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Architecture, Water & Landscape
September 2002
As our readers can see, we have a most unusual cover this month. It is the first prize winner in the architecture category of our photographic contest, and we think it is a beautiful image. But it may not be clear initially what the subject of the photograph is or even where the viewer stood when he pointed his camera at the water scene in front of him. But if you look carefully, you will see that the image is a reflection of a building in the water, and that the blue one sees is actually the sky above. We think it took some creative courage to photograph this image entirely as a reflection, without showing any of the shoreline or the actual barn itself. What has resulted is a photograph that resembles some of the water-lily paintings by Claude Monet that he did towards the end of his life and are considered by many as his greatest masterpieces.
The unusual view of Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island, which opens our portfolio, is the second architecture prize-winner in our contest. It, too, is an unusual view and shows imagination on the part of the photographer. We are struck by the dramatic pattern of the sunlight that shines through them, and the shimmer of reflected light on the water through the windows. It took a good eye on the part of the photographer to realize that the pattern of sunlight in what was clearly a much larger scene would make such an outstanding photograph.
Our third prize-winner is a more conservative scene—a barn in West Kill, with a mountain in the distance and lightly frosted snow across the landscape. We thought the composition of this scene as captured in the lens of the photographer was an example of perfect balance. It is a simple view, similar to those that many of us have photographed from time to time, but here every element seems to contribute to the peacefulness of the landscape.
The other photographs in this portfolio were finalists in our contest, and they all have to do with views of water. We begin with a photograph of strange, somewhat mysterious, lava-like rocks at the edge of what appears to be a lake. Next we have a stream with waterfalls and lovely overhanging green foliage. Then we have a splash of orange colored fall leaves leaning over a stream, with dark foliage seen on the far shore. A mist arises in the photograph of a rowboat tied to a dock, and we have a feeling that the dawn of a new day is approaching as the sun begins to rise. And finally, the sun has risen, and the awakening rose-colored light in the distant clouds are reflected in the water.
This is a refreshing way to celebrate the end of our hot summer. We look forward to the brilliant colors of the fall, which we know are not far away.
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