Tag Archives: waterfall

Feeling Versus Reality

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Pond Abstract
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I always have been drawn to the work impressionistic painters. When viewing their work I tend to walk away with a deeper feeling than I do with other forms of painting. As I photograph, many times I will focus on a scene and think this spot would be a great spot to set up an easel if I were a painter. I squint and try to envision how an impressionistic painter would attempt to create their art piece. Today, I decided to play with one of my images and try to create an impressionistic feeling.

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Now … The Big Picture

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Waterfall and Pond
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I step back, open my mind, and see the big picture of what was beyond the corner from my 25 May post. The heart of Heatherwood’s Japanese influenced garden presents itself. A stream originating from above flows down the hillside. Two waterfalls plunge into the pond creating a rushing sound. Trees, shrubs, and ground covers frame the stream and pond. Japanese maples add splashes of colors. The Kotoji and Yukimi Japanese lanterns overlook the stream and pond.

I now sit down in a pond-side chair, relax, and just enjoy nature’s surroundings. I contemplate about the many things that are right about our world as I hear the sounds of birds chirping through the rushing water. What a great way to start a spring day!

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Still More Beyond

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Kotoji and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

From viewing the Yukimi and waterfall in my last post, I lift my eyes and see more beyond. The Kotoji Japanese lantern is the guardian of the stream and waterfalls. He straddles the stream’s edge with one leg in the stream and the other on land. In the evening, his light reflects along the rushing water.

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The Source

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Yukimi and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

From the Oribe and Tetsu Bachi in my last post, I can still hear the rushing water from behind. I turn and discover the source. Our little Yukimi Japanese lantern shaded by a Scolopendrifolium (I call it a ‘Fingerleaf’) Japanese maple overlooking a small waterfall flowing into the pond. The yellow orange spring color of the ‘Fingerleaf’ brightens up a shaded corner.

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What to Do When You Get Into a Rut

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Waterfall Abstract
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I was sitting by our pond having a morning cup of coffee with Mary. I had my camera in my lap and was looking up at our little waterfall. I have taken hundreds of images of the waterfall from every angle that I can think of. What could I do to create something different? I was working with long exposures and my hand slipped. I was getting ready to delete the image, when I thought maybe I could play around with a little in-camera motion. After a few tries, this is what I came up with.

Lesson learned: Stop, take the time to play. Something good usually comes out of it!

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Respite from the Heat

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Yukimi and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

During these hot summer days with the temperature in the high 90’s to mid 100’s, Heatherwood’s pond and waterfalls cool things down. The sight and flow of water creates a feeling of coolness even though the temperature is hovering around 100 degrees. This vignette was created while I was sitting comfortably in one of our Adirondack chairs overlooking the pond and waterfalls. I know that one typically does not see an Adirondack chair in a Japanese garden. We have chosen to mix a couple of cultures to provide a comfortable place to relax and enjoy nature.

This sitting area is a works-in-progress. It is shaded from the east and south but is relatively open to the afternoon sun from the west. We have planted Japanese maples, a Japanese pagoda tree, and an akebono cherry on the west to help enclose the seating area. This year we planted a honey locust tree to finish the enclosure. Now we just need to wait until the trees get a little taller to provide a 270 degree protected room with an open view of the waterfall and pond to the north.

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Time to Paint

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Framed Waterfall
Heatherwood Spring

This vignette of Heatherwood’s waterfall framed by a Shin Deshojo Japanese maple and a Norway Spruce is one of my favorites. Most every time I walk by with my camera (or iPhone), I stop and create an image. A little side path provides a little peak from the main pathway. In spring and fall the scene is the most dramatic with the contrasting colors of the Japanese maple.

When I was editing this image, I felt like doing something a little different. I thought I would take the opportunity to practice a little photographic painting. Topaz Impression software and my imagination merged together to create this image.

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More Infrared Practice

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‘Japanese Garden Waterfall in IR’
Heatherwood Summer

I am working hard to learn and experiment what makes an interesting infrared image. I look for contrasts that infrared will highlight. In this image the infrared pulls out the greens and yellows of the trees and shrubs surrounding the dark shade of the pond, rocks, and sky. The reflections from the water makes the stream flowing over the rocks and the ripples on the pond stand out.

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The Bridge

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‘Bridge Over Waterfall’
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Looking back four years ago when we constructed the stream, I recall the effort it took to place this rock over the stream. I took an experienced excavator operator and three men to finagle this huge rock in place over the stream bed. It consumed the good part of an afternoon to place smaller rocks as its base and meticulously position the bridge. It was worth it!

Since then, we have been planting trees, shrubs, and ground covers to soften the edge of the stream. After four years, plants are growing over the rocks down to the flowing water. We frequently sit and have our morning coffee here and enjoy the maturing scenery and listen to the flowing water and the birds sing. It is a great way to start the day!

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