³ Canon EOS 5DS, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L
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Ý«ÃÕÀi\£ÉÈäÃiV°]zÉ££]-"£ää°Zen Garden
Harriman State Park, New York
Text & Photography By Dean CobinI
t was an early spring morning when I awoke to an expanse
of low-lying fog filling the sky. I immediately knew there
would be plenty of opportunities to capture and create
extraordinary images. Harriman State Park in Hudson Valley,
New York, was only a short 15-minute drive from my home. I
quickly gathered up my camera gear, jumped into my vehicle
and motored off to the park.
With the advantage of spending countless hours at Harriman
State Park shooting, I headed directly to Lake Kanawauke—a
most promising location. Once there, I began scouting the
surrounding area looking for interesting compositions. I was
drawn to a combination of wispy grasses and delicate lily pads
close to the shoreline, the scene where I’d find my shot. My
first instinct was to utilize these components as part of the
foreground for a more expansive image. However, after further
examination and trying out several lenses, it became evident
the image lived in a more compact scene.
For this image and similar images where isolation is crucial,
the flexibility of my 70-200mm zoom allowed me to create and
simplify the composition. When I began to evaluate the scene
on the camera’s LCD, I immediately noticed the powerful inter-
action between the grasses and the lily pads. I used a circular
polarizer, which enabled me to bring up the reflection and added
a very dynamic component to the composition—somethingI always strive for in my work. Luckily, the elements set up
naturally for this shot. I chose a portrait orientation for the
image based on the grass’s verticality, the dominant element
in the scene.
Presented in the image were several tones on opposite ends
of the spectrum, which contributed to making an excellent
black-and-white image. The green lily pads and grasses con-
verted beautifully to shades of black, and the water turned to
gradients of gray. The fog converted to an almost pure white,
which added a striking contrast.
Using my camera’s option to display a JPEG preview in
black-and-white, I continued to adjust the exposure variables,
refining the image while on location. Once home, I began the
final processing of the image. I used Adobe Lightroom to adjust
the white balance, levels, saturation, etc. Then I exported the
image to Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 to complete the conversion
to black-and-white and adjust levels of contrast and tonality.
When all was said and done, I viewed the printed picture
and found it to be strikingly peaceful and serene, giving it the
title “Zen Garden.” When images invoke a powerful feeling,
it’s apparent the photographer has accomplished the goal. OPSee more of Dean Cobin’s photography at deancobin.com.behind the shot
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