of my situation and determined the only thing seriously injured was my pride...and...er...my rear end.

I attempted to climb back to the top of the ledge but it was too steep and slippery with all the snow...so now I was stuck.  I was in no real immediate danger as I had shelter and plenty of food...So...I sat down..broke out something to eat...and contemplated what to do while my ankle swelled.  It became apparent that I would have hike cross country downhill until I crossed the trail again.  Eventually I headed off and finally did find the trail...headed out and vowed to try again.

A month later...mid-July...I made a third attempt, but this time I took a different much steeper route that zigged zagged across the southern facing slopes that lead up to the lakes.  I figured the snow pack would melt off these southern slopes more readily than on the other route.  There was one section of the hike that was really steep.  For a good two miles or so, I trudged up a 35 to 40 percent grade...huffing and puffing all the way with every foot gained in elevation.  My pack weighed in at around 30 pounds when I started the hike, and by the time I made it to the lakes it must have weighed around 100 pounds.

What a view though it was and a sense of satisfaction to finally arrive at the first lake...elevation 10,200 feet.
Once I setup camp I spent the rest of the afternoon just hiking around the lake trying my hand at some fishing and managed to catch a few small trout along with one really nice one...I released all of them.

One of the first things I noticed about the weather up there was just how rapidly it changed.  One moment the sun would be out and its heat would sear the skin, then a cloud would roll in and it would get cold...sun...cold...sun...cold...all afternoon.  By late in the day, clouds began to build and I experience my first mountain thunderstorm.

Storm brewing

Thunder in the mountains is different than on the plains.  Being from Oklahoma I was no stranger to thunderstorms...Oklahoma can have some real good ones...but at 10,000 feet, fully exposed to the elements..that first clap of thunder caught me off guard.  Where thunder on the plains tends to boom and rumble on for a while...thunder up there fired off like the crack of a high powered rifle.  Crack..Boom...it was over that quick...and I jumped about four feet when it hit.  Not long thereafter I retired to the relative safety of my little one person packer tent...and then the rain started.

There's nothing quite like lying inside a cramped one person tent during a mountain thunderstorm trying to read a book by Patrick McManus by candle light when lightning is flashing and sheets of rain threaten to drench everything.  It's quite an experience and adds a uniquely mountain flavor to the adventure...and by the way the title of the book fit well with the situation...'A Fine and Pleasant Misery'.

Sometime during the night, the storm abated and I fell into a deep fatigue induced sleep.  By sun up I rolled out of the sleeping bag and was greeted with 40 degree July temps, crisp mountain air, a bright blue sky, a stiff back, and a moose.  Yeah...that' right a moose.  I didn't even know Colorado had any moose...but there he stood all nine feet of him feeding in the hedge around the lake about 150 yards away.  I grabbed my little disposable camera and tried to take a picture but he was standing in the shadows and the sun was in my face.  When I tried to close the distance between us, he looked up, snorted with big cloud of condensed breath and said..."That's close enough.."  I didn't argue.  It was great fun to watch him meander around as I cooked breakfast and stretched my stiff back and legs.

I spent a little time fishing but to no real consequence.  Eventually, it was time to pack up and hike out.  I'm always sad when I must do that...but time was getting away and I wanted to make it back to my vehicle before it got to late.  My stay there was pretty much a solitary experience. Two other groups of hikers came through...one heading on up to a higher lake, and the other camping a few hundred yards from my location...I barely knew they were there.

By the time I made it down the mountain and back to the trail head late that afternoon, my feet were really hurting, my back felt like it had a 2x4 jammed in against the spine, and my legs ached something fierce...but if I could have turned around and hiked back in for another day, I would have done so.

I always hoped I could return, but as it turned out my contract job ended a month or two before it was suppose to and I returned to the flat lands of Oklahoma, home, and family.  Several times I have threatened to make that hike again...I've never lived up to those threats...I suppose time and age take a toll and I doubt I could make that hike today without doing some serious fitness training.  Back in 1996, I weighed in something under 165 pounds and was fresh off a training season of swimming, biking, and running.  Today, I weigh in something over 190 pounds and I'm fresh off the couch.  Even so, maybe someday I'll be able to experience once again the crack of a mountain thunderstorm...sit by the waters edge of a mountain lake and watch a moose graze his way around the water.  Until then, I still have the memory of a Rawah Wilderness Adventure...and it was truly a grand experience.

Anyone out there have a backpacking adventure they'ed like to share..I'd love to hear about it.

( All photos were taken using one those Kodak 35mm disposable cameras )

Keith