Finding a good, cool mood
Capturing images of glorious natural beauty in our own regional backyard was Larry Lato's quest and he began with research.
"One of the things I came across is the fact that there are waterfalls in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan area," the Lisle resident said.
He made two trips, one about a year ago and the second this past June.
One of the things he came back with was the winner of the Daily Herald's September Photo Finish Contest.
Shot around 11 a.m. on June 3, the photo reveals a scene at Potato River Falls in Gurney, Wisconsin, a picturesque spot along the Potato River that flows through a forested area southwest of the Lake Superior shoreline and not far from the Wisconsin-Michigan border.
Using a Canon EOS 6D full-frame camera mounted on a tripod, Lato said he made this picture using a Tamron 24-70 mm zoom lens set at 24 millimeters. He used a small aperture, he said, to create a depth of field that keeps about a quarter mile of distance in focus.
He also shot a second frame using a longer shutter speed.
"To get the water showing the way it does, you have to have the shutter open for a bit longer," he said.
For both shots, he said he used a neutral density filter, which, he said, "acts like sunglasses for your lens."
A masking application in Photoshop gave him the ability to bring the two frames together to create the winning entry.
"I like it due to its flowing water, enhanced color, and simple composition," said DuPage Photo Director Scott Sanders.
Of the 700 photos Lato shot that week, he said, "I probably produced 40 to 45 keepers."
A photo collection book called "Essence of the Northwoods" resulted.
He selected the waterfall shot for his contest submission based on its ultimate effects.
"I thought it had a good, cool mood to it," he said. "Once I got down to the river, finding a good composition was easy. I was able to get many shots with different perspectives. I liked almost all of them and the one I sent just happens to be a favorite."
Lato will receive a $50 gift certificate from PJ's Camera in Glen Ellyn in recognition of his winning entry.
An insurance claims adjuster, Lato said he got seriously interested in photography about six years ago.
"I kind of dabbled with photography back in the film days," he said. "I had a copy of Photoshop on my computer and I started playing with it."
Another of Lato's photographs, shot in the fall of 2014 along the Paint River near Crystal Falls, Michigan, and showing Horse Race Rapids, won the January Photo Finish contest.
Lato said his next photographic adventure involves the 33 covered bridges that dot Parke County, Indiana, west of Indianapolis.
The covered bridges were built in the late 1800s, he said, so that horses crossing the waters wouldn't get spooked. Today, they are a charming draw for tourists.
Lato said patience and keen observation are the best photography tools.
"If I'm out looking for 'that shot,' it's very hard to find," he said. "You have to relax and see what is presented to you."
About our contest
Each week our Neighbor section includes at least one entry in our Photo Finish photography contest. If you'd like to submit a photo, email it in .jpg format with at least 300 dpi resolution to dupagecontest@dailyherald.com.