I found this previously unpublished photo while clicking through my archives the other day. It was taken in the Cedar Swamp inside Ceres Park at the end of March, 2010, several months after I discovered this wonderful, 54 acre nature preserve.
I last visited Ceres on a succession of foggy mornings this past November when the swamps were all but dried up. This image reminds me that I need to get out into the field for more photos soon.
The first time I visited Ceres was at the end of winter in 2010. I’ve made many trips since then and still haven’t seen all there is to see. When I was there in November, I found a branch off the main trail I hadn’t taken before. Next trip, I’ll head straight for that branch.
Meanwhile, I saw an article in our local paper about the Eldridge hiking trail in Wenonah. I knew Wenonah had preserved natural areas but didn’t know how to access them. Now I do and I plan on taking my camera for a nice walk soon. If I take a small detour either on the way over to visit my mom or on the way home, I can stop in for a quick scouting expedition.
I enjoy photographing in the winter and early spring before the leaves come out on the trees. I love seeing the bones, the structures of the trees. Soon, John, soon — get your butt moving.
Can you give me a swift kick in the ass on your way? I could use it!
The water adds a layer of complexity to the reflection with the darker and lighter layers. Very nice!
Ha. Consider it kicked Wayne. Thanks for the nice comment. My problem is getting my lazy self out of bed in the mornings.
What an enigmatic image.
At first I thought you must have been standing on a high bluff shooting downward on the trees growing up from below.
Then it began to look like the trees were reflections in the water.
Then I couldn’t tell whether there were actually trees growing upward mixed in with their upside down reflections.
Help! LOL
The enigmatic enigma eh? I was standing at the very edge of the water Steve. I slid down from the trail to get a closer shot. Maybe this is the mother of all reflections. LOL
There are a few stray branches that aren’t a reflection along with the portion of the bank in sunlight. The image does kind of suck you in. I don’t know why I never published it before today?
Marvelous reflection for the day, John, as always. I have the same problem your and Wayne do! I could definitely use a kick these days! Hope you have a great weekend!
Sylvia
Nice, makes me want to get out for a walk in the woods.
A very remarkable photo!!
Reflection
Beautiful, complex image, its beauty accentuated by the B&W treatment.
Love these reflections, and the layers of light. Beautiful!
The reflection has a ‘smoke on the water effect’. Am I showing my age?
What a beautiful photograph!
wonderful image!
Soon, looking forward to those wonderful photos. This photo is a great find. It really pays to be digging those archives. 😀 Happy Saturday!
Love the optical movement and mystery!
This really is a mind-bender of an image, John. I think the b/w presentation is an integral part of that.
Thanks Kerry. After reading your comment, I dug out the negatives. I shot this image with Ilford FP4+ film. I used my Bessaflex with an old 28/3.5 screw mount Takumar lens from the 1970s. I remember when I made this photo, I was careful to exclude any hint of the opposite shore of the swamp. Guess it worked out OK. LOL
I think I’ll feature the next frame on that strip of negatives next week. It’s a much different image.
What a powerful photo! Outstanding!
Photographically beautiful (the swamp itself another matter) and my
eye is drawn to that bit of something on the right, wondering if it
is more than what I can see….
I love that I have to look closely to see the actual edge of the water. It reminds me of an Escher drawing. The branches hiding in the edge make you do a double take to see if they are live or Memorex.
So, get to the new spot…soon.
Red.
I’d better hurry or I’ll be photographing ice. Maybe that would be fun.
John
Just do not slip and fall in!!
Red.
Beautiful!
Thank you.
This really does capture the essense of what I see in our wetland woods. I need to suit up and get out there more often..A neighbor gave me an extra pair of snow shoes last winter and me on them amused my husband on several occasions. I don’t know if he is entitled to that much mirth..but I may give it another go using my ski poles to help. He has resisted the idea of dragging me around on a sled for some reason…Michelle
That sled ride does sound like fun. When you stop to look and listen and smell you see the real world around you. Most of the time when I’m in Ceres, I’m alone with the critters. I always walk softly.
John
I’m just going to *assume* 😉 Mr. Woodruff’s comment is typographically challenged, though it does make me think of a lesser known scatological Mozart ditty . . . .
Meanwhile, I *did* want to say: *wonderful* photo. Lovely!
Well the ‘L’ is adjacent to the ‘K’ — You are very observant Kathryn. Thank you. I fixed Wayne’s slip of the finger. And thank your for your kind words. I do love to share my images.
Beautiful reflections!
this shot’s a stunner…i was going to ask if this is a winter’s morning shot…n there u’d mentioned it.
Cheers,
Saturday Sareenity
Looking at the angle, I could sense you were at the top overlooking the area.
In our small preserve here, no matter how many times I go back, there are still many corners to explore!
Me, too, I have some unpublished archives.
[…] I had been crouched down, close to the water, to isolate the reflections in last week’s image Ceres Park: Reflections in the Cedar Swamp. I stood up for this photo, but I don’t remember if I moved to a different location. I do […]