The right time, The wrong light

When it comes to Photoshop, I've heard it all. Is that real? Did you Photoshop that? Using Photoshop is lying. I especially love the last one. Since when is photography not lying or distorting what is seen. We compose in camera, use certain lenses and filters to show the viewer only what we want them to see. I could go into a dissertation as to the similarities between digital post-processing & analog post-processing, but wouldn't want to bore you.

Saying that, I have one confession to make. Yes, I use Photoshop.

I use Photoshop to enhance images. There are not many images I create that are not put through my Photoshop workflow. And since I shoot in RAW I really need to have a workflow in digital post-processing.

Most images don't need much work. Others however, as shot are not what I envisioned as my final image. I knew at shooting that I would be adjusting colors, enhancing contrast, removing that little distraction I just can't seem to get out the frame.

When I showed up for a sunset shoot near Eunice Lake in Mt Rainier National Park, I had grand hopes of glorious alpenglo on The Mountain.

What I got was drap.

Boring, even.

So I knew, when I got home I'd be playing a little in Photoshop. And play is what I did.

I had taken several exposures for the light tones, dark tones & mid tones in the scene knowing I would blend them later. This process often brings out the colors. But my image was still a little lackluster. Not at all what I had wanted.

Now in the old days, I could have added a colored graduated density filter to add more color to the mountain. Now, with Photoshop, I don't need all those expensive camera filters. Photoshop has them pre-programmed for me.

I chose a nice purple lens filter for the mountain.

I like purple.

And it enhanced the mountain to a vision. A piece of art.

I was able to take drab light and still make a nice image.

And now you know the truth.

A Hike for my Mother

The Canadian Rockies. My father was drawn to the monolithic mountains between British Columbia and Alberta. Every few years, he'd pack up his "4 girls" and head north in search of photos & wolverines. My mother's searches in the Rockies were far more simplistic. She really only wanted 3 things to make her vacation a true vacation from all the cleaning & cooking.

A day fishing without her squabbling daughters, an amazing blue tartan skirt, and a hike to one of the teahouses near Lake Louise.

Dad was able to give her the day of fishing, at least one a trip. The skirt she saved for months to buy. But the trip to the teahouse was made.

So on a recent trip to the Canadian Rockies in pursuit of my own photos, I decided to make a trip for my mother to not just one teahouse, but both of them. The trails interconnect to make a wonderful trip through forest, past lakes, over glacial moraines and views of mountains close enough to touch.

The Lake Agnes teahouse is perched on a ridge overlooking both Lake Agnes' turquoise blue waters and the views down the Bow Valley. I could almost feel my mother as I climbed the last of the steps and hear her gasp at the beauty unfolding before me - golden larches reflected in the smooth lake surface, mountain peaks towering into the sky all around. Tears flowed as I took several images of the lake and reflections, knowing mom would have been sitting on the porch with her cup of tea an murder mystery, patiently waiting.

After composing myself, I hiked around the lake and over the Beehive to catch the trail to the Plain of Six Glaciers and the teahouse there.

By now the afternoon sun was beating down on me and I knew mom would have been struggling against the heat as I was. But I continued on, looking forward to the cup of tea I would have for my mother and maybe a treat? The trail was dusty and the meadow dry as I entered the courtyard, an assemblage of natural pavers leading the way to the two-story structure.

Sitting on the balcony, I chose the ice wine tea. Not something my mother would have chosen, but she would have appreciated the novelty. And perusing the menu, a Gluten Free brownie? Oh yes, I would get a treat as well. The waitress brought out my tea cup, a lovely little porcelain type cup with pansies. Mom loved pansies. I felt her smile and her hug as I sipped my tea and watched the afternoon slip by.

Fear Doesn't Live Here

I have this fantasy of myself. I like to pull it out once in a while and play with the fantasy, but really the reality of chasing my fantasy frightens me. I like to think sometimes that I am a mountain climber, scrambling up rock and ice to stand on a great pinnacle of the earth. I will view imaginary images of myself in glacier glasses and parka, skin weathered by the elements smiling for the camera. But I have this slight fear of stumbling and falling to my death or a rock slipping from under me and I fall to my death.

It's a fear that sometimes stops me from going further up the mountain.

It's a fear that keeps me from standing on a pinnacle, smiling for the camera.

Several years ago, I decided to do something that frightened me every year. Generally "the event" takes place on near my birthday. Several years ago I crossed a crevasse on my way to spend the night at Muir Camp on Mt Rainier. The next year I scrambled up loose dinner-plate sized shale to a view, just short of the top, of the Goat Rocks Wilderness. After that, my non-competitive self decided to run my 1st triathlon.

Through all I realized my fears were nothing to be afraid of.

Then I found myself hiking up to Tooth Saddle on my way to scramble Bean Peak. The final scramble was an option. I didn't have to go and thought that I wouldn't. I even voiced that I might just stop at the saddle. I'd have great views.

But then something inside me said why not?

Each step, each climb got me closer to the top. I stopped once & thought "I still have to come down this." A fleeting thought that was gone as quickly as it appeared.

Then it was one last wedge of the foot into a crack, one last handhold, one last movement - my arms, legs and body moving in unison to gain the summit.

The summit. I stood on a pinnacle of the earth enjoying the view, but oops, forgot the picture. Did get a pic of Trail Turtle though.