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The Swamp Beckons Me
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The Swamp Beckons Me

by Bill Leggett

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 17, 2016190 views9 comments
Since about 1992 I have been fascinated with photographing swamps for their elegant beauty.  It's a bit of a challenge to compose order from so much chaos.  And since then I have wandered around these places, mostly by canoe, in an effort to emulate some of what Clyde Butcher created in his work.  This was shot around 1992, handheld from my canoe.  I've been there several times during Thanksgiving week.

Olympus OM-1 probably Zuiko 35, ISO 100 Royal Gold

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 17, 2016 at 4:07 PM
Bill,
This is simply a wonderful shot.  The trees and their reflection cause me to liken it to geologic strata as I seek to explore it.  It is very evocative.  Thanks for sharing. 
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on January 17, 2016 at 6:32 PM
I can certainly see why you love these swamps, Bill.  Graphic and beautiful.  My only suggestion would be to crop some from the top to just below the largest openings  in the trees.  Either way a really sweet image.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 17, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Bill: Wonderful scene and a fine capture. Cropping the open sky does make this stronger for me. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 17, 2016 at 8:29 PM
Bill,

Creating order from chaos... you've done that beautifully here.  The little open section in the middle adds an inviting depth to this scene.  My initial thought echos Bill's;  The abstract nature of this would be bumped up tremendously by eliminating the sky above.

The only suggestion I have would be to remove/desaturate the cyan in the mid-tone greys; mostly at the base of the trunks (and their reflections.  A bit hard to say for sure, but a bigger view would be more helpful in confirming that.  But that's minor.

I can see why you and others are so attracted to the swamps; difficult to see and capture, but so rewarding when you come back with images like this.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on January 17, 2016 at 8:35 PM
Bill,
Awesome image. The trunk reflections are amazing. No nits.
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 18, 2016 at 10:31 AM
This is a very inviting scene, Bill.  The combination of warm colors and the passage back into the trees do a great job of putting me there ready to explore around the next bend.  The whiteness of the sky is a minor distraction, that cropping the sky cures nicely.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on January 18, 2016 at 1:06 PM
Very sweet composition and colors, I really like it! I would consider cropping the sky maybe.
Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 18, 2016 at 5:53 PM
That is a place I would like to see! I like it as is, but also could see it cropped to remove the sky. I love the color, and the density of the trees.
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Mark James Ford on January 19, 2016 at 1:38 PM
Hi Bill, a lovely serene shot with wonderful reflections - like it! And very very nice to see a shot from 1992!
Cheers, Mark
Registered on January 16, 2015, 60 Posts, 430 Comments