Normally a nature photographer strives to capture the soul of nature without intruding upon the scene. That approach often produces beautiful results, but the photographer serves mostly as a mirror to the world rather than an interpreter of nature. In contrast, sometimes the photographer can create an altered sense of reality by using creative viewpoints or techniques.

For this photograph I walked along the banks of the Presque Isle River in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains, searching for terrific autumn colors. I noticed this stretch of river, where the current races over a rocky shallows and catches the reflecting brilliant maples and blue sky. Using a long exposure, I interpreted the scene to give a feeling of autumn's color explosion, rather than viewing the landscape as the eye might see it.

Lee Rentz

lee@leerentz.com