Nikon F4, AF 20mm f/2.8Green Lake in Winter What can I say? If you've seen my previous post you will note we're back at the same location, the beautiful Green Lake in the village of Orchard Park. But this time, instead of a manual focus camera loaded with black and white film I came with the latest and greatest equipment. I brought along an auto-focus Nikon F4 fitted with a very wide angle 20mm AF Nikkor lens loaded with Kodak Ektar 100 color negative film with its "world's finest grain".

Definitely a few deviations from my habits, which was intentional. I usually resort to black and white in winter because why would anyone do anything different, right? Color is naturally lacking, it's usually overcast and gloomy, and black and white somehow manages to make all of that look attractive as long as there's snow. But this was a special kind of a winter day in Western New York! It was cold but sunny with clear blue skies. Thus the idea to go with color.

I also switched up from a manual focus camera to an auto-focus. While the Nikon F4 is no autofocus champion given today's expectations it was a pioneer and for the most part it does pretty well. Just make sure your batteries are in a good shape. I have found out that focus hunting and failing to establish focus can be a sign that the batteries need to be swapped even if the camera does not complain yet.

Sunrise over Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Sunrise over Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

And while the 24mm lens I used last time is plenty wide I do have one even wider and must admit that I do not use it nearly enough. Since it is an auto-focus lens, this morning was a great opportunity to attach the AF 20mm f/2.8 Nikkor to the Nikon F4 and head out. When I started in the photography hobby I thought wide and super wide lenses were literally about the width. And sure, they certainly fit in more with into the frame. However, the photo taking and thus photo viewing really is more about the front to back dynamics. I feel it is important to be really close to something in the foreground and then let the scene develop front to back.

Frozen Green Lake through Trees, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Frozen Green Lake through Trees, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

The sunrise was absolutely beautiful and unsurprisingly the opening photo is literally of the sun rising over the Yates Park and Green Lake. I am very happy with how the camera, lens, and film combo handled the situation.

Green Lake's North Shore Trail in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Green Lake's North Shore Trail in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

I parked at a different spot this morning and thus initially headed against my usual direction around the lake. The path was snowed in and walking was difficult but very enjoyable.

Snowed In Stairs to Green Lake, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Snowed In Stairs to Green Lake, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

The stairs were not really there but the railing indicated which way to go, or slide down. I chickened out though and walked making sure my boot caught a solid footing with each step. I did not feel like nosediving.

Tracks around Frozen Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Tracks around Frozen Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

Right by the lake I always appreciate the fact that I can get photographs of undisturbed snow as people usually do not venture into the knee deep snow. This morning I went for a different approach and created my own disturbance, the tracks along the lakeshore.

Green Lake Ice Crystals in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Green Lake Ice Crystals in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

Aren't the ice crystals gorgeous? They would have made for a super macro photography theme too but I tried to make the most of what I had with me. I went as close as the lens could focus without going for a swim and am glad the texture made it into the photo. Nature's magic!

Snowed In Fence at Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Snowed In Fence at Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

Afterwards I went backwards in my usual direction and not only made it back to the parked car but also looped the other way. The split rail fence always challenges me to try to find a new angle, new look. This morning it threw me a freebie as it was buried in snow.

Basketball, Anybody? Yates Park in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Basketball, Anybody? Yates Park in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

Clear blue sky, a basketball court, and a layer of snow covering it. I could not resist!

Tracks in Snow around Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Tracks in Snow around Green Lake in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

I decided I'd finish the whole roll of film so that I did not have to wait to process it. It was a splendid winter morning with lots of beauty around so why not? Instead of returning, I headed for the south shore where the dam is and walked down to Smoke Creek below the dam. I still struggle a bit accepting this new look. The old flow through the forest was so charming. This mostly deforested plain still looks too bare, too sad to me. Maybe one day nature will find a way to reclaim some of the lost ground?

Sunrise over Smoke Creek in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Sunrise over Smoke Creek in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

Here's some civilization too as we pass by the administrative buildings at Green Lake. Yes, I am pretty sure you have seen it in my photographs before too. I am pretty sure though that this was the first time with the 20mm lens.

Recreational Department in Yates Park in Winter, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Recreational Department in Yates Park in Winter, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

And for this scene, the super-wide angle lens definitely came in handy in all directions. I usually struggle to fit the building in but not this time. It all fit easily and I even made a few steps closer to avoid the blank foreground scenario.

United Materials, Industrial Orchard Park in Winter, New YorkYates Park

United Materials, Industrial Orchard Park in Winter, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

To close, another scene I struggle with. There used to be an old wooden pier serving as a boat launch but it succumbed to the passage of time and was replaced with this plastic monster. I really don't like it and usually can't even convince myself to take a picture here. Snow came to help though and since most of the plastic is covered I found the view acceptable to occupy 1 frame on the roll of Kodak Ektar.

Boat Launch in Hibernation, Green Lake, Orchard Park, New YorkYates Park

Boat Launch in Hibernation, Green Lake, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon F4 Camera on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film, Developed in Cinestill C-41 KIT

So what do you think? Did you like this color edition better or are you a fan of the black and white one?

Thank you very much for stopping by and spending a few minutes with my photography :-)

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. And for more winter photography hop over to the Winter Photo Collection.

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