Beaver Pond Journal 2011 #1

Journal entry for September 3, 2011  "Indian Lake Road........ were able to drive it as far as Brooktrout Lake trailhead where the road was still closed due to repair work. Mary and I arranged our packs and began the hike to the pond. The hike is 1 mile shorter this year because the road has been opened from Otter Brook bridge to Brooktrout Lake trailhead. The temperature was rapidly rising and the humidity drenched the air. Lots of uphill so the hike wasn't the most pleasant.
Arrived at the old beaver pond at 10:30 A.M. I had been using an old log that was wedged between four beaver cut stumps as my set up location for the panorama. Since the log was deteriorating it was time to make a more permanent marker. I brought along some rebar stakes, that I cut to length and ground points on one end, to serve as set up markers for the panorama and some other detail images I wanted to photograph around the perimeter of the pond.
I drove a set up stake through the set up log, right down to the top of the log. Using the top of the stake as my starting point, I went through the set up procedure to get my equipment positioned correctly, leveled and the camera adjusted to put the nodal point over the axis of rotation.
Finished shooting the panoramic series at 11:45 A.M. Retrieved my old Averatec laptop from my camera pack to download the images. I wanted to be sure the exposure was good and the files weren't corrupted. Meanwhile Mary dug out lunch and we retreated to a shady spot, the bright sun was making it too hot. I fired up the little laptop and began the download process. Mary and I ate our lunch while the computer worked away. When the download was complete I checked and found all images were fine.
Back in the hot summer sunshine, I disassembled my panoramic set up. Next I coupled the 24-70mm f2.8 lens to my camera for some detail shots.
Looking around I spotted an old stump, its roots were exposed and radiating spider-like into the water and nearby mud. No question, this would make a great yearly interval, time lapse detail image. Set up my tripod, mounted my camera and began checking for the best composition. Once I found it I drove a stake directly below the center of the ball head and measured from the top of the stake to the top of the center column, 27 1/2". Set the lens to24mm, angled it down somewhat, framed the image and shot it.
Repacked everything and prepared to hike back to the truck. It was getting extremely hot and humid and I didn't feel up to hiking up around the pond for more detail shots, although I wanted to..
Cached the remaining stakes behind a large dead tree near the panorama set up location. I'm planning on using them around the perimeter of the pond later this year or next."
(Note~Couldn't get to the pond until Sunday September 3rd because every Sunday in August was rainy.)

Beaver pond on September 3, 2011

Stump detail

A single frame showing the beaver lodge in disrepair

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You can view more beaver pond photos on my website:

bunchlewisphotography.com 

More beaver pond journal entries are coming up soon

Thanks for visiting my journal,

Bunch

Beaver Pond Journal 2010

Journal entry for August 1, 2010  "I wanted to be sure to photograph a series of images for this year's abandoned beaver pond panorama. This wasn't going to be as easy as during the past three years because Indian Lake Road has been closed due to impassable road conditions.
Reaching Otter Brook bridge the road was blocked with a closed gate. Parked the truck in one of the campsites then Mary and I arranged our packs for the three mile hike to the abandoned beaver pond. Along with the camera gear already in my pack I added my old laptop and rain gear. Mary packed lunch, her rain gear, a book and insect repellent.
It was 8:30 A.M. when we made our way around the closed gate, crossed Otter Brook bridge and entered the solitude that lay ahead. The dirt road made the walking easier than a trail, but I knew we had some elevation to gain and the high humidity wasn't going to make it pleasant. In addition to my large camera pack I had my LowePro Toploader 75AW chestpack loaded with my Canon 20D / 100-400 mm lens in the event we happened on any cooperative wildlife. As it turned out the hike to the pond was uneventful and not as difficult as I had anticipated.
Arrived at the pond at 9:40 A.M.  Unpacked my equipment, set up my tripod over the flagged shooting location and mounted my camera. Next I got out my old Averatec laptop and studied the 2008 panorama to be sure of the starting point for the first frame. I had gotten that slightly off when shooting the 2009 panorama. That done I waited for some cloud cover to block the sun and tone down the high contrast the direct sunlight was providing. The number of billowy clouds were increasing and finally covered the sun. Shot the first series of eight images that would be stitched together in Photoshop to produce the panorama. I immediately shot a backup series of images in case my frame spacing was off.
I wasn't very pleased with the light so I kept waiting for better light as new clouds took their turn blocking the sun. By 11:49 A.M. I had shot a total of ten series of images. It was quite hot and humid, Mary and I found some shade where we could eat lunch. Fired up the laptop and downloaded the images so I could review the results so far.
After lunch and reviewing the images I decided to try another series of images if the light got better. Thicker clouds were off to the west and headed our way. One of them did a good job of providing much better light. At 12:27 P.M. I began shooting two more series of images. The last set was the one I picked to assemble as this years panorama.
In spite of the heat and humidity the return hike along Indian Lake Road was quite pleasant, very quite, no vehicles and no people. Unfortunately no wildlife either, but that changed in an instant. As we walked along the side of the ridge above Falls Pond Outlet's bog, suddenly a large black bear appeared on the road about one hundred and fifty feet ahead of us. Without stopping it turned and ran down the road ahead of us with an easy, slow, fluid  gait, then up a short but steep slope and was swallowed by the forest. Not a sound could I hear, it always amazes me how something so large and bulky can move so silently..
Arrived back at the truck at 2:10 P.M."

The black bear photo I forgot to take!

Beaver pond on August 1, 2010 

A single frame showing the beaver lodge in disrepair

Journal entry for October 31, 2010  "At 12:10 we gave up on a moose sighting and headed back to the abandoned beaver pond, arriving at the pond at 1:00 P.M. A light dusting of snow on the bare trees would make a nice contrast with the summer panoramas. 

Got out my tripod, positioned it and leveled it over the flagged location. Set up my camera, mounted it on the tripod then began shooting the eight required frames, finishing at 1:41 P.M.

While I was repacking my gear a hunter, who was from Vermont, stopped to visit a few minutes. We had a pleasant conversation."

Beaver pond on October 31, 2010

A single frame showing the beaver lodge in disrepair

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You can view more beaver pond photos on my website:

bunchlewisphotography.com

More beaver pond journal entries are coming up soon

Thanks for visiting my journal,

Bunch

Beaver Pond Journal 2009

Journal entry foe August 9, 2009  "Arrived at the beaver pond about 10:15 A.M. under a threatening sky. Made a quick check of the pond then returned to the truck for my camera gear. Located my tripod over the flagged alder stumps, then set up my equipment using measurements documented in my journal. Once the set up was complete I shot three series of seven images for the 2009 beaver pond panorama.
I wasn't pleased with today's conditions, very hazy and lots of wind. My polarizing filter didn't do much to cut the haze, but did help with the glare from the wet vegetation.
Clouds were spitting a little rain while I was packing my gear. I hope to improve on today's images with another shoot before the end of the month, but at least I have something for 2009 if I'm not able to get back."

Beaver pond on August 9, 2009

Journal entry for August 30, 2009  "Arrived at the abandoned beaver pond about 10:15 A.M. After parking the truck I walked down the road to check out the pond before setting up my equipment. The first thing I noticed was the remains of the old dam had washed out even more.

Passing the dam I was scanning around the pond as I walked along when my peripheral vision detected a sizable track in a muddy section of the current shoreline. Staring down at the track I could hardly believe my eyes, four toes, no claw marks and a pad. The only conclusion could be a cat; retractable claws and a pad with four toes. Mary and I measured the track, 3 3/4 x 3 3/4". It must be a cougar track, there have been many sighting over the last few decades. I photographed the track plus a second track that was a good imprint. The tracks appeared to be quite fresh. (On September 7th while adjusting one of the cougar track photos I had to leave the office for a moment. Upon returning I was looking at the photo from the far side of the room and I was able to make out a nearly imperceptible fifth toe imprint. So, it wasn't a cougar track after all but rather a black bear, probably a yearling. The unanswered question is why aren't the claw marks visible?

Found my set up location then went to work getting my tripod level and the panoramic equipment in place and leveled. I didn't record any of the 2007 panorama set up measurements but did so for the 2008 panorama. I shot two panoramas in 2008 and I chose the wrong one for my set up measurements when I shot the August 9, 2009 panorama. Now I have recorded the set up parameters and will shoot all future of the beaver pond using them. My goal is to shoot this same panorama set up during the month of August for as long as I'm able.

Beaver pond on August 30, 2009

Before leaving I shot a few images of the pond using my 15mm f2.8 fisheye lens using both horizontal and vertical formats.

The fisheye shots

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You can see more images of the beaver pond by visiting my website

bunchlewisphotography.com

Thanks for visiting my journal,

Bunch

Beaver Pond Journal 2008

Journal entry for July 27, 2008  "Last August I thought it would be interesting to photograph the succession of the pond back to dry land. I accomplished last years panorama by shooting 7 frames that stitched into a 220° panorama of the pond. Today my goal was to photograph a 2008 duplicate of last years panorama.
Found the location where I set up last year, then positioned my tripod as close to last years set up as my memory would allow. I shot three 7 frame series of images under different lighting conditions. This would allow me to use the series with the most pleasing light for the final stitched image."

 Abandoned beaver pond July 27, 2008

Note, my memory was incorrect, the 2007 panorama was shot and assembled with 8 frames not 7 as I shot last week.

Journal entry for August 3, 2008  "Drove on to the abandoned beaver pond just east of Squaw Lake trailhead. Ate a snack while Mary and I waited for the rain to stop. Finally, about 10:45 A.M., the rain ceased and I got set up to shot the panorama of the abandoned beaver pond. This time I decided to use the 50 f1.4 mm lens rather than the zoom lens I used last week and last year. This set up required 8 frames as opposed to 7 frames at 46 mm that I used last weekend. Worked great with the fixed focal length lens, a much better chance of getting a duplicate field of view each year.

 Beaver Pond August 3, 2008

Mary picked blackberries while I shot the panorama, then I helped with the picking. Quite good!

A single frame of the abandoned beaver pond and lodge

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You can view more of my images on my website

bunchlewisphotography.com

Thanks for visiting my journal, more posts on the way,

Bunch

Beaver Pond Journal 2002-2007

Journal entry for November 11, 2002    Mary and I took the day off to visit Moose River Plains. We had driven in to the end of the road at the smaller Indian Lake. The journal entry reads: "During our return drive back towards the Plains we stopped at the unnamed beaver pond near Squaw Lake trailhead. Mary and I needed to stretch our legs, plus the beaver pond looked interesting enough to photograph, which we did."

 Beaver pond in Moose River Plains Wild Forest after a cold rain

Journal entry for June 24, 2007    "Drove on to Otter Brook then towards the end of the road at Indian Lake. Stopped at the beaver pond just east of the trail to Squaw Lake. The beaver had abandoned the pond and the dam is now in disrepair. The water level is down somewhere between 2-3 feet. It occurs to me as I write this journal entry I should begin a photo documentation of the pond reverting back to solid ground."

Journal entry for August 19, 2007    "About 10 A.M. Mary and I stopped at the large beaver pond east of Squaw Lake trailhead. The pond had been abandoned by its resident beavers two years ago. The dam has given away dropping the water level over three feet. It occurred to me it would be interesting to photo document the succession process from year to year.

As best my memory would let me, I framed an image similar to some I have taken in the past. The light overcast sky provided more contrast than the camera's sensor could record so I shot six bracketed exposures to try combining in Photoshop. While I was picking up my equipment I noticed some deer tracks in the mud and photographed them for stock.

The Abandoned Beaver Pond

Drove on to Indian Lake, which was crowded again this week. Turned around and, drove back to the campsite at the top of the ridge above Squaw Lake, where we ate lunch last week. We ate lunch there again and explored the immediate area around the campsite.

After lunch we returned to the beaver pond. I had decided to try shooting a panorama of the pond. Set up my tripod over a cluster of  four beaver cut alders. After adjusting my camera, I shot a series of eight images that assembled perfectly to provide a panorama that encompassed a view of 220°."

2007 Panorama

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More beaver pond images can be viewed at the Adirondack Beaver Pond Gallery on my website

bunchlewisphotography.com

Thanks for visiting my journal,

Bunch

Beaver Pond Journal November, 1999-2001

November 28, 1999- Stopped at the beaver pond east of Squaw Lake where we shot a few photos.

Beaver pond in Moose River Plains Wild Forest during a November 28, 1999 snow squall

October 11,2000- "The light was too harsh for photographs."

Obviously my memory failed me when I wrote my journal entry for the day. I shot four images looking across the beaver pond, the far hillside ablaze with peak autumn colors and the surface of the pond without a ripple, reflecting the hillside

The beaver pond on a glorious autumn day

October 7, 2001- Approaching the large beaver pond east of Squaw Lake we could see there were images here waiting to be captured. Pulled into the parking turnout, then walked over to the pond for a better look. Mary went back to the Trooper to retrieve her camera while I debated whether or not to get out the 4x5 camera. Big snow plops were dropping off of the trees. Finally I decided I would be far too distracted to do a good job with the big camera.

Eventually I got out my Minolta 7xi body, added the 28-80mm lens, mounted it on my tripod and returned to the pond.Composed two different images looking across the pond. These images contained lots of color, lots of snow and the pond. I had to wait about 15 minutes for the light I wanted before tripping the shutter.

Looking across the beaver pond after a snow squall

Mary had finished photographing by now. She and our golden retriever, Sairy, went for a walk up the road. Sairy seems quite spry today.

I changed my composition to look across the pond, parallel to the dam, towards a stand of spruce trees. This was about ninety degrees to the left of my first images.When I got the image framed snow began falling and the sky darkened. My shutter speed dropped to 1/15 second. I reasoned the snowflakes would show as streaks, adding to the mood of the image. We'll see. The intensity of the falling snow increased after taking a few images, so I shot a second set. 

By the time I was picking up it was really coming down!

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You can view more Adirondack Beaver Pond images on my website
www.bunchlewisphotography.com

More beaver pond journal entries from the past and photos will be on upcoming posts.
Thanks for visiting my journal,
Bunch

Beaver Pond Journal September 26, 1999

"Drove on towards Indian Lake. Stopped at the beaver pond at the side of the road just east of Squaw Lake trailhead. The fall colors on the hillside across the pond and reflection on the pond were quite good. The level of the pond was up since the last time we were here. I got out my compass to check the location of the late afternoon sun. Looked as though this would be a great scene as the sun begins to drop in the western sky. Mary and I decided to be back at the pond about 2:30 P.M. I'd try photographing this landscape with the 4x5 camera, Mary with her 35mm gear.
About 2 P.M. we began the drive back to the beaver pond, arriving at 2:30 P.M. The light looked O.K. so I set up the 4x5 camera to take a look on the ground glass, not bad. Then I added a polarizing filter and an 81B warming filter......WOW! Mary worked with both her Minolta 600si and 7000 bodies and a few different lenses to shoot a number of images while I worked with the 4x5 taking three images."

4x5 Camera Set Up

 The Beaver Pond 35mm

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Thanks for visiting Bunch's Journal, more beaver pond journal entries are on the way.

You can visit my website for more photos at:

http://bunchlewisphotography.com/

Bunch