“Three Times the Fun”

Western shore of Geneva Lake in Fontana, Wisconsin

June 7, 2024

Kayaking certainly has gained in popularity on lakes in Walworth County, Wisconsin, the last 20 years, as illustrated by this photo I made on September 3, 2006, off the western shore of Geneva Lake by Belvidere Park subdivision in Fontana.

As with kayaking, other watersports have become more prevalent on Geneva and other lakes – paddleboarding, wakeboarding, tubing, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. Traditional waterskiing remains, as does riding personal watercraft such as Jet Skis and WaveRunners.

With the rise in popularity of such vessels and activities, lakes have become much busier. Powerboating and sailing in all their varieties continue, of course. Seeing someone in a rowboat or a canoe is pretty much a rarity, at least on Geneva Lake.

About this photograph, I recall having to compose it and shoot quickly because of the kayakers’ movement. I saw the three paddlers coming from the north and knew they would make a good photograph. Exactly what it would be remained to be seen, depending on their line of navigation.

One compositional option was just the kayakers. It was easy to do and a simple message to convey with the focus on them and their activity, the lake, and the beautiful day.

If necessary, I always try to position myself as close to my subject matter as possible. For this photo that meant dashing to the end of a pier, being careful not to slip and fall (possibly into the water!) due to morning dew that had not evaporated.

As I went out on the pier, I noticed the planter and thought it would add a nice element to a composition. You agree? What if the planter were absent but I still included the pier?

Without color in a photograph, other elements are more prominent that may not be noticed as much when color is present. In this image, they are the lines of the pier and the textures and gradients of the water. Such details make black-and-white photography so alluring to me.