by Gary Gardiner | Apr 25, 2013
Soccer practice fields at Hoover Dam – My Final Photo for April 25, 2013
A steady flow of runners, walkers, athletes, bikers, and small kids led their parents on a trek across the dam at Hoover Reservoir while I waited for the afternoon clouds to part for just a few minutes at the right time.
Ten frame multiple exposure
There were many other photos to shoot while waiting for soccer practice to begin with the hope the clouds would then separate throwing a rim light across the freshly green trees and active youth on the fields beneath the dam.
The photo trek, on my bike, included a brief trip off the dam but most of the time for about two hours was traveling end-to-end on the dirt, asphalt, concrete, and steel span observing early shafts of light and the people and places it illuminated. Or failed to illuminate as often one end of the dam would be in shadow and the other in full sunlight making me wish I’d the ability to float over the scene to show the natural variety of light in such a small space.
Recumbent bike with slow shutter speed
Even later as the clouds began to thin and light more often fell across the plain below the dam I’d have to scamper to the shelter to get out of a brisk rain shower preceding the brightness.
The wait allowed, or forced, me to try a variety of techniques to shoot a unique photo from the dam. I’ve been there many times and am always looking for something even slightly different from before.
The soccer fields are a previous subject although I’d not shot them with the trees so early in their spring growth.
I used my D300 on the multiple exposure setting for a faux blurred motion photo of the water below the dam and the clouds above. Without a tripod I jammed the camera against a concrete post and a galvanized steel railing to keep it from moving between exposures.
The blurred recumbent bicycle is standard slow shutter speed choice.
There were more bikes, silhouettes from inside the shelter on the eastern end of the dam, overheads of people running along the roadway, more blurred action of cyclists and joggers, and a fisherman at the end of the day.
Not bad for two hours of bad weather.
by Gary Gardiner | Apr 13, 2013
Despite spending several hours walking the dam at Hoover Reservoir hoping to see a rare display of Northern Lights all I could come up with were long exposure images of the dam lit by man-made lights along its four corners. And a quarter moon.
I’ve seen the Northern Lights before0. Spending three years on an Air Force base in North Dakota provided many nights on a flight line where it was visible. My disappointment for the night wasn’t necessarily for me. It was for the small groups of people and a few other photographers who didn’t get to see the light from central Ohio.
Unless it happened after I left. Please don’t tell me it happened later.
by Gary Gardiner | Apr 13, 2013
Despite spending several hours walking the dam at Hoover Reservoir hoping to see a rare display of Northern Lights all I could come up with were long exposure images of the dam lit by man-made lights along its four corners. And a quarter moon.
I’ve seen the Northern Lights before0. Spending three years on an Air Force base in North Dakota provided many nights on a flight line where it was visible. My disappointment for the night wasn’t necessarily for me. It was for the small groups of people and a few other photographers who didn’t get to see the light from central Ohio.
Unless it happened after I left. Please don’t tell me it happened later.
by Gary Gardiner | Apr 4, 2013
Sailboat on Hoover Reservoir
When this sailor began the task of preparing his sailboat for its first water journey of the year the sun was bright in the cool sky and there was just enough wind to justify a late afternoon sail around the lower waters of Hoover Reservoir.
Working alone, this springtime sailor steadily assembled mast and lines and rudder and sail with great intent for only just a brief turn around the small lake formed by the man-made dam. Working against time and weather he fought the tangled lines and taut cables of a freshman voyage despite the sun disappearing behind the blanket of clouds casting a cold shadow across his endeavors.
As the temperature and wind dropped he completed the assembly and launched into a less than speedy trip across the lake, his first of the season.
Sailor with his sailboat on Hoover Reservoir
Of course, there’s a Hipstamatic Tintype Photo.
See more photos in The Gardiner Collection.
by Gary Gardiner | Apr 1, 2013
Pair of kayakers enjoy early spring trip at Hoover
Taking an afternoon trip across Hoover Reservoir wasn’t a fool’s chore for this pair of young kayakers who braved chill winds and choppy waters for their first outdoor adventure of the spring.
Despite temperatures barely above freezing and a brisk wind from the west, the pair completed one crossing with a round-about return near the bridge where they encountered headwinds that buffeted their single person kayaks just enough to make the return difficult.
Despite the hazards and cold breezes they discussed their next trip to the lake although both hoped it would be a little warmer next time.
Pair of kayakers enjoy early spring trip on Hoover Reservoir
And, the day wouldn’t be complete without an iPhone Hiopstamatic Tintype of the duo.
