Jim Genellie Photography

December in the north can be relatively colorless. Southwest Michigan retains more color than Minnesota but you still have to be creative to get interesting photos.

I am a member of the Twin Cities Camera Club located in St. Joseph Michigan. The monthly newsletter is edited by Ron DeKett. He had this to say about Dismal Swamp:

“Why I like it: There is a wonderful tonal contrast between the muted warm colors of the swamp and the cool colors of the clouds and sky. Like all good landscapes I feel as if I could step into the scene with little fanfare except maybe to watch out for late season mosquitoes.

Notice how the image’s darkness transitions to light starting in the foreground, through the middle ground and into the background sky. This gives the image a feeling of depth. But even as the eye wanders toward the lighted sky it is pulled downward to that single point where the tree trunk touches the water, which demands attention. The slate gray color of the water with its highlights anchors the point of contact. Finding a pleasing composition in woodland photography is notoriously difficult. Woodlands by their nature cast a seemingly endless series of distractions that foil efforts to find an unobstructed scene. Jim was able to find the shot, taking advantage of the natural chaos of nature while finding room to capture the image. Well done, sir.”