SPOTLIGHT
BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
Text and Photography by Douglas Schwartz
I created the photograph featured in this SPOTLIGHT on a cool, early autumn morning while on a camping trip to the northern
region of Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Much of this very large park is quiet and provides a wilderness experience.
This particular location was no exception, especially during the early morning when I was there. Adding to the feeling of isolation
was the fact that there there were no other visitors around. I guess that most people were still sleeping.
The only sounds that disturbed the quiet solitude of this location were the hauntingly beautiful call of a Common Loon, and the eerie
hum of a UFO as it passed unseen overhead. While I'm only joking about hearing the sound of an extraterrestrial spaceship, it is
my understanding that a number of UFO sightings have taken place in the Adirondacks...so you never know!
Once I determined the spot where the composition I envisioned for my photograph could be realized, I made use of my trusty little
flashlight that I always keep in my camera bag to set up my tripod and make the necessary camera settings. Because of the
extremely low light, the shutter speed that was needed to create the proper exposure was approximately ten seconds. Fortunately,
since there was no wind to disturb the appearance of the glass-like water, a shutter speed of that duration presented no problem
whatsoever.
region of Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Much of this very large park is quiet and provides a wilderness experience.
This particular location was no exception, especially during the early morning when I was there. Adding to the feeling of isolation
was the fact that there there were no other visitors around. I guess that most people were still sleeping.
The only sounds that disturbed the quiet solitude of this location were the hauntingly beautiful call of a Common Loon, and the eerie
hum of a UFO as it passed unseen overhead. While I'm only joking about hearing the sound of an extraterrestrial spaceship, it is
my understanding that a number of UFO sightings have taken place in the Adirondacks...so you never know!
Once I determined the spot where the composition I envisioned for my photograph could be realized, I made use of my trusty little
flashlight that I always keep in my camera bag to set up my tripod and make the necessary camera settings. Because of the
extremely low light, the shutter speed that was needed to create the proper exposure was approximately ten seconds. Fortunately,
since there was no wind to disturb the appearance of the glass-like water, a shutter speed of that duration presented no problem
whatsoever.
After recording the image, I packed up my equipment and headed back to the warmth of my pickup truck...satisfied that I had
accomplished my creative goal of capturing the scene according to my previsualized intent. With the slowly changing scene still
visible through my truck's windshield, I took the time to enjoy it on a purely personal level. Just because I'm a professional artist
doesn't mean that I can no longer appreciate a captivating experience such as this like "regular people."
I have photographed various remote locations in my work as a nature photographer through the years where I felt like I was the
only person in the world. This place definitely qualified as one of them!
While there are potential dangers in being alone, I see the emotional and spiritual rewards of these wilderness experiences as far
outweighing the risks. So far, my optimistic attitude has proven to be right. That may change, of course. Perhaps one day you will
hear about a crazy nature photographer (yours truly) who was attacked by a bear, pack of wolves...or maybe even abducted by extraterrestrials! If the latter does indeed occur, I'll try to get some good photos of them.
Some viewers might regard the look of this image as being somber, or even a bit scary. To me, however, the scene depicts
promise and potential. One never knows how things will look once the sun has risen and the colors of the world have awakened.
In a metaphorical sense, the same can be said for many difficult times throughout history. The people involved had no idea what
the dawn of a new day would bring. Still, they pushed on in spite of their uncertainty. What else could they have done? Given up?
No way! Giving up goes against a fundamental and most important characteristic of the human spirit!
I will conclude this SPOTLIGHT with the first stanza of a hymn entitled, Morning Has Broken, written by English author, Eleanor
Farjeon, published in 1931. Her inspirational words were later put to music by Cat Stevens/Yusuf in his classic song of the same
title released forty-one years later in 1972. In my opinion, this is a beautiful example of a "spiritual collaboration" of two talented
artists, whose creative efforts celebrating the natural wonder of a new day, transcend the constraints of time.
accomplished my creative goal of capturing the scene according to my previsualized intent. With the slowly changing scene still
visible through my truck's windshield, I took the time to enjoy it on a purely personal level. Just because I'm a professional artist
doesn't mean that I can no longer appreciate a captivating experience such as this like "regular people."
I have photographed various remote locations in my work as a nature photographer through the years where I felt like I was the
only person in the world. This place definitely qualified as one of them!
While there are potential dangers in being alone, I see the emotional and spiritual rewards of these wilderness experiences as far
outweighing the risks. So far, my optimistic attitude has proven to be right. That may change, of course. Perhaps one day you will
hear about a crazy nature photographer (yours truly) who was attacked by a bear, pack of wolves...or maybe even abducted by extraterrestrials! If the latter does indeed occur, I'll try to get some good photos of them.
Some viewers might regard the look of this image as being somber, or even a bit scary. To me, however, the scene depicts
promise and potential. One never knows how things will look once the sun has risen and the colors of the world have awakened.
In a metaphorical sense, the same can be said for many difficult times throughout history. The people involved had no idea what
the dawn of a new day would bring. Still, they pushed on in spite of their uncertainty. What else could they have done? Given up?
No way! Giving up goes against a fundamental and most important characteristic of the human spirit!
I will conclude this SPOTLIGHT with the first stanza of a hymn entitled, Morning Has Broken, written by English author, Eleanor
Farjeon, published in 1931. Her inspirational words were later put to music by Cat Stevens/Yusuf in his classic song of the same
title released forty-one years later in 1972. In my opinion, this is a beautiful example of a "spiritual collaboration" of two talented
artists, whose creative efforts celebrating the natural wonder of a new day, transcend the constraints of time.
Morning has broken
Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
Fresh from the world!
Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
Fresh from the world!
All content in this SPOTLIGHT © copyright the respective artists. All rights reserved.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
