Pat Hemlepp

I'm a sucker for photographs with reflections. Some of my favorite shots have reflected elements - buildings or other structures reflected by glass or still water, ducks reflected in a frozen lake, etc. Reflections make interesting images.

This photo of a reflected sunrise was the only scene I shot on a business trip to Florida a few years ago. I knew I wasn't going to have time for photography on the trip but I packed my camera and a couple of lenses just in case I saw something worth shooting.

And this shot didn't take much time.

I noticed this shallow wading pond off the lobby of the Westin Diplomat the afternoon I checked into the Hollywood, Fla., hotel. I thought it could make an interesting photo under the right conditions. But the blue afternoon sky and various people around the pool weren't the right conditions. Early morning would be better.

I came back to the site at sunrise the next day and was fortunate there was no one in the area. The morning clouds over the Atlantic were reflected in the still water of the wading pool. The line of lounge chairs provided a visual focal point and a break between the blue of the wading pool and the blue of the Atlantic in the background.

I grabbed a vertical and a horizontal version of the scene with about 30 seconds between photos. Ten minutes later I had stowed the camera in my hotel room and was at a breakfast meeting.

I've posted two photos here, unusual for a "photo of the week." Some days I like the vertical best. Other days I like the horizontal best. But I do like the scene.

It's only one scene, but it made hauling the camera and lenses to Florida worthwhile.

TECH STUFF

Date: Nov. 2, 2009, 7:39 a.m.
Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
         (40mm for vertical, 60mm for   
          horizontal)  
Aperture: f/8
Shutter: 1/400th second
ISO: 400