Skip to main content

Top Ten (#1)

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

Here is # 1.

Technical aspects:

Camera – Fuji XT-2

Aperture – F/2.8

Shutter Speed – 1/110 sec.

Focal Length – 18mm

ISO – 400

Film Simulation – Classic Chrome

Location – White Cloud, IN (https://goo.gl/maps/n36m8cNxcJxgdT8a6)

Date – March 31, 2018 @ 6:36 am

On this early spring morning, I was headed to meet a friend for a hike.  I crossed a bridge I had many times before but as I did I saw this majestic scene.  I tried my best to capture what I saw and felt, but I am not sure I did the scene justice.

As I pulled off Highway 62 and onto the road headed into the park, I immediately stopped in the middle of the road to take a photo.  The photo had a mystique to it that I felt best displayed my mental state.  It is one of my favorite photos I have taken, and like life was a spur of the moment decision.  It consequently is my number one (at the moment).

This picture is one of the Blue River.  In my opinion, it is not a river, but truly a creek, but that does not matter.  Most times when I cross this bridge or drive along this ‘river’ it is shallow and barren.  This particular section as can be seen on the map above can be easily traversed on foot with the water at most reaching mid-calf.  This day was not the case.  March was the wettest on record in years and the river was swollen, and overflowing its normal shallow banks.

The current created by the excess water seemed to appear as a silver snake to the left of the picture more dominant in the foreground and disappearing in the foggy distance.  The trees to both left and right appear to be losing their grip and leaning precariously toward the center of the creek creating a natural canopy over Blue River.  As the water, brown in color, caused by the excess rain, the mixture of additional dirt and debris, flows from my current vantage point toward an unknown destination blanketed in fog.  Much like my mood of that day, I was headed to the park to hike and clear my mind, and this symbolic image displayed my mental status.

The muted blue in the sky, the murky brown of the water, and limited details of the trees provided me the perfect moment to capture this shot.  One I was appreciative to have done.  I have crossed this bridge many times before this shot, and many times after, but not once has it shown such beauty as I was able to witness this day.  Nature always provides me what I need when I need it.  Today was no exception.

I will leave you with a quote written by Ansel Adams “A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”  I have tried to do this with my Top Ten with the best of my abilities, but I think Ansel has it right.

Until next time,

Tim

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A gift from a friend

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography Recently I received a gift from a friend.  It was unexpected but it meant so much.  A simple gesture, an act of kindness, a show of love and friendship. I met Miranda via Instagram based on a recommendation from my buddy Mark.  Like most things, he recommends I seriously consider and highly respect his suggestions.  This was true to form.  I began following Miranda on Instagram, Facebook and even viewing her website.  I stuck up a few online conversations and got the nerve to ask her for an interview.  I wrote about that here . Eventually, text and online correspondence led to a few phone calls.  I admired her work and even discussed creating a book of my own and she admitted wanting to do one as well.  Specifically, I saw two pictures that I loved.  My passion for nature, especially trees is well known.  When I saw this photo (single tree) I was floored.  I even asked her if I could buy a copy.  Nothing really came of that.  I then saw another photo ...

Martin-Hogan-Long Cemetery

Photo by: Tim Bindner Today’s journey was to a seldom visited cemetery call Martin-Hogan-Long Cemetery (N38°06.621 W86°14.238). It is in Harrison-Crawford State Forest, but by the looks of the road to get there, few have traveled this way, or at least not traveled there in a long while. The bright sun made the 30° temperature feel warmer than it was. Something I would soon discover upon entering the thicker part of the forest ahead. Today’s hike was one mile one way, and I had a friend named Amanda join me upon this adventure. After grabbing our gear, we scurried around the locked gate at the end of a gravel road. By crossing the gate, we moved from a public road to the State Forest property. I was armed with a GPS and printed map showing “ overgrown, barely discernable fire lanes ” as given to me by my contact, a local Indiana DNR–Division of Forestry Resource Specialist. Amanda and I made our way downhill on the fire lane that quickly changed pitch and had us g...

Over Think?

Photo by: Mark Wilcoxson Last Friday I met with my Psychologist and as usual we had a great conversation about what things were troubling me as well as the things that were going great. One such topic I plan to discuss here. After a very emotional week for me, I discussed the three main impacts this past week held for me. While discussing the details with her, I mentioned two specific conversations I had recently. I was told by some “friends” that I am an over thinker. During our conversation, I provided the detail and the label I was given. She disagreed with that statement and diagnosis. As she described it (or I interpreted it) an over thinker is someone who harbors on a subject to where it affects them so much that it debilitates them. They will focus on a particular subject or issue and that exercise will affect other areas of their life. They may change their behavior, actions or lives because of it. She said if anything I ruminate. The definition of ruminate is ‘think deeply abo...