Living Dreams

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 9, 2011502 views21 comments

Hello everyone,

I just returned from a little trip up in the Northwoods. It is a place that holds a very special place in my heart. The canoe country as some call it was a place that I would visit every year with my father mostly fishing and hiking. The connection I feel to the place surpasses all of the locations I have visited to date. I was excited to share this wonderful place with my wife and revisit some old memories. I also have a camera now and couldn't wait to document my travels.

As we arrived, the beauty of the place completely invaded your spirit and senses. We stayed in a little rustic cabin, shut our phones off, detached from technology, the rat race, and every nuance that society esteems so greatly. This was living to me. Just the company of a loved one, the lakes, forests, wildlife, and pristine air.

"Living Dreams"
The title has a deeper meaning than usual. I told my wife that a dream of mine was to someday live on a quiet lake. I would arise early before first light and paddle out solo with camera. I would enjoy the solitude of nature and shoot the peaceful time of sunrise on the lake. When my spirit was content I would paddle back, whether I had a successful shoot or not was irrelevant just being connected to a beautiful place was enough. As I would paddle closer to the cabin, my wife would be sitting on the dock reading a book with hot coffee waiting my arrival. So I didn't live there but the rest came true

This photo is special to me and the lake was heavy with fog this morning. I would have paddled faster across the lake but instead enjoyed every stroke of the paddle. I arrived at two rocks about 50ft from the shore. I draped the tripod over the ridge of a rock and with one foot on the rock and in the canoe somehow managed to get a shot off.

I didn't shoot gigs and gigs of photos but am excited to share this wonderful place with you.

Thanks again for you time and comments. They are appreciated.

Canon 40D
Tokina 11-16 @ 11mm
1/60 sec @ f 10
CPL
iso 200
single exposure and minimal processing

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 9, 2011 at 9:46 AM

WOW!! I wasn't very impressed by the thumbnail, but the real thing just about knocked me out of my chair, especially the large version! This is downright gorgeous. This is the type of image that you don't just look at, but that you feel as well. This has everything - great mood, wonderfully rich color, rising fog, and sweet reflection. Absolutely SUPERB IMO. Loved the accompanying story too.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on October 9, 2011 at 10:18 AM

The large version is awesome. A very gorgeous scene. i love the reflections and the colors and the mood and atmoshere is just unbelievable. Well done.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 9, 2011 at 10:51 AM

When say canoe country I assume you mean northern Minnesota. I spent sever happy summers there as a boy also in the Ely and Park Rapids areas. This image really captures the feeling of early morning on the lakes with the cool crisp clean air. I can almost hear the call of a Loon.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 9, 2011 at 11:32 AM

Thanks Bill and R.Bill. Thanks for the kind comments
Richard- yep up near Ely. I just love it up there and it must have been wonderful enjoying childhood there
It's a special place for sure

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on October 9, 2011 at 11:43 AM

It's very clear why this photo is special to you Anthony, the beauty of the place really comes through. I love the light kissing the top of the tree tops and the eerie silence.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 9, 2011 at 11:52 AM

Hey Anthony, Wow, this is gorgeous! This is the feel of the north lakes as I know it. I enjoyed your thoughts on it too. I spent time during summer vacations with my family on the northern lakes of WI and can really appreciate your memories. Now my favorite times are spent at a cabin on a lake in the north woods. Excellent work Anthony.

Now I'm going to load my canoe and go for a paddle on Long Lake close to home here.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 9, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Thanks Gary
Nick- Im jealous. I look out my window here and wish I was back up there. A new goal of mine I suppose

Enjoy your paddle

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on October 9, 2011 at 2:16 PM

This is beautiful, Anthony. I like the contrast of the vibrant autumn color in the trees on the RHS with the otherwise subtle color throughout. The mist rising from the water adds to the mood of this image. I'm not sure about the rock coming out of the water. To my eye it seems to interrupt what is otherwise a fantastic composition. Still a fantastic shot, though. Thanks for sharing!!

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 9, 2011 at 4:58 PM

This is so sweet! Just perfect IMO. Your narrative goes so perfectly with the image, or vice/versa.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on October 9, 2011 at 5:10 PM

Very very cool light and conditions! Would highly recommend a 1:2 crop as the bottom is a bit too empty. Well done!

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 9, 2011 at 5:58 PM

Great story and Bill said it all. A wonderful image of what must have been a sensory filling experience.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on October 9, 2011 at 9:06 PM

the spotlight of brilliant fall color really takes this beautiful image to another level, wow!

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 9, 2011 at 9:45 PM

I just love the spot light on the foliage Anthony but more so, I love your story. Sounds like a fantastic journey of the heart.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Jalkotzy on October 10, 2011 at 12:08 AM

stunning! And a strong reminder of days spent on the lake in northern Ontario - exceptional experiences. Gorgeous capture.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 1 Posts, 8 Comments

Comment posted by Gerald Liddelow on October 10, 2011 at 2:01 AM

A beautyful story and a great capture that reflects the essence of it all.
Thanks for sharing.

Registered on August 10, 2011, 30 Posts, 40 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on October 10, 2011 at 3:09 AM

This is a great shot. It really comes to life in the larger version. I also agree that it would be improved by cropping to a more panoramic format.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Marlow on October 10, 2011 at 12:08 PM

Beautiful location and a great write up in describing the beauty of the locale. Sometimes the wonder and amazement of a location is lost on this site with the simple reality of how well an image was taken or is represented. I think you captured the beauty of this location and make the viewer long to be there with you enjoying the moment. Thanks for sharing, great work.

Registered on October 15, 2008, 158 Posts, 531 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on October 10, 2011 at 2:55 PM

Your passion and love for this place is well translated in this image Anthony. Love that foliage, it really pops against the more subdued colors of the rest of the image.

I think this would benefit from a crop off of the bottom, as well as a crop from the LHS. I like it as is though. Great moment and feeling captured!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on October 10, 2011 at 7:09 PM

A real beauty!
I can feel that cool morning fog in my lungs.
Wonderful work Anthony Vincent. I wish I could have been there (to throw a rock two seconds before shutter release, lol, I kid I kid)

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on October 11, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Beautiful image Anthony, I can completely understand your deep connection to places like this in the northwoods. I spent most of my childhood exploring similar areas with the family on our summer vacations at the cottage. I still get excited every time I go up to the cabin...

The light and mood are gorgeous, and your comp and processing looks great. Well done!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on October 11, 2011 at 4:47 PM

YES!!!

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments