Clouds over the Adirondack Mountains

Written By Alan LaBrecque

There's just something about being still and observing your surroundings.  Taking time to just be in the moment.  Taking a deep breathe of fresh air from the Adirondack mountains.  Feeling the cool wind on your face as it blows across the water, and the warm sun on the back of your neck as you just sit, listen and observe your surroundings.

Clouds over the High Peaks, 2018


Canon 5D Mark III, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, ISO 100, 1/100 sec at f/11

Photography is my excuse

Photography is the excuse that gets me out to enjoy these moments.  It almost feels like without photography as an excuse, I would just sit in the house and watch the games on the weekend, or do chores around the house.  But this past weekend, I decided to head north to the Adirondacks and explore new areas I haven't been before.  Places I figured wouldn't be packed with other hikers because they aren't the more popular sites to see. And once I got to those places, I just sat, listened and watched what was going on around me. It seemed like a sense of peace and relaxation had come over me.  I'm glad that I came to this special place.

Sharing the moment

But how can a capture these moments and share them with you? First of all, I take time to explore the area.  I don't even touch the camera.  I just go to a spot and I sit.  Secondly, I just observe what is special about the place.  I listen to the water rushing over the rocks, the birds singing around me, the trees rustling as the wind passes through the branches and the leaves begin to fall.  Thirdly, I look around my surroundings and identify the subject or subjects that best represent what I am feeling and experiencing at that moment.  Finally, it's time to get my camera and setup my composition.

The photo in this week's blog shows storm clouds that are breaking up and streaking across the sky over the high peaks of the Adirondack mountains.  The sun comes out to light up the horizon, and to allow the clouds to cast their shadows against the mountain tops.  The wind blows ripples in the water, and I listen to the cascade behind me as the water rushes by.

Being at Peace

As a result of my getting out to photograph nature and the landscape this past weekend, I was at peace, and I felt content just being in the moment.  It was because I had no place to rush off to, no work that needed attention.  No words that needed to be spoken.  Just sitting and being.  Take time to be in nature and just be!

-Alan

Alan LaBrecque

Ever since I can remember, from growing up as a small child in mid-state Maine, to walking around in the fields and woods of upstate New York, I have loved being outdoors.  With the Adirondack Mountain Park practically in my backyard, I love being able to take the canoe up to one of its many lakes and enjoy the beauty, serenity and peace of the mountains.  About 20 years ago, my grandmother handed me my first SLR camera, an old Minolta that was used for shooting weddings, and I was hooked!  

Now I had the ability to photograph nature and landscapes, allowing me to share the imagery and feeling of being in remote and beautiful places.  Technology has come a long way since then, and I no longer shoot film, but the digital technology has helped to fuel my passion even more!  I primarily photograph in the Adirondacks, although I also love photographing in New England and traveling to many of the National Parks in the United States.

My goal is to capture the light, the essence of being in nature and to share that with the world.  

I am currently working on a project to shoot all of the seasons in the Adirondacks and to create a calendar for next year.  I hope to see you out there!

https://alanwlabrecque.com
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Autumn Weekend in the Adirondacks