I set out along the Presque Isle River in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park looking for autumn color reflections. This proved to be one of my most productive days of photography ever. The autumn forest was at an absolute peak of color, with reflections dancing wildly off the shaded river. I shot over ten rolls of film in three hours. Reflections of Red Maples, Sugar Maples, Northern White Cedars, Trembling Aspens, and other trees played with the currents and waves, making each moment and view unique.

In this photograph one can see reflections of the variously colored trees on the wet rock. So why is the rock blue? Is it a trick of the camera or of Photoshop? No, the rock is blue because it is in deep shade, when the light reaching it is from the deep blue sky on a perfect Indian Summer Day. In contrast, the trees reflecting on the shaded river are in brilliant sunshine. It is the sun and shade combination that makes this picture possible.

Lee Rentz

lee@leerentz.com