Chapman Falls
Chapman Falls at Devil's Hopyard State Park. Photo taken on June 13, 2021 in East Haddam, CT.
THE STORY
Every year for my birthday, I try to spend the weekend camping. This year, my SO and I went to Devil's Hopyard State Park in CT. In the early evening he and I visited the falls after all the daytime crowds had departed. Having only my wide angle lens on hand at that time, I captured the waterfall with a long exposure shot before turning off my camera and sitting down to put my feet in the water. After a respite watching flycatchers darting back and forth to feed their nestlings in the nook of the rocks, we started to pack up our belongings to go back to the tent and make dinner. Until I noticed a Great Blue Heron 35' from us. It was hunting; its feet would lift ever so slowly as it made its way through the shadows, stalking its prey. My SO and I froze in place. The heron made its way around the edge of the water and we hardly moved a muscle. After about 15 minutes the heron noticed us. Unsure if we were a threat, the heron stared at us while we stared back, everyone completely motionless, for what seemed like hours. Coming to the decision that we meant no harm, it wandered closer. It was about 15' away from us by this time. It continued its fishing, allowing us to slowly get up, scramble back over the rocks, and depart. It's a moment I will never forget- not only because I will likely never be that close to a Great Blue Heron again, and it was a thrill to be able to experience that moment, but also because I cannot believe I didn't bring a different lens with me.
Chapman Falls at Devil's Hopyard State Park. Photo taken on June 13, 2021 in East Haddam, CT.
THE STORY
Every year for my birthday, I try to spend the weekend camping. This year, my SO and I went to Devil's Hopyard State Park in CT. In the early evening he and I visited the falls after all the daytime crowds had departed. Having only my wide angle lens on hand at that time, I captured the waterfall with a long exposure shot before turning off my camera and sitting down to put my feet in the water. After a respite watching flycatchers darting back and forth to feed their nestlings in the nook of the rocks, we started to pack up our belongings to go back to the tent and make dinner. Until I noticed a Great Blue Heron 35' from us. It was hunting; its feet would lift ever so slowly as it made its way through the shadows, stalking its prey. My SO and I froze in place. The heron made its way around the edge of the water and we hardly moved a muscle. After about 15 minutes the heron noticed us. Unsure if we were a threat, the heron stared at us while we stared back, everyone completely motionless, for what seemed like hours. Coming to the decision that we meant no harm, it wandered closer. It was about 15' away from us by this time. It continued its fishing, allowing us to slowly get up, scramble back over the rocks, and depart. It's a moment I will never forget- not only because I will likely never be that close to a Great Blue Heron again, and it was a thrill to be able to experience that moment, but also because I cannot believe I didn't bring a different lens with me.
Chapman Falls at Devil's Hopyard State Park. Photo taken on June 13, 2021 in East Haddam, CT.
THE STORY
Every year for my birthday, I try to spend the weekend camping. This year, my SO and I went to Devil's Hopyard State Park in CT. In the early evening he and I visited the falls after all the daytime crowds had departed. Having only my wide angle lens on hand at that time, I captured the waterfall with a long exposure shot before turning off my camera and sitting down to put my feet in the water. After a respite watching flycatchers darting back and forth to feed their nestlings in the nook of the rocks, we started to pack up our belongings to go back to the tent and make dinner. Until I noticed a Great Blue Heron 35' from us. It was hunting; its feet would lift ever so slowly as it made its way through the shadows, stalking its prey. My SO and I froze in place. The heron made its way around the edge of the water and we hardly moved a muscle. After about 15 minutes the heron noticed us. Unsure if we were a threat, the heron stared at us while we stared back, everyone completely motionless, for what seemed like hours. Coming to the decision that we meant no harm, it wandered closer. It was about 15' away from us by this time. It continued its fishing, allowing us to slowly get up, scramble back over the rocks, and depart. It's a moment I will never forget- not only because I will likely never be that close to a Great Blue Heron again, and it was a thrill to be able to experience that moment, but also because I cannot believe I didn't bring a different lens with me.
If you want to include a gift note, I am more than happy to provide a hand-written note for no extra charge! In the "add a note for leahdesrochersphoto" box during checkout, simply specify 1 of 2 options:
- option 1: you can write the note out, take a photo, and send it to me via etsy message. It will be printed on an included 3.5x5 card with the final photo shipment in your handwriting.
OR
- option 2: type in the box what you would like to include, and I can hand write the note (in calligraphy/cursive) to be printed on a 3.5x5 card and included with the final photo shipment.
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4 printing options:
Professional photo paper-
- Glossy: The high gloss paper is a Fuji Crystal Archive Pearl with a protective coating.
- Lustre: The lustre paper is a Kodak Endura Lustre with a protective coating.
Both come unframed with my signature printed in the bottom corner.
Metal-
- Dyes are infused directly into specially coated aluminum sheets. The high gloss, ultra-hard, scratch-resistant surface is waterproof/weatherproof, can be cleaned easily, and won't fade for at least 2 years in direct sunlight. Comes with hanging mounts. My signature is printed in the bottom corner.
Acrylic-
- Fine Art LexJet Prints face-mounted to plexiglass with polished edges creating a high-impact image. Prints are Lustre and Non-glare.
Comes with hanging mounts. My signature is printed in the bottom corner.
I also offer canvas prints as well. However, while they are a professional quality, they are not the same print quality as the above 3 methods, so please email me directly for inquiries if you are interested.
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INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: Etsy does not allow multiple shipping profiles based on variations. Therefore, if you are an international customer and you do not agree with the cost of shipping, please email me prior to purchase. I am more than happy to work with you to get an accurate quote from the photo lab for the cost of shipping.
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Please note: Each item is made to order so the processing time is approximately one week because I get my photos printed from a professional lab. Because of this, I do not accept returns unless they arrive damaged or have an obvious factory fault. If this is the case, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
The color on your monitor may vary slightly than the actual printed result.
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PHOTOGRAPHER BIO:
Not at all a full-time photographer, I just recently finished my Master’s Degree focusing in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. I’m also starting a veterinary technician program in order to become a wildlife and zoo veterinary technician. The proceeds gained from my photos will be used to fund my future education in veterinary technical school.
I’ve always had a passion for animals, the outdoors, and photography. I do my best to capture images that make you feel as though you’re actually there. While digital photos often are beautiful, in the frequent words of my mother, “Can we look at it on a large screen? I can hardly see it on your phone,” I’m taking her suggestion one step further. Imagine looking at the photo on your wall. Imagine being able to see the detail one step shorter than actually being there. That’s my goal.
I hope you enjoy experiencing the natural world through my eyes and immersing yourself in my adventures.
© 2021 Copyright
All artwork and products are for personal use only. You may gift the product to someone else. Anything you purchase from my shop cannot be resold/redistributed as copyright remains with Leah Desrochers and leahdesrochersphotography. Printed in USA.