Dawn Sky Backlighting Snag
Why snags are
important in my work
Facts, fantasies, and fervor:
my enthusiasm for snags
Why do I appreciate snags so deeply?
The short answer is this: where life and death meet is the ultimate play of dark and light that attracts me.
Several of my great photography teachers have helped me develop my snag aesthetic.
Another crucial reason for shooting snags
It fit with my rule of thumb: never shoot one object if you can shoot two and reveal something about their intersection. The video in this post focuses on the connection between snags and bird
Composition
As I create an image of a snag, I show off the verticality but also the dramatic shape, while also choosing dramatic clouds in the background. And if birds perch atop the snag too, all the better to demonstrate how the dead tree continues to contribute to the living ecosystem.
Gear
Choosing the right lens means taking note of the snags distance, and of any birds on snag. If there are birds, and particularly if the snag is more than, say, 20m from my camera, I use my OM System 150-400mm lens. For medium distances my 40-150mm lens does fine.
But the tripod is at least as important, particularly in low light. I want to use the lowest ISO possible, and if light conditions require a low shutter speed, the tripod helps with both settings.
My feelings
My heart responds to snags and photographing them. I am mortal. The snag reminds me of that. However, it also shows “life beyond death” as it provides food for insects and nesting or perching places for birds. That is more comforting than one would guess.