Come Walk With Me
Come Walk With Me
As the obnoxious sound of my alarm blares, I reluctantly swing my leg over and clamber out of bed. The rhythmic dripping of coffee brewing is accompanied by a “Ten Best Settings for Wildlife” YouTube video playing in the background. After double-checking my camera bag for the tenth time and ensuring I have everything, I eat a quick breakfast and head out.
Early morning birds begin their chorus as nighttime creepy crawlies end theirs. A great blue heron sits majestically on the lower branches of a cypress tree. Its head suddenly perks up—a small bass has caught its attention. In an instant, the heron strikes; the bass never sees it coming. The heron gracefully flies away with its prize, and the pond returns to its glass-like surface. Birds resume singing, and a juvenile American alligator sits nearby, unbothered.
I love expressing stories like this through photography. From a young age, I was captivated by drawing. While attending Menard High School, I was introduced to the works of Ansel Adams and M.C. Escher. Adams, a photographer, used highlights and shadows to frame his art and Escher, an artist, infused a mathematical rhythm into his pieces. Both helped me develop a photographic eye that I use daily. Upon graduating from Menard, I embarked on an unforgettable journey at the age of 18. Joined by three close friends, I ventured to Ireland, where we spent two weeks exploring its picturesque countryside. Alongside me was my trusty companion: my first camera, an Olympus film camera. I eagerly awaited the developed film, anticipating the chance to relive our adventures. Isn't that the essence of photography? It's a means to trace back our footsteps, immortalizing sights, sounds, and emotions into a single timeless moment.
After graduating from Northwestern State University, I packed up and relocated to Baton Rouge, where I settled for nearly a decade. During this period, I didn't have a camera— I don't think I even owned one at the time— but I did get my hands on my first iPhone. It was an iPhone 3GS, equipped with a 3-megapixel camera and video recording capabilities. As app development progressed and each new iPhone iteration improved, I discovered a new outlet for my creative passions that had once been fulfilled by pen, paper, and paint.
My introduction to the world of DSLR cameras began with the Nikon D5100. Prior to that, I had been using an iPhone 4GS with its 8-megapixel camera. The leap to the D5100's 16.2-megapixel resolution, paired with its kit lens, marked a significant upgrade. Suddenly, I found myself learning about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—the essential components of the "exposure triangle." This newfound control opened a realm of creative possibilities - all of which would continue to improve through the years as cameras and editing software became better and better.
After relocating from Baton Rouge, I chose to settle in Woodworth. Known for its landmarks such as Indian Creek and the Wild Azalea Trail, I found myself surrounded by accessible wilderness areas right in my backyard. Lazy afternoon hikes turned into small adventures discovering all that Woodworth has to offer - which is a lot! Some of my favorite pictures have been taken on the Wild Azalea Trail. These hikes would become more and more important to me because I started making adjustments to the gear I carry. I started out by purchasing a 100-500mm zoom lens which allowed me to photography animals without getting too close and disturbing them. Hummingbirds have always been a favorite of mine but now I really could zoom in and see all their details. Other additions included adding a 100mm macro lens to capture all the tiny, beautiful details of local flowers or insects. I would spend hours photographing leaf cutter ants trying to capture the “perfect picture.” Each year, I broaden my lens collection to include a 15-35mm, a 28-70mm, and a 70-200 lens - all Canon, my camera brand of choice. These 3 lenses helped me cover any and all other zoom ranges I may encounter. Years later, I would be able to expand my camera kit further with the addition of a second camera body.
Photographing wildlife or landscapes is only half of my creative process. The other half is editing my images. Evenings spent in the woods or my neighborhood pond were equally matched with editing the images once home. I would spend hours making micro adjustments to each photo to find the perfect exposure. During the editing process, I would go through 100’s of pictures, taking the time to review each photo and sort them into “keepers” and “deleters.” Taking note of each successful picture and each unsuccessful picture helped me improve. Suddenly previously blurry hummingbirds become sharply detailed and tiny insects now filled the frame with correct aperture and lighting. Whether it was composing the image correctly in camera or cloning out unwanted blemishes within Photoshop, I started to get better results and became more confident in myself and my gear.
My photographic journey has been a pursuit of perfection, a continual chase that fuels my passion. It's about embracing the unknown each time I venture out, often rewarded with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Slowing down to capture the smallest insects has a profound way of grounding me in the present moment. Finding beauty in a single water droplet and pausing to give thanks to God for these solitary moments shared through photos—this, to me, embodies the essence of photography.
This same passion has led me to creating social media accounts that highlight my photographic journey with the world. Currently, Patrick Blalock Photography can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Through Facebook and Instagram, I'm able to share my images with my followers and share tidbits of information related to the images. Through Youtube, I’m able to post videos shot on my camera that capture life and produce a movie that highlights the sights, sounds, and emotion of what I’m photographing. Most of my videos are filmed close to home or on the Wild Azalea Trail. Each video is recorded, edited and color graded with sound and music added to complete the story I'm telling.
Photography has always brought me tremendous joy. This joy is furthered by being able to show the world what I captured through my lens. From an amazing sunset to the tiniest of bugs, these images are immortalized. I invite you to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube and walk with me as we take this journey together.
-Article from Garden and Lake Living - August 2024
Great Blue Heron flys away with its catch.