About the Image(s)
Sacramento’s crown jewel is the American River, which runs more than 30 miles from Folsom Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills all the way to its confluence with the Sacramento River near the city center. We’re fortunate that some forward-thinking activists joined together a half century ago to preserve this watershed, at least significant portions of it, for the benefit of fish and wildlife and the thousands of people who use it every year. A bike trail winds its way through the entire length of it.
In November and December, the fall run of Chinook salmon migrate upstream from the ocean to spawn along the banks. On a beautiful fall day a few weeks ago, a friend and I drove out to the fish hatchery and walked downstream to witness the spawners giving their last bit of energy to lay their eggs in the gravel from which small juvenile salmon or “fry” will emerge after a number of weeks to begin their cycle of life all over again. The spent carcasses of the salmon adults are abundant along the riverbanks and are a primary food source for many bird species, including this colony of California gulls.
I shot this image with my Canon 5D and a 24??”105 lens at 91 mm. ISO set to 400 since it was a bit overcast. F/4 at 1/160 sec. Profile: camera landscape. White balance: 4650, temp +19. Added a very slight amount of exposure and contrast. Highlights -51, shadows +33. White point +8, black point -31. No vibrance or saturation was added to this shot: none, nada, zippo. I did add some texture, +31, clarity, +27 and dehaze +11. The only other adjustments I made in Camera Raw were with the curves slider: lights +17, darks -17 and shadows -9 to accentuate the fall colors.
Leslie Larson
The fall colors are stunning. If you wanted it to be about the feeding gulls, they are hard to make out and sort of an afterthought in your photo. Can't tell what they're doing. You would need to shoot them up close actually catching the salmon and/or eating it. Posted: 12/09/2024 04:19:45
John Stumbos
Yes, Leslie, the fall colors were stunning that day. The gulls were doing their thing--scavenging. They don't actually "catch" spent salmon. Sometimes they will drag the spent carcasses up on the shore, but not this day. For me, someone who studied nature in college and photographed it and has written about it my entire professional life, the entire scene was the story. All the elements here are necessary to convey the message of the cycle of life. Therefore, a close-up in. this case was not what I was after--even if I had long enough glass to zoom in on the gulls--they were across the river. Thanks for your comment. Posted: 12/11/2024 16:14:11
Gwen Callas-Miller
Nice fall scene. Just looking at the photo I was thinking that the scene itself was your focus. After reading your description I'm thinking the gulls feeding on spent salmon is your focus. If your goal is to capture the action of gulls feeding on the salmon you could make them the focal point and get them more in focus with the fall scene as their backdrop. Just depends on the story you want to tell. Posted: 12/09/2024 18:51:18
John Stumbos
Thank you for your feedback, Gwen, and welcome to the group. My goal when I'm out with my camera is always to just be alert to what speaks to me. I was out with a friend walking along the river to see the spawning salmon--those that were downstream from the hatchery. Apart from an occasional tail switching back and forth above the surface of the water, the salmon are difficult to see while they're building their nests. So when I looked across the river and noticed the gulls, I was struck by the beautiful fall colors and the colony of birds feeding on the spent carcasses of the salmon. The moment spoke to of the interconnectedness of all life and that's why I took the shot. Sometimes a more general environmental portrait conveys more impact, more emotion and that's what I was doing here. Thanks again, Gwen, and congratulations on your retirement. That will open up more time for you behind the camera. Happy holidays! Posted: 12/11/2024 16:05:25
Leslie Larson
The problem is still that the gulls can't be seen well. Whatever they are doing doesn't matter if we can't see them. I have to agree with Gwen. In this photo they are an afterthought, not a focal point.
It's an autumn photo of a lovely slough; that's the story you are telling the casual viewer. Posted: 12/11/2024 16:38:22
John Stumbos
I approach photography much differently than you do, Leslie. That's all. Remember, the camera is a tool. No afterthoughts or problems in this photo--just a different way of seeing. I suppose I could have given the image a different title and description so you didn't think it warranted a close-up. Posted: 12/11/2024 16:46:26
Sarita Yeola
John, Lovely fall colors on the river. I do agree with Leslie and Gwen on the story aspect of the photograph. On my computer the foliage looks a little out of focus. Was it a windy day? Posted: 12/11/2024 17:52:31
Sherry Icardi
John, I think this is a beautiful picture with a message of the interconnectedness of nature. I think you always have a strong message with your images, and are probably more tuned into the uniqueness of nature than most people. The fall colors are magnificent and I learned something about gulls today that I had not known! Thanks for sharing your image and expertise! Posted: 12/12/2024 20:21:27
John Stumbos
Thank you for the compliment, Sherry. Much appreciated. I do my best to provide some written perspective along with my images. My technique has improved greatly as a result of belonging to this group--even though I don't always agree with some comments. Happy holidays.--John Posted: 12/13/2024 00:02:52
Judy Haran
I love these fall colors. I would like to see you darken the gravel/sand some, so it doesn't jump out as the first thing I see. Sort of what I did to your photo.
Posted: 12/12/2024 21:11:21
John Stumbos
Great suggestion, Judy. I like what you did to my photo. So please tell me how you did it. Thanks--John Posted: 12/13/2024 00:04:12
Judy Haran
I put your original photo in Lightroom Classic on my desktop computer and masked the gravel so only it changed, then used a small circle called a "brush". I made the brush slightly underexposed, less white, and a bit more black with the sliders and painted the gravel to make it less bright. Also I made the edge of the blue water a bit darker the same way.
Posted: 12/13/2024 04:56:18
John Stumbos
Thank you, Judy! Posted: 12/19/2024 22:39:23
