Kokoro - Wandering Through a Photographic Life

Backstage Kokoro

A "behind-the-scenes" look at selected images in my Kokoro project —
Content, photographic notes, EXIF data, creative process, miscellaneous commentary, and original digital captures. And now with additional audio comments about selected images!

From Kokoro #047 - Cold on a Cosmic Scale

Ultimately, no one cares about the discomfort of the photographer while he or she made the photograph — as it should be. However, I don't recall ever thinking that I'd be willing to sacrifice my life for a shot. In other words, there are limits of discomfiture I'm willing to endure, but past which I'll let someone else grab the glory. I was right at the edge of that precipice on this day in China.

It hadn't been above 17-degrees Fahrenheit a single day during our three week stay in inner-Mongolia. This was the last day of photography and several of the group stayed in the hotel and nursed their coughs and sore throats. One other photographer and I venture out only to find the wind gusting to about 40 mph. I don't know what the wind chill factor was that day, but there is no doubt it was the coldest day photographing I've ever experienced.

For every challenge there is a strategy. Our cab driver kept the heater on maximum while we drove the countryside looking for photographs. When I saw these grass stalks and the ice/snow patterns on the bank of the Yellow River, I told him to pull over. I could hop out, make an exposure or two, then I'd have to hop back in the cab to warm up. We did this for about an hour which resulted in 26 compositions — and by then I'd had enough. Thankfully, as they say, enough is as good as a feast.

Original digital capture (downsized for the web)


1/1600 sec at f / 5.6, ISO 100, Panasonic DMC-G1, LUMIX G VARIO 14-45/F3.5-5.6, 39 mm

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