Submitter's name:	John A. Lind
Title:	Summer Memories
Gear used:	OM-4 + 35/2.8 Zuiko Shift + tripod + cable release
Diaphragm:	f/11
Shutter speed:	Not Recorded
Film used:	Kodachrome 64
Technical information:	Used the 35/2.8 Shift to compose this perspective of the bench overlooking the reservoir and shift it to a "rule of thirds" location in the lower right corner of the frame.
Subject information:	Reservoir about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from my home. Waited until weather conditions would provide clear sky, frost and ground fog at sunrise (and prayed this would occur during the TOPE window). Arrived before sunrise and set up equipment. As I was carefully cleaning up a few small pieces of litter at the site I found a composition book and pen had been serendipitiously left laying on the bench, probably from a day or two before. They were covered with frost, and the pages and cover were beginning to swell and warp from the moisture. Carefully nudged them about 5cm (2 inches) to the left to make them more visible without disturbing the frost on them. Given that I knew in general what the title would be, the pen and book left there were the "frosting" on the cake. Afterward I examined its cover and the flyleaf looking for some identification so it could be returned to them. Although there was a first name, it was insufficient to determine owner. Left it where it had been found; perhaps its owner has reclaimed it by now.
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Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

I hadn't noticed the book and pen until you mentioned it, but I did notice the careful composition, and what a lovely glow on the trees, bench and rocks! Nice pastel coloured sky as well. In brief: a great shot!

Comment left by: Adam Bolt (boldbolty@iprimus.com.au)

Very nice composition and beautiful lighting. Good DOF with just enough drop off in focus to slightly blur the background (Or is it the early morning mist that does this??) giving importance back to the chair (The main feature)

Comment left by: Doro (no e-mail specified)

A classic! Fantastic light...I don't know if I like the title but I definitely like the picture!

Comment left by: bbbean (bbbean@beancotton.com)

I like the reflections in the water that suggest a ship. Nice contemplative shot.

Comment left by: Chung Seow Lim (boochap@pacific.net.sg)

a peace of mind

Comment left by: Eric Pederson (epederso@darkwing.uoregon.edu)

Lovely lighting and mood. This needs to be a larger photograph as the book is just too small on my monitor, but absolutely deserves our attention. Nice example of how a shift gives unnoticably correct perspective in a landscape. Too late now, but it would be nice to leave a copy of the photograph in the book in case it is reclaimed...

Comment left by: Chris Barker (imagopus@threeshoes.co.uk)

This is a restful and spiritual shot for me. You could sit on the bench in the soft evening light and say, "Lord take me now".

Comment left by: Wayne Harridge (no e-mail specified)

Very relaxing

Comment left by: Stephen Scharf (scharfsj@ix.netcom.com)

A beautiful photograph. I can tell just by looking who took this, and its up to the photographer's usual standard of excellence. Well worth getting up so early that cold morning! Kodachrome 64...still great.

Comment left by: Joel Wilcox (no e-mail specified)

Edge of light in this really makes it for me.

Comment left by: Roger Wesson (roger@worldtraveller.f9.co.uk)

That light! Extraordinary. And those trees look bitingly sharp.

Comment left by: John A. Lind (no e-mail specified)

A lot has already been said about the foreground lighting already. Doesn't look like it has lit up the middle or background yet which adds some mystery there. A little closer to the bench, keeping it in the same position in the frame, would put the tree slightly closer to the right edge of the frame (wouldn't lose its base though) and make the book and pen a bit bigger for greater prominence. Very difficult to see and predict through the viewfinder at the time though. OTOH, I agree with Eric in a large print it would be more easily noticed and make a very nice subtle detail.

Comment left by: Moose (dreammoose@attbi.com)

A beautifully composed shot. The relationship of the form of the foreground tree to the form created by the background treeline is like a dance. The etching and colors of the details of the foreground bank against the water by the morning light is wonderful. Looks like the sharpening that's perfect for the rest of the pic is a bit too much for the tree.

Comment left by: Scott Gomez (no e-mail specified)

The strong, very warm side-lighting is what makes this photo, for me. Very well composed.

Comment left by: Andy Radcliffe (andyjradcliffe@al.com)

Another of my favourites - the light quality and colours are wonderful, and the coating of frost on the grass is (literally I suppose!) the icing on the cake. Superbly visualised and captured to perfection.

Comment left by: Jez Cunningham (no e-mail specified)

It's s pity the water wasn't mill-pond still... the rippled surface from the foreground to the middle of the water interrupts the treeline reflection. It almost looks like the water is half frozen. Love the tree and bench!

Comment left by: John A. Lind (no e-mail specified)

Yes . . . The reservoir was very still. It's "crudmium" floating on its surface which can look like the ripples from a breeze. Saw it and how it affected the surface reflectivity as soon as I got there. Wished I'd had massive skimmer to clean it off! There are times when I wish for that, or a chain saw, or a cutting torch to do a little "scene improvement" but settle for what can be done by hand without getting arrested. Can be very frustrating at times. [sigh] Also had a strong desire to do some "landscaping" with TOPE 10 shots just this past week! :-) Thanks, - John

Comment left by: Mickey Trageser (no e-mail specified)

First off, John, you're a real stinker for leaving 'constructive' comments on your own work! I find the light to be very inviting. It lures you into the scene, perhaps to pick up the pen and continue where the last scriber left off. A beauty!

Comment left by: John A. Lind (no e-mail specified)

Heh, heh, heh . . . Found the body, lens and film used might make it too easy for someone to guess who made this one for the "TOPE 9 Name Game" so I threw in a critique. One of the three still got it though. :-) -- John

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