… and I don’t seem to have many new images.
I used to worry that I wasn’t making myself get out there and shoot – that I was missing out on opportunities.
I realize now that forcing myself to go out might be good for my photography, but it isn’t good for me. I have priorities in life that don’t always allow me to go out, and sometimes I don’t even want to (this happens a lot in the winter).
But I don’t worry about it as much anymore. This isn’t a short term pursuit – I won’t run out of things to say, of opportunities to shoot. Years from now I will still have a camera in hand. The world will be there – in some way or another, and so will I.
I am enjoying other things. But I am getting antsy to get out soon. 
For now here’s one from way back. I took this on a cloudy morning in Victoria Lake Park near my house. I was never quite happy with the original, but recently I came across it and decided to play with it a bit. I cropped it a little and played around with the contrast and saturation in Photoshop to give it a bit more punch. I also added a warming filter to make it more inviting – the original felt cold and empty.
I normally try to avoid a lot of manipulation, but in this case I think I kept the tweaks fairly subtle, while bringing out something that I just didn’t have the skill to capture quite right at the time.
Let me know what you think. Too much?
M.
©Michael D. Pereira
I like it Mike! It’s very simple and inviting, yet almost sad and lonely at the same time! It’s one of those shots that can be uplifting or have more of a melancholy feel to it depending on the outlook of the viewer. I really like it!
Thanks Wayne. I was pretty happy with that balance in the end result. I still think I could try again and do better. I have a better sense of how to make the shot that I can see in my mind now.
It’s gonna be a while though, as they have drained the lake and the park is closed while they do an environmental clean-up and dredge the lake bottom. I’ll try again in 2013
Great shot Mike. I love the bright green colours and how the waters edge sweeps around the image. I agree its tough to get out in winter especially with work getting in the way and the fact that it is still pretty dark by 5:30.
Thanks man! Sorry I’ve been absent on your blog – comments coming soon! This one flew under the radar for me, especially as, at the time, I didn’t have the same sense of composition I do now.
It’s definitely harder to get out in the winter – especially this winter which hasn’t offered much beyond grey, soggy days.