Landscape photographer publishes first book

By Kenneth Jessen
Correspondent

Adrian Davis has been interested in photography since he was 16, but really started working on developing his talents two years later after graduation from community college. His first camera was a 35mm Nikkormat, and the first photograph he took was of a tree along Virginia's Shenandoah River. He was proud of the image; his girlfriend, however, dismissed it as being trite.

For the next 17 years, Davis continued to develop his skills in photography. While holding a job in Denver, he purchased a lot in Red Feather Lakes. Using his skills as a carpenter, he constructed a cabin. He started taking photographs around his new home, and this led to a hardcover book that highlights the natural beauty of Larimer County.

The process used by Davis to discover a suitable subject is surprising. Without any camera equipment, he hikes around looking at forests, lakes, streams and meadows that, under the right lighting conditions, might produce an outstanding image. When he returns with camera equipment, he shoots a few carefully planned frames. He keeps in mind that each time he trips the shutter, it costs $5 for the film and processing of a 4x5 transparency. A "normal" 50mm lens approximates what the human eye can see. Davis uses 28mm and 35mm lenses to capture a wider perspective of the scene.

"Three Sisters" was shot at Hiawatha Lake. He drove by the lake at around four in the afternoon and noticed the lush green grass along the edge. He drove home and got his camera. When he returned, the sun was setting through a thin layer of clouds. The scene before him was like a painting with both cool and warm tones complementing each other. The air was still, which helped produce crisp reflections of the Three Sisters rock formation along the opposite shore. Barely visible is a fisherman in a canoe on the right side of the photograph at the far end of the lake.

"Nightfall on Dowdy Lake" was a shot that Davis had visualized on several occasions, and he just needed a calm, windless evening to achieve the results he wanted. Finally, on a warm August evening in 2005, conditions were perfect. The film was exposed for 30 seconds, picking up colors that could not be detected at the time of the shot. Davis used a handheld light meter to estimate the settings for the camera.

When asked if photography is art, Davis responds that with fine art photography, every aspect of the image is controlled, as opposed to a snapshot where the photographer hopes for the best results. Davis believes he contributes more than just a photograph, but uses light and design.

"Passion for the subject matter ultimately produces the best result," he says. "The viewer should be able to mentally enter the scene."

"In and around The Lakes" is his first book. To control all aspects of the process except the printing, Davis did his own film scanning and book design. This required learning a computer program to generate a layout that best shows his photography. The book includes not only Red Feather Lakes, but also scenes from Virginia Dale, Cherokee Park and the Cache la Poudre River. "In and around The Lakes" retails for $19.95, and in its 48 pages, displays 63 full-color images.

Davis will be signing his book at the Mountain Crafts Galley in Red Feather Lakes on Feb. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. Images may be viewed at www.cachelaphoto.com.