Photo of the Month – September 2021

Tom and Cree celebrate the great images created by their community of photographers by selecting a Photograph of the Month. For August we selected an image of Crystal Lake outside of Ouray created by Thomas Black on our Ouray Fall Colors . We hope you enjoy Thomas’ images as much as we do!

Congratulations to September 2021 ‘s featured photographer – Thomas Black

Ouray Fall Colors Workshop 2021

The Story … 

I would not have positioned myself where I did if it had not been for Tom’s suggestion the night before. He said to put something in the foreground. I did and it was a big help.

I was able to line up in front of the red grass without pushing anyone into the water. I set up the camera. I used a two second timer. I took a hundred photos and hoped one would work out.

I hate using a cable release. In fact I often forget to bring one, so the timer works well. Sometimes I use the Canon dedicated phone app for remote control of the shutter. There was no cell connection at the lake so I used the 2 second timer instead.

September 2021 Photo of the Month

Of the 100 photos I took of Crystal Lake, I had several that I liked. The one I selected had the most rose color in the water reflection. That was the differentiator.

EXIF Data:

Canon EOS R6 with a 24-205mm lens

F8, 1/60 sec, ISO 100

“Try to find an unusual angle so you don’t end up with a cliche” Thomas Black

About photographing fall foliage in Ouray

In retrospect, it was fantastic! I have never been anywhere with that much fall color.

I have spent weeks at a time in the Northeast. Last year I was on a self-guied photo safari in the Northeast while visiting my daughter. I got some good photos. the timing was good. But there was nothing that compares with Ouray. Yooray for Ouray!

It’s cold there. I brought shorts, sandals and my Speedo. I went out the second day and bought more outerwear. The Ouray merchants were glad I visited.

Thomas’ Start as a Photographer

I got into photography based on a four letter word……golf.

When I retired I went out and bought golf clubs. In five years I never broke one hundred without the use of a pencil erasure on my scorecard. I was horrible. My son said, “Dad, maybe this isn’t the game for you.”

I thought, “Gee, is there some other hobby I can pursue at least as expensive as golf?” I went down to the local camera store and bought a Nikon D60. I needed wall art for a new mountain home, so went around taking photos of local barns. It took off from there….

Fallen leaves near Silver Jack Reservoir

Thomas’ tips for photographing fall foliage:

Have an idea of where you want to go….but pray that you are lucky. The reason I go on workshops with Tom and Cree is that they know where to go.

You could spend days on your own, even on horseback at the True Grit Ranch and not find a wall-worthy photograph

Also, bring a tripod. My hands were so cold they were shaky. Without a tripod I would have had Shake and Bake landscapes.


On Thomas’ Horizon

The Oregon Coast and Redwood Forest

White Sands National Park

The True Grit Ranch off the Last Dollar Road

There are two spaces on our Ouray Workshop for 2023 . Click here to read more .

Thanks for reading our posts!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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