Two of my goals in putting together this upcoming show at the Highland Center for the Arts, opening February 18th and running until March 17th, are to have viewers see what I see about water, and ice and clouds, as well as to learn more for myself about the science of water and share some of that with viewers. Thus far, the title for the show, “Wonders of Water,” still fully describes my intentions. More another day on the science of reflections and, for now, sharing a bit about my process of photographing them.

Three views of one of my favorite streams to work especially in the fall.

My experiences photographing reflections in water have often brought on “out-of-body” experiences. Partly it is standing in moving water while isolating a small rectangle of the scene through my lens—I typically look through my viewfinder rather than at the LCD screen on the back of the camera. But it is the nature of the changing reflections that usually causes me to have to hold on to something more stable. After all, feeling out-of-body could easily mean I’d feel very much IN-body if I were to fall!

I also find changing my position slowly and carefully, even an inch or two in any direction, can dramatically change what I am seeing of a reflection. The five images below were all made within a few minutes as I moved just a foot or two in different directions.

How do I know what a “good” photograph is and click the shutter? While I have some ideas of what I want, usually I don’t know much of what I’ll end up with until after the “click.” Stopping the motion of a complex current or ripple is part of it but there is also just so darned much going on at once I find it impossible to see it fully in real time.

I’ve found reflections in water to be wondrous any time of year and in all kinds of waters, from a puddle in the road to a view of the sea from a coastal bluff.

19 Jan This entry was published on January 19, 2024 at 10:45 am and is filed under Abstract, Fall colors, Highland Center for the Arts, John Snell, John Snell Photographer, Patterns, Photograph, Reflections, Vermont, Water, www.johnsnell.photography. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.