Posted July 19th, 2009

Lazy, Hazy Summer

It is a warm, dry summer and I'm loving it. However, good weather does not necessarily translate to good photography and I have been struggling for visual inspiration. The landscape is not exactly parched but neither is it lush and the wildflowers have paled (literally) compared to the rich, prolific displays of recent cool, wet years. A persistent haze of smoke from forest fires saps colour and contrast from scenic vistas; it is even apparent within the tight confines of the composition you see above. Maybe it is more a matter of the heat making me lazy or perhaps I am just making excuses but, whether cruising the highways on my motorcycle or wandering the local trails, I'm rarely finding reason to stop and take pictures and the images I have made are not very satisfying. With little to choose from, I picked this image for my latest Feature Photo because it is representative of my summer, depicting a spot where I have been spending plenty of relaxation time. Frankly, though, these days I am getting more fulfilment swimming in the lake than photographing it.
Pentax K10D, Pentax AF 31mm f/1.8 Limited @ f/9.5