Charles Bush Photography Short Blog Posts
Infrared photograph of a Tupelo Tree at Millers Lake
Here’s a stunning infrared photo of the Tupelo Tree at Miller’s Lake. The image features a high-contrast black-and-white effect with light foliage and dark clouds in the background. You can also spot some birds in the distance, adding to the lake’s serene beauty.
Infrared photograph of a Tupelo Tree at Millers Lake
Description
There is a nice stand of Tupelo at Miller’s Lake and the spring tours where we photograph the many birds there, also features photographing these beautiful trees. This striking infrared photograph captures the beauty of a lone Tupelo tree at Miller’s Lake. Rendered in high-contrast black and white, the image transforms the familiar landscape into an almost dreamlike scene. The tree’s foliage appears luminous against the deep, inky sky, while dark, dramatic clouds add depth and texture. In the distance, a few birds glide across the lake, enhancing the sense of tranquility.
The photograph was made with a wide angle lens to capture the essence of the Lake. A shutter speed of 1/1000s was chosen to minimize the effect of movement of the boat we were in. An aperture of f16 was chosen to render everything sharp and a iso sensitivity of 400 was selected to achieve a proper exposure.
Infrared photography thrives in bright conditions, making late morning and early afternoon ideal times to shoot when standard photography struggles with harsh light. This image was taken in the early afternoon, using a Nikon D800 modified for infrared by Kolari Vision. The combination of the camera’s sensitivity to infrared light and the lake’s striking tupelo trees creates a surreal and captivating composition.
The black & white conversion was done in Lightroom Classic after processing with DXO pure raw to reduce the noise and correct the lens aberations from the vintage 24mm Nikkor lens.
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck - from rare to abundant
When I returned to Louisiana in 2001, seeing a Black-Bellied Whistling Duck was rare. Since then, the population has rapidly increased to the point that it is the most common duck I see.
When I returned to Louisiana in 2001, seeing a Black-Bellied Whistling Duck was rare. Since then, the population has rapidly increased to the point that it is the most common duck I see. Originating in Mexico and Central America, they have migrated to Louisiana in large numbers. I often see them in the neighborhood perching on rooftops when I walk the dog. On my photo tours, we often have the opportunity to photograph these beautiful ducks.
Alligator with Hunting Hook
On the last day of my May photo tour, we encountered this giant alligator on a log. While making a photograph, we noticed a large hook in its mouth. The poor creature managed to evade the hunter's snare but now is living with this hook.
