Macfilos Weekender by Kevin Armstrong
In the winter of 2015 – 2016 I visited the Plitvice Lakes National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, in the central hills of Croatia. I generally used a Leica X Vario with a lightweight aluminium Manfrotto tripod but if the weather was very wet or snowy I slipped the X1 into the breast pocket of my jacket.
Leaving the café at the north end of Lake Kozjak on a snowy day I saw ahead of me a woman with a bright yellow umbrella which contrasted nicely with the white surroundings (Photo 1). I met up with her at the bridge across the streams which flow into the gorge containing the lower lakes and waterfalls.
Envisioning the leading line of the handrail and the contrasting colours I asked if I could take her photo on the bridge. She agreed and gave me her phone asking if I could use it to take one for her. All set! As she walked across the bridge I waved to move her more or less successfully into the ‘right’ spot. However by then the snow was falling hard and covering the yellow umbrella so I raised my arms in a shaking motion to get her to throw off the snow. She did so and I took a photo with the X1 (Photo 2) and one with her phone before the snow won the battle. She was very happy with the result so I suppose it was a fair exchange!
I believe she was Korean. Oddly, Koreans visit the Plitvice Lakes by the busload. I was told that a Korean TV soap had been set in Croatia so Koreans love to visit the country, generally on organised tours.
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A wonderful image, Kevin. Congrats.
Beautiful shot and with my sense of humor appreciate the yellow umbrella, it’s not Red! Look forward to your next post!
Nice image, and story of how it came to be. Sometimes these things work in our favour, even the increasing snow fall adds another layer to the image.
Happy New Year.
Now steady on there! A replacement for the X1? Is that possible? Time will tell.
Just a new X would be nice. 🙂 Happy New Year Mike.
Great catch, and a nice composition Kevin.
Truth be told I have no idea how to separate colours in post processing!
Thanks Gents!
Very nice Kevin. I often see pictures that have been post-processed into B&W with one element kept in colour. Getting that effect naturally means you have a great eye for seeing details and imagining the final result. Well done!
I totally agree with Richard. I’m not a great fan of post-processed colour separation but Kevin’s excellent picture succeeds and makes a beautiful winter image.
I don’t see a Photo 2?
Paul, you are quite right and it is my mistake. The Water Poet shot is the subject of another posting that will go on a future weekend. It’s not Richard’s fault — he sent both in as one story and I decided to turn it into two single shots. The other is totally unrelated to the Japan shot. I’ve removed that reference from the text so it doesn’t confuse anyone else.
Mike
Thanks Mike, I thought it might be something wrong with my browser or such like. I didn’t come across too well in my post, sorry no offense meant to either poster or you.