Summersville Lake – Page 7 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

A Fish Tale

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Something Fishy” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the article. The reflections are 100% natural.

Every lake has it’s legends. Scotland has Nessie, Lake Champlain boasts of Champ and the ancient Greeks told of the Kraken. But deep down beneath the surface of Summersville Lake something glides through the sunken town of Gad. The light doesn’t penetrate down there so the creature must prefer the darkness. I’ll never forget trolling up to one of the larger houseboats on the lake one summer morning and being shown the large ocean rig snapped off at base and a large hook that was pulled out straight. I may have even caught a glimpse of the scaly beast a few days later when a sudden swirl of water swallowed up an eighteen inch long copperhead. We motored over for a better look but only found the serpent’s head as it slowly disappeared into the murky depths. A local diver is said to be the only person who came face to face with the monster fish and lived to tell the tale of the giant catfish in Summerville Lake.

Just like in any good tale of a legendary beast there’s a bit of controversy. Some people say that it’s all wild imagination. The ocean rod and hook could have snagged a log or large rock under the water. The diver could have been closer to a large but normal sized fish than he thought. The pictures in the local dive shop could be a forced perspective. ( objects closer than they appear. ) But then again. The lake is 300 feet deep in the summer. The lake covers over 2,700 acres and has over 60 miles of shoreline. If that’s not enough space to hide a monster then there’s also submerged caves.

Submerged cave visible in the winter. — This is one of caves in Summerville Lake that is said to shelter a giant catfish. During the summer it’s well below the water line.

The cave pictured here has an opening about the size of a small garage door. The picture was taken during winter when the lake had been drained. There’s plenty of room in there for an abnormal sized fish to hide.

I know what some of you are thinking. “If they drain the lake every year then why isn’t there a giant catfish laying in the mud?” The answer is that they don’t fully drain the lake. I don’t exactly know what the depth is at winter pool but it’s still pretty deep.

In the next photo we see Summersville Lake at winter pool. In the frame you can see the old road that once lead to the town of Gad.

I have written before that the Corps Of Engineers nearly named the lake after the town of Gad. Which would have made it Gad Dam Lake and any giant catfish living in the lake a Gad Dam monster. ( since I only post pictures that I’ve taken myself here is a link to story of Gad including photos from the past. Underwater Ghost Town )

Until someone actually manages to haul a 300 pound catfish up from the sunken town of Gad it will remain in realm of legend. In the meantime, I have the natural illusion of a giant fish made by a cluster of fallen trees in the Salmon Run area of Summersville Lake.

So now I have to ask. Do you have a legend of giant fish where you live?

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Basic Elements

Back and White Photography

There are only three basic shapes in the known universe. The point, the Ray ( or line ) and the curve. Everything our eyes perceive is simply our brain’s interpretation of the way theses shapes are organized. Even a Jackson Pollock painting can be broken down into the three prime shapes. The only real difference is the complexity and arrangement of the elements.

Sometimes life gets really complex. On those days helps to break things down to their basic elements. Instead of the point like we have in art it’s the goal. In place of the Ray it’s the method and in place of the curve it’s the adjustment. The basic elements of life. All other elements are just patterns based on the three basics. Thus, the complexity can be dismantled and better understood. As the pattern builds and repeats it becomes easier to anticipate the next element.

The next thing is variance. We as humans are drawn to repeating patterns but we also have a need for variety. One of the reasons why I named tonight’s feature image “Basic Elements” is because of the repeated patterns. When I was first starting to learn photography as a form of fine art it was suggested that the more triangles that I could include the better the image would be received. “People like triangles” the lecturer said. Tonight’s image is full of triangular shapes but not rows of triangles. They are scattered across the picture as are the points and curves. This gives the eye something to find in different parts of picture in a way that keeps it from being boring.

We need variance in our lives. Routine is great for dependability but quickly degrades into monotony. Planning variance in our daily routine helps us avoid boredom and have a more fulfilling life pattern. It might be as simple as taking a different route to work or listening to a different style of music as we go about the daily tasks but breaking up the pattern is what’s important.

As looked through the broken bow of wreck I noticed that all of the elements were contained in the image presented to me as well as a few not covered in this post. It was time to snap the shutter and move on to the next opportunity. The big blue truck waits for me in the shade of the nearby forest and I can hear the call of the road beckoning me to come and find the next destination. That too is a pattern that I must follow.

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https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

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Encountering Bluets

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Bluets 43019” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the article.

I can be a bit of a frustrating trail partner for those who wish to get to the other end of the trail in the most efficient way possible. I like to take my time and examine every little patch of ground along the way. I want to experience life in detail. If I had simply been rushing from point A to point B I might have overlooked the small unassuming cluster of flowers. I have seen two types of them. Blue ones or white ones it doesn’t matter, they’re all called Bluets or Quaker Ladies. They are not always found in small clusters like in the feature image. They can actually form large colonies. The guide books list them as having uses in folk medicine but I’m neither a doctor or a certified herbalist as well as never tried using them that way. Therefore, I can’t really cover those aspects. But what I can cover is the wonderful feeling that I get when I spot them in early Spring. As we transition into Summer I can look forward to seeing them up into July.

Bluets seem to prefer the shade and that might make them useful for brightening some of the edges of my yard. This colony was on federal land so I’ll continue to enjoy them on my trips to the lake. But, there is some growing up on the mountain behind my house that can be transplanted. It should be as simple as dividing them like any other garden plant that has the same growth habits.

After a few minutes of admiration I raised my lens and took a few shots to preserve the moment and continued down the trail to the water’s edge for a few minutes of peace and quiet contemplation.

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The Lost Art Of Sitting Like A Knot On A Log

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Mossy Log 43019” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The forest is quiet as I approach the fallen log. The fresh smell of the moss fills my nose and the leaf litter rustles slightly as I walk. The slight breeze coming off of Summerville Lake gently shakes the new leaves. I have come to this place for a few minutes of tranquility and to absorb the scenery.

There’s a particular art to sitting on a log in the woods but it’s not really hard to master. After making sure that there’s no woodland creatures already occupying the space get comfortable. You can have a seat on log or sit on the ground and use the log as a back rest. It all depends on your relaxation style.

Next, make sure that the phone is at least on silent. Completely off is better but silent or vibrate is acceptable. I’ve got some serious decompression to do and can’t afford to be distracted.

Now it’s time to get down to business and relax. I like to close my eyes and open my ears. Before long I realize that the forest wasn’t really as quiet as first thought. The birds are normally first thing I hear. As I tune in I’m actually be able to pick out individual conversations going in branches. As I continue to scan the forest with my ears open a chipmunk chirps his disapproval at finding someone else in his path and darts under the leaves. Occasionally a honeybee buzzes the small blue flowers at the other end of log.

In addition to the moss the scent of oak pollen occasionally wafts through. Honeysuckle is also in the air.

Even though my eyes are closed you can sense a shadow crossing above me and I open my eyes to find a red tailed hawk perched on branch close by. As our eyes meet he pauses and cocks his head to one side before his powerful wings carry him deeper into the forest.

The light softens as sun now peeks through the boles and sound of the birds is replaced by a single tree frog droning for his love.

Beyond the tree line the sky is in the process of changing from blue to a soft purple and then I hear it. The whip-poor-will signals that time to leave the forest and return to civilization.

Clicking the button on the key fob brings the headlights of the big blue truck to life and lights the way out of the forest. As I exit the pathway and open the door of the truck a screech owl crackle bids me a good evening. I smile and lean out the window to whistle an owl hoot of my own in reply before driving up the gravel road towards home.

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