Oftentimes, when planning a location to photograph, I will have a few days, even a few weeks at times, to plan my shots, my walking paths, and a general idea of what I want to shoot. When my friend Kif called me up saying he acquired a new lens, one that he had wanted for a long time and then insisted we go out shooting that day, we had very little planning to do. We chose to visit a nearby lake as the sun was low in the sky and time was waning into sunset. The lake we chose to go to was Lake Mirimichi in Plainville, Massachusetts, a lake divided by a causeway that allows for large open images to be taken with my friend’s new lens.
We have visited Lake Mirimichi many times in the past, albeit for a much different reason. My friend Kif and I used to bring our kayaks to this very lake and fish nearly every spot a few times a year. Mirimichi could be said to be our “home” lake for fishing. While we are nearly a decade older now and admittedly a little more uncomfortable to be back in a kayak, we elected to stay ashore along the causeway to take a few photos. While our view from the water is much different when in a kayak, it was nice to see the lake once more and spot the differences that time has created. Much of the shoreline is developed with housing, and a few docks still remain; however, the outer banks of the shallow areas are still undeveloped. One of the major changes is the upgraded causeway bridge. Gone is the simple unpainted guardrail protecting vehicles from plunging into the water, but now a full concrete treatment with steel barriers that blend well with the surroundings. Much of the lake still looks fundamentally the same and has brought back many memories for us.
Many memories were sparked while I took photos of the lake. Too often, we would pull down our cameras and point out in the direction of an old fishing cove that we would reminisce about and laugh at all the times we had out on the lake. Kif is a better fisherman than I am; let’s get this out of the way now: one of the many times we would go out, he would outfish me. However, there is a particular talent that I have that is unmistakable. I am the “Pickerel King” at this lake. While not our target fish, we generally fish for Largemouth Bass, the baits and techniques work the same. In a lake filled with Largemouth Bass, I seemed to ignore them all and target only the Pickerel. I am reminded of this every time Lake Mirimichi is brought up in conversation by Kif, as he still reigns supreme on the fishing tally board for this particular lake. The laughter washed over us as the ribbing continued, yet only behind the sound of the shutters from our cameras.
Coincidentally, Kif bought his camera earlier this year, roughly about the same time I purchased my camera and started to get back into the hobby. Our skills have been developing alongside each other, and we have been learning from each other, from composition to technical equipment and beyond. Kif’s new purchase was a new lens for his Canon camera, a drastically different setup than I have with my Fujifilm. The difference led to some great discussions between ourselves as amateur photographers, much like when we used to learn from each other while fishing this very lake. His technique and equipment allow for a sharper image with more pixel density and more accurate colors, while I tend to shoot “Character” photos where the composition and drama are my main focus. It was interesting to see another photographer decide on how to compose their shot and see something that I might have missed. The photos seen in this post might not be some of the best I’ve taken, but they are good enough to showcase, and I wanted to share this great moment with my friend.
It was fun spending time in a familiar location with an old friend and a new hobby that we shared together. The trip served as an exercise to figure out a new setup for a friend, but it turned into a great learning scenario for both of us. While his setup needed to be dialed in, I was able to capture some great photographs that showcased my style. While the sun was low and behind clouds for most of the time, I was able to switch lenses between shots, and I was able to get some competent photos that looked decent, but I can let you decide as well. The time spent with my friend was one that I cherished and wanted to share with everyone.
