Storm Light
“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.”
Aaron Rose
Windy, rainy, and cold. It was a miserable morning. Our anchored boat was rocking even in the lee of a small cove. Photography seemed out of the question.
I was over 100 miles from Puerto Natales, deep within the secluded waterways of Chile’s Kawésqar National Park. The park is one of the largest in the world. Situated within the Strait of Magellan, it’s a stunning sanctuary in the remote and untouched western Patagonian archipelago.
And Kawésqar is just one of 17 connected national parks in Southern Chile. All 17 comprise the unbroken 1,700-mile Tompkins Conservation’s Route of Parks. The Route offers an unparalleled glimpse into the region's wild beauty, showcasing diverse landscapes, ecosystems, and wildlife.
I was aboard the Explorador, operated by Patagonian Fjords Expeditions. Here’s our boat on a much nicer day near the Bernal Glacier.
It’s an ideal platform for exploration and photography. The deck afforded a 360-degree view of the beauty around us as we motored through the fjords.
When we weren’t on deck, we spent our time in the enclosed common area. It offered protection from the elements when the weather wasn’t cooperative.
I spent a minimum of time in my berth, shared with friend and fellow photographer Jon Christofersen. It was tight, and I felt like a piece of bread in a toaster when I slid into my upper bunk.
The Shot
Sometimes it only takes a sliver of sunshine to transform a morning and a photograph. Spotting a small break in the clouds to the east, our intrepid group of photographers quickly donned rubber boots, rain gear, and life preservers for the rainy, rocky ride in a Zodiac to the opposite shore.
Once ashore, we were rewarded by a rainbow! A tiny, transient opening in the clouds to the east had recast our morning.
I hastily set up my camera on a tripod less than a foot above the water. My goal was to capture a breaking wave with a long enough shutter speed to slightly blur the water but still leave bits of spray sharp. My lens cloth was put to good use constantly wiping rain drops and salt spray off my lens.
The rainbow disappeared quickly. Out of multiple attempts, one of my first turned out to be the best. The streaking foam leading to the wave in the foreground moved my eye to the mountains, the rainbow, and the blue sky in the background.
The right light, at the right time, had indeed made the morning extraordinary.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus