Jamie

Jamie Alexander Brown
Castor River Shut-Ins
Photograph by Tom Atwood

Jamie suggested the Castor River Shut-Ins near Fredericktown, Missouri as a great spot for photos, and she was right. The river creates a series of clear, cascading pools in the Amidon Memorial Conservation Area, part of the Mark Twain National Forest. But what makes this picture memorable is not the river; Instead, I think it's a couple of other things. First, Jamie's eyes looking directly into the lens. And second, the extreme angle of elevation. Jamie is in the river, and I, the brave photographer, am standing on a rock above her where it is dry, shooting straight down. Often, an unusual or extreme perspective can make an otherwise ordinary photo more interesting. The Shut-Ins are scenic, but no additional scenery was needed for this shot. Shutter: 1/80; Aperture: f/4.5; ISO: 200; Focal length: 35mm.