A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Fall Challenge

The Fall Challenge is an annual friendly competition organized by the Nature Group of the RA Photo Club. In 2018, the challenge took place at the Morris Island Conservation Area, and about 30 of our club members participated. The nature of the challenge is that a particular day and location are picked, photographers who participate can spend as much or as little time at that location on that day and take as many photographs as they wish and later submit eight of their photographs for judging. Any member of the club can attend the judging session and cast their votes (although not for their own photographs). The results are compiled and the best photographs and winners of the competition are revealed during one of the club meetings. While I’ve been known to arrive at the challenge venue for dawn light, in 2018 I had some other commitments on the chosen day​ and elected to take a more casual approach, arriving mid-morning and leaving early in the afternoon. It was overcast and cold when I arrived, but later the sun came out and the temperature improved. I was a bit sad to have such limited time for shooting, but I think I got some nice shots regardless. My fellow club members apparently agree, since my submission received an Honourable​ Mention in the competition.

As humans, we are programmed to look for faces, since that's how we distinguish friends from foes. But that means we often see faces where where there are none.
As humans, we are programmed to look for faces, since that's how we distinguish friends from foes. But that means we often see faces where where there are none.
Sun breaking through the clouds helped to create this shot, featuring the contrasting colours yellow/orange and blue.
Sun breaking through the clouds helped to create this shot, featuring the contrasting colours yellow/orange and blue.
The needles divide the frame into two halves, and there are interesting subjects in each half. As a bonus, the orange leaf points towards the knot in the wood.
The needles divide the frame into two halves, and there are interesting subjects in each half. As a bonus, the orange leaf points towards the knot in the wood.
The rock is the main subject here, with the dark parts of the pond helping to draw the eye towards it. The strong orange/green at the upper right is balanced with a large area of solid green at the lower left.
The rock is the main subject here, with the dark parts of the pond helping to draw the eye towards it. The strong orange/green at the upper right is balanced with a large area of solid green at the lower left.
While we know what this is, the ripples in the water serve to give it a somewhat surreal feeling.
While we know what this is, the ripples in the water serve to give it a somewhat surreal feeling.
The way the tree has reached down to touch the surface of the water seems touching, almost intimate, to me.
The way the tree has reached down to touch the surface of the water seems touching, almost intimate, to me.
The vertical expressed by the tree branch is complemented by the circle formed by a current in the pond.
The vertical expressed by the tree branch is complemented by the circle formed by a current in the pond.
Yes, they really were this colour. This shot required several individual shots to be focus-stacked to give adequate depth of field.
Yes, they really were this colour. This shot required several individual shots to be focus-stacked to give adequate depth of field.
Trees are an ongoing subject that I like to explore. In this case, I found the curves in the bark and the corresponding curve formed by the lichen quite appealing.
Trees are an ongoing subject that I like to explore. In this case, I found the curves in the bark and the corresponding curve formed by the lichen quite appealing.
I found this group of blue mushrooms on the ground among a background of green with one orange element that I included for additional interest.
I found this group of blue mushrooms on the ground among a background of green with one orange element that I included for additional interest.
The soft light backlighting this patch of forest was quite magical. It is mostly composed of vertical elements, with a nearly horizontal branch serving to provide a subject for the eye to rest on.
The soft light backlighting this patch of forest was quite magical. It is mostly composed of vertical elements, with a nearly horizontal branch serving to provide a subject for the eye to rest on.
Near the edge of the shore, I discovered this wonderful backlit tree with a mix of bright orange and green leaves. I took several shots with different compositions.
Near the edge of the shore, I discovered this wonderful backlit tree with a mix of bright orange and green leaves. I took several shots with different compositions.
Here is the same backlit tree with a different, simpler, composition.
Here is the same backlit tree with a different, simpler, composition.
Glints of light filling the water contrast with the dark, hard rocks along the shore. Composed as a series of three triangular areas.
Glints of light filling the water contrast with the dark, hard rocks along the shore. Composed as a series of three triangular areas.
Another backlit shot where the strong verticals of the trees are layered with orange and green leaves.
Another backlit shot where the strong verticals of the trees are layered with orange and green leaves.
It always pays to look down. In this case, I was standing on a boulder along the shore and noticed the crevice and the plant. Composed to provide a strong line leading to the plant.
It always pays to look down. In this case, I was standing on a boulder along the shore and noticed the crevice and the plant. Composed to provide a strong line leading to the plant.
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