Figure 1 – The pond in a November light, Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Maynard, MA. (c) DE Wolf 2016.

Years ago, I would drive every morning past this little pond or lake. Of course, I was caught up in the rush hour desire to get to work. Still every morning the combination of sky and water struck me, and I imagined stopping at exactly the same spot every day and taking a photograph. I was certain that no two would be the same, and that many would be dramatic and striking.

Yesterday, I went back to the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge for the first time in about a month. It was, as I have said, dreary and dull. But it seems always the case that there is something interesting and dramatic to be seen on the pond. Figure 1 is the aspect from yesterday. Reeds coming out of a moody, surface, reflecting clouds and sky. I had imagined the scene in black and white. But as is often the case, I wanted capture the muted colors, the angry blue reflections and the ever so subtle redness of the reeds. I studied my results, afraid at first that I had over dramatized the scene, but in the end I found it true to the vision of the moment.

Canon T2i with EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens at 109 mm, ISO 1600, Aperture Priority AE Mode 1/3200th sec at f/7. with no exposure compensation.