Wallpaper November 2009

Wallpaper November 2009

So does this mean I won? The last screen saver I shared with you back in May stumped everyone! I don’t remember that ever happening before.

I have to admit the aerial view makes this place look entirely different than it does from “terra firma.” The silhouetted trees in the foreground aren’t on an island, they’re on a point. It’s Kring Point State Park. Perhaps some of you will now recognize it. I don’t know much about this area as I was hoping you’d fill me in about it, but that's the east end of Goose Bay in the background, just a few miles downstream from Alexandria Bay.

Seeing as how no one offered an explanation and story to share, I’ll take the opportunity to share some of my news. Despite a slow start to summer weather wise, it didn’t disappoint. No summer on the River ever does. What was exceptionally pleasing was capturing several new “keeper” images which gets ever harder to do.

 As my good friend, Carl Hiebert (an award winning Canadian photographer and author) once observed to me; “The more you work at capturing quality shots of a place, the more difficult it becomes to shoot better ones.”

He’s quite right. The higher the bar gets, the harder it becomes to nudge it still higher. Increased effort brings diminishing returns. I recently did an analysis of my library, collected over a dozen years to see how many shots I needed to take to capture good ones. Note that it’s not about quantity, but about getting the right light and circumstance, which doesn’t happen often and isn’t predictable but tenacity is occasionally rewarded.

More than half of the shots I take get discarded immediately. What remains numbers a little over 30,000, so well over 50,000 shots would have been taken in total. My personal rating system gives out one to five stars for the best of these. Only 4,231 (1 in 7) of the 30,000 shots I felt worth keeping warranted a single star or higher.

Realize that when you do hit the right conditions, there may be a dozen or more similar shots of the same subject, all earning some number of stars, so the number of unique images of merit is significantly less than what follows. Here are the numbers:

1 star = 2970 (one in 10 shots)
2 stars = 776 (one in 39)
3 stars = 299 (one in 100)
4 stars = 166 (one in 180)
5 stars = 20 (one in 1500)

I had captured only eighteen 5-star images in 12 years of pretty intensive photography and until my last week on the River hadn’t captured one in three years. Then I got incredibly lucky, getting two in the final days! What a great way to end the season.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because I have a new book in the works in which I will share them. I’ve been planning it for some time, but this summer Volume III sold out, so this project moved to the front burner. I’ve kept a few of those books to service the web site and most stores still have some, but the warehouse is empty.

Rather than reprint it, I decided I should publish a new book, a compilation of the very best photographs I’ve ever taken. I’m happy to say that almost half of them will be entirely new, not making the cut simply because of being new, but because they made it through a very fine sieve. I’m really excited about this book and looking forward to getting it into the hands of 1000 Islanders who might appreciate it, early next summer.

So for this month’s screen saver I’ll leave you with an image that didn’t make the cut, but was captured on one of those rare mornings when everything came together to produce another image that did. As always, a set of prints awaits the person who can identify the location and share an interesting story about it. 

Download in the following sizes: 1152 x 864, or wide format  1680 x 1050 

Enjoy!

Ian Coristine

P. S. Immediately prior to this first image of the winter season being posted, Great Lake Swimmers released a new music video of their song "Palmistry." It is the first track from their acclaimed album "Lost Channels" which was recorded in part at Singer Castle, the Brockville Arts Centre and Rockport's St. Brendan's Church during the fall of 2008. Thanks to Simon Fuller and Bytown Brigantine, the filming of Palmistry took place aboard their tall ship "Fair Jeanne" as she sailed through the Thousand Islands in September 2009.

Take a couple of minutes to enjoy Vision Entertainment's brand new music video of Palmistry by clicking on "CAM" in the menu bar or use this direct link: http://www.1000islandsphotoart.com/Cam/GreatLakeSwimmersPalmistry.aspx
 

Wallpaper November 2009

Download wide-angle version

Comments

I have spent some part of every summer at Kring Point with my Aunt and Uncle since I was a young girl. I leave a part of me there every year and look forward to returning. I live the rest of the year on these pictures and and my Aunt Sylvie's paintings. I have never seen Kring Point look so beautiful!

Tara posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Give me a couple of months and I will be flying all over these places. Then I will recognize them....

Mike Laprade, Honey Bee Island & Brittany, France posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


I haven't seen the results of the May wallpaper, and I realize its closed but could it be the Summerland Group looking at Idelwild Island?

Bill Johnson, Mexico, NY posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Thank you. Passed the YouTube of GLS Palmistry to some others. Love their sound (and the backdrop scenes).

Marianne Jacobs posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Hi Ian, Thanks for sharing that with us! You make it look so easy to take beautiful photos, and create those treasured books of yours..but wow, it's a lot more complicated! Looking forward to your new book, I have all of your others..they are like gold to me, you know I love our River :) Take Care and have a good winter!

Lori Moose T.I.P./Canandaigua NY posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Thank you Ian, I greatly enjoy these!!Best,MarkMark ConwayLakeland Boating

Mark Conway posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Dorothy Wemyss' family owned Morgan Island which she told me--if my recall is reasonably right---was part of what her family gave to the State, which became part of Kring Point Park. I met Dorothy after buying the Swiftwater from Jim Lewis (she had been the previous and longstanding owner of 25+ years). Like Jim, her family was Gouverneur paper company, I think Vanity Fair tissues. If I read this right, that's Diamond Island upriver, but this is a tough angle. I think she said Morgan was attached, despite being called an island, but my memory is really hazy there.

John Mcullough posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


How scintillating. All I can say is I wish I had been there. You have challanged yourself to ever top that moment in time.

anne mcdonald posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Lived there and cruised the islands for many years. It is a little piece of heaven. Thank you Mom & Dad

Phil Davis posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


Your delicious photos bring me back to our River now that I have returned home to Ottawa in October after 9 years of Caricaturing on Blockhouse Island. With the weather this year hampering my outdoor art, I would take more time to photograph the River from Kingston to Cornwall and have seldom captured the magic that your books have rewarded me with !! May you never give up seeking that

posted on: Sunday, November 01, 2009


It’s a very beautiful picture and it gives a sense of peace and calm. Thank you for sharing your talent and capturing the beauty and mood of the Thousand Island area.

Kimberly Sanford posted on: Monday, November 02, 2009


Wow, what a picture. That truly is a 5 star. We looked for you over Deathdealer this summer but no low flying mosquitoes. Were you in the area of the Lake Fleet this summer?Cheers, Gregory Davies, MD Chair, Maternal-Fetal MedicineQueen's University

Gregory Davies posted on: Monday, November 02, 2009


Ian, Loved the two shots and absolutely can not wait for your new book to come out! Thanks for making the winter a lot more memorable. C

posted on: Tuesday, November 03, 2009


Hi Ian - My guess is your going to win again! It isn't Yellowstone N P likely but maybe the only reason I think so is that those surely look to be river White Pines. The roiled waters on the far side of the 'point' in the photo may not even be roiled but if so could be somewhere on the Canadian side amongst narrows where water speeds up or some location which I don't know of where a stream might enter and roil the water. You rascal. I'm going to go with Yellowstone upon reflection! P. S. We had our second island wedding this summer on Axeman - sister Kathie and husband Dan the first! My daughter, Breyer and a marvelous guy, Rob Barkman. Do you do wedding announcements, Ian? Breyer, being my daughter - also being our beloved grandparent's (last) name; they who we owe who purchased Axeman in 1926 from the Brenneman/Runyan folks of Leek, other islands, and The Golden Apple restaurant in Gananoque. Wahoo! Thank you, Ian!

Jack patterson posted on: Tuesday, January 04, 2011


Thank you for the wallpaper scene..exquisitely beautifully.... Replacing the screensaver picture of my beloved pet of 16 years. Very much enjoy the Great Laker Swimmers---uniquely inspiring and uplifting music.

Teresa posted on: Monday, December 14, 2009


Have you ever considered inserting a map of the 1000 Islands in your "story" and placing an arrow or circle denoting where the month's picture is taken? It would help those unfamiliar with all parts of the islands, encourage some more exploration, and, in the case of a photo like November's, give a better idea of just where the scene is. I love the monthly photos - thanks for sharing!Editor's note: Great idea! You'll now find a Wallpaper Map which will locate all of these locations under the Wallpaper tab or here:

Jim Smith posted on: Tuesday, January 04, 2011


My aunt & uncle have a place on Goose Bay, and we've watch the sun set directly between the gap near Kring Point hundreds of times. They never cease to amaze us. Nothing better than sitting on the deck watching the sun sink into the river. We get a great view of passing ships too. The saying goes - "If it touches on each side of the gap, it's a biggun." And Kring Point is a great place for family camping. There's a nice spot for fishing right at the gap and a quiet beach in a cove on the river side of the park. Love the spirit in your pictures!

Kim Frey, Akron, NY posted on: Tuesday, January 04, 2011



The Notification List

One afternoon at a book signing, a lady shared with me a profound statement. "The River chooses some". Those of us who were chosen, spend winters longing to get back. To help my winter longings and yours too, each winter month I enjoy sharing a computer screensaver image to help infuse a little summer warmth into your day. I also outline the latest additions to ThousandIslandsLife.com online magazine. If you would like to receive these images and updates, please add your email address to the notification list using the form below. It will not be shared elsewhere.