After all is said and done, when talk about depth-of-field, shutter speeds, backlighting and filters is over, capturing memorable outdoors images usually comes down to less-technical issues: being in the right place at the right time (sometimes by design), and having enough of an artistic eye for creative compositions and the judgment to choose to push the button.
Missing those moments often boils down to leaving the camera at home, having the camera in the bottom of the pack, or failing to have extra batteries and proactively changing them
Washington Trails Association runs the annual Northwest Exposure photo contest, focusing on the beauty found on Washington’s trails. Thousands of entries challenge the judges. In the end, readers are treated to a selection that does justice to the outdoors and the people enjoying it.
Thanks to technological leaps, some winning photos have been taken with point-and-shoot cameras, including the 2013 grand prize-winning shot of a mountain goat.
In the current Washington Trails magazine, several winners and judges offered advice for entering photographs. It’s worth a read. The deadline is Oct. 19, so there’s still fall trail time to give it your best shot.
Here are a few of the tips:
The photographer is the artist; the camera is the tool. Composition and lighting are in the hands of the shooter.
Hike with patient people willing to enjoy the view while you’re taking photographs.
An excellent time for photography is as the sun is rising or just before it sets.
Submit photographs with “nearly perfect exposure, beautiful light, a captivating or interesting composition, no distracting elements (with) main subject perfectly focused.”
Five categories are available: trailscapes, flora and fauna, hikers in action, camp life, and a new category, fun on the trail, that will be judged in part by public voting online.
There are prizes for the top three photographs in each category, plus the grand prize photo. Winning photos will be featured in the January/February 2016 issue and WTA’s 2016 calendar.
For more information, go to wta.org/northwestexposure. Check out the last four years of winning photographs.
Access counts: It can be hard to understand the importance of wheelchair-accessibility in the outdoors unless you must deal with the need, the frustration, the lack of options to be outdoors in a significant way, in a place that you love.
Recently I wrote two columns on the issue, which drew several responses. One was from Carol Ferrera and Les Johnson. Their story is a reminder of how any life can be changed in a moment.
“Can’t say thanks enough for your article about trails that can be enjoyed in a wheelchair. I’ve spend hours on the Internet looking and as you say in your article, ‘going by ADA- or wheelchair-accessible’ isn’t enough.
“My husband had a severe stroke six years ago and lives in his wheelchair. Before his stroke he was a flyfisher writer. We spent all of our free time in the outdoors and traveled many places. All of that changed (for both of us) when he had his stroke.
“So I was delighted to see your article on outdoor wheelchair trails. I encourage you to write that book you are contemplating, the wheelchair-accessible guide to Washington. You might also want to include wheelchair-accessible camping (there are yurts and small cabins at some of the state parks) as well as wheelchair-accessible fishing docks.”
If an opportunity comes your way to be supportive of increasing the range and number of outdoors-accessible areas, whether by volunteering or writing a check or sending an opinion to your representatives, please take action.
One day you, or a family member, or a friend, may need an accessible trail.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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