Door County 2013 Day 12 Sunset
Door County 2013 Day 12 Sunset by Len Villano
When I come across a subject I find interesting I will return to it over again. Different days, times of day, seasons, weather conditions or just to try out a new idea. While on assignment I decided to return to the ship wreck site to see how it looked now that the fog had cleared. I wasn’t impressed. The fog added a lot to the mystery of the photo that was now lost in clear weather conditions. But I did find this scene nearby. I liked the two big boulders probably left from when this was a quarry site and how the tree line kind of followes the boulder shape. Having the sunset sky added warmth and drama. Photo by Len Villano.
Door County 2013 Day 11 Shipwrecked
Door County 2013 Day 11 Shipwrecked in Fog
Warmer weather brought fog to Door County. I drove around trying to find something a little different that would go with the fog and make for an interesting image. What I found was the 3 shipwrecks at Bull Head Pointe in Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin. I thought the shipwrecks were just the right mood for the foggy photo. I shot low to emphasis the wrecks stretching out to sea knowing the fog would help. If you notice the composition is basically a triangle made up of the ships and ice which leads your eye around the frame in a circular manner. More info on the ships.
The remains of 3 sunken ships the Empire State, Ida Corning and the Oak Leaf sunk between 1916 and 1928 at Bull Head Point in Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin. Photo by Len Villano.
Door County 2012 Remembered
I created a new multimedia slideshow of some of my favorite photos from 2012 and my first year working with the creative minds at the Peninsula Pulse and Door County Living Magazine. Collaborating with highly creative people can be very inspiring and drive you to do your best work ever. Obviously I shoot way too many photos to include them all and had to leave out a lot of fine images. I also composed a new song for this slideshow and hope you enjoy it. Happy New Year and heres to a prosperous and exciting 2013.
Door County 2013 Day 10 Ice Abstract
Door County 2013 Day 10 Ice Abstract
I was hiking along the edge of creek looking for landscape images when I spotted patterns in the edge of the ice. It’s been warmer then usual in Door County so there is open, flowing water in this creek. So where the ice edges meet the flowing water you get some interesting patterns and abstract images. I could shoot here for days just picking out small sections in the ice. I liked this section because it reminded me of the “Pick-Up-Sticks” I played with when I was a kid. When photographing this type of shot you want to try if possible to keep the film/sensor plane of your camera parallel to the subject (ice) that will give you the greatest amount of depth of field. More of the image will be in focus. I couldn’t get totally parallel because I couldn’t step out on the ice without getting wet. But I positioned the camera to get the most depth possible.
Door County 2013 Day 9 Porkie
Door County 2013 Day 9 Porkie by Len Villano
I love porcupines. In fact my very first published photo was of a porcupine and it was for the Japanese National Geographic Magazine. So I never pass up a chance to photograph these funny little creatures. They can be friendly, don’t usually run away and if you take your time you can approach very close. And I honestly believe that they remember me and learn to trust me as just another creature in the forest who means them no harm. This one however was up in a tree. The only way to see the face at all was to move to the shaded side and shot directly into the sun so I had to spot meter off the porkie and let the sky go bright.
2013 Day 8 Two Pair
2013 Day 8 Two Pair by Len Villano
I found these mallards on the ice near Fish Creek, Door County, Wisconsin. I underexposed slightly so the ducks would be dark and to saturate the colors of sunset. I had to wait some time for one pair to walk off creating an image I liked better then all 4 together.
2013 Day 7 Whiteout
2013 Day 7 Whiteout
Close up view of a farm field covered with snow. Used a telephoto lens for foreshortening and flattening the image creating a more abstract view of winter in Door County. Photo by Len Villano.
2013 Day 6 Old Door County Barn
2013 Day 6 Old Door County Barn
This is one of my favorite barns to photograph in Door County and have photographed it many times over the years. This time just after sunset with just enough light left to get an image. I then combined a black and white image with a color image to create an old-time look to the image. Photo by Len Villano.
2013 Day 5 Land, Ice, Water, Sky
2013 Day 5 Land, Ice, Water, Sky
I saw this sunset developing while photographing at the Sister Bay Ice Rink and rushed to find a better vantage point. Photo by Len Villano.
2013 Day 4 Door County Tree Line at Sunset
2013 Day 4 Door County Tree Line at Sunset
I just love the simplicity of this kind of image. Nothing fancy. Photo by Len Villano.
2013 Day 3 Turkey Hill
2013 Day 3 Turkey Hill by Len Villano
I found this flock of turkeys on a hill at sunset and couldn’t resist grabbing a photo.
2013 Day 2 Broomball and Ice Rink
2013 Day 2 Broomball and Ice Rink
Spent the evening photographing broomball matches at the Teresa K. Hilander Community Ice Rink in Sister Bay. Broomball is fun and can be exciting with two well matched teams. If you haven’t been to a match yet go check it out. While your there you can ice skate, play hockey, sit by a roaring campfire, or hang out inside the warming house and have a snack or two. Family fun in winter in Door County, Yahoo!
See more photos here
2013 Day 1 Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge
Door County Polar Bear Plunge in Jacksonport by Len Villano
Swimmers leave the water as steam rises from their bodies at the Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge, New Year’s Day in Jacksonport, Door County, WI. Photo by Len Villano.
I knew if I positioned the sun behind the swimmers as they left the water the sunlight would make the steam from the cold swimmers bodies pop. I spot metered off the swimmers skin to get their exposure right and let the sky go bright.
More photos here
Door County Autumn Day Journal 75
Door County Autumn Day Journal 75
We haven’t seen much of the sun lately in Door County with the overcast and foggy weather. But the sun did show up today so I taught I would take advantage of it sort of. I took this photo along County A near Baileys Harbor after the sun had already set. Twilight can be a great time to photograph with great color and contrast. Here the trees and sky create an abstract image of a forest and the twilight adds color. You can see some movement in the trees due to the high winds and long exposure necessary. Photo by Len Villano.
