Did you know that I have a favorite puddle? Yes I do! And it’s in the middle of a local Seattle park.
Magnuson park
Magnuson park is an old navy base in the North East neighborhood of Seattle. 350 acres of play fields, walking paths, playfields, boat launches and dog park. It’s also the home of Hanger 30 which hosts several of the art shows I participate in every year.
To say that magnuson is a busy park would be an understatement. Which makes finding this treasure of a puddle in a back corner a bit of a magic trick. If you know where to look, my favorit puddle is off in the distance.
Beauty in the mundane
Because my chosen subjects are so small, I approach my toy photography with the sames tools as a macro photographer. This requires special lenses and an open mind. Rarely do I judge the appropriateness of a location until I’ve looked at it through the lens.
Because I like to try things, I discovered many years ago, that this particular puddle is my absolute favorite location to take boat photos. It has a unique sense of distance, the surrounding grass and brush scales well with my subjects, it’s a quiet place to work and it’s a short drive from my house.
I’ve found toy photography magic here fall, winter and spring! Unfortunately in the summer months, this magical place disappears.
A sense of depth
What I love the most about this puddle (and there is so much to love!) is its sense of depth. Because photography is essentially a two dimensional object, I’m always looking for ways to extended the feeling of depth in a scene.
This particular puddle falls in the middle of a path that is part of a larger art installation in the park. The art creates a path through the trees that stretches from one end to the other. Which results in the greatest leading line!
When you look closely at my photos, can you spot the break in the horizon line? This is break hints at a larger world full of possibilities and adventure.
Here today, gone tomorrow
In many ways this puddle is perfect, but because its in nature it’s always evolving. One drawback to photographing in a seasonal wetlands, is that this puddle is seasonal. It’s also a little gross. It’s surrounded by mud, filled with decomposing leaves and various small plants…and that’s only what I can see!
In the wet months, visiting this area of the park requires preparation. I have to be prepared for copious amounts of mud. Water resistant shoes are absolutely required. Sometimes I even put on rain pants for an extra layer of protection. I’m sure I look a sight to the occasional park visitors I run into. But this magical place is worth the effort.
Because nature is never static, my perfect puddle is slowly disappearing. The Park is reclaiming its own as the brush grows up around the area. But until it completely disappears I will continue to enjoy my favorite puddle and I hope you will enjoy the results.
“The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.”
― EE cummings
10 Responses
Great blog Shelly. This spring I will head out to find my own little heavenly pond. That you for the inspiration.
Lynn – thanks so much for reading and following along! I hope you find your own magical spot for some creative fun. My fingers are crossed for you! – S
Great post! Love seeing more “behind the scenes” about your process. And I absolutely love the photo of the camera on the floatie!
Thanks Rob for your encouragement and support. I will definitely be revealing more about my thought process as well as where I get my cool toys. I couldn’t live without the ‘floatie’. It’s actually a gardeners kneel pad. I use it to keep from sinking into the mud as well as keeping the camera dry and safe into between set-ups.
I love the Loki shot! It’s perfection!!
Lol! Thanks 🙂
I know I’m on the right track if I can make myself laugh. And this set-up definitely did!
What a fun and interesting blog! I fill privileged to have seen and played in your favorite place. Glad you are blogging on your website.
Thanks Carol! You’re one of the few people who’ve been there!
I hope to share about the ideas behind the images. With some luck, this will be of some interest to people. Fingers crossed!
I always enjoy hearing about your favorite puddle as it brings you such joy. And I love the magic you create in it. Puddle on!
Thanks Jane! Im trying to maximize the wetlands while they’re still wet. So expect more puddle imagery soon!