THE MACKENZIE PROJECT STORY
THE STORY
Read Time: 2 Minutes, 30 Seconds
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In 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I visually documented a profoundly personal experience in nature. I spent most of my time outdoors, filming & photographing as I sought solace from uncertainty.
While I stayed informed, I wouldn't live in fear or become a prisoner in my own home. I needed to be outside among nature's other creatures, who went on living their daily lives unaware of what the human species was dealing with.
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For three consecutive months in my hometown, I visited MacKenzie Reservoir every morning, with additional visits throughout the year. I’d arrive during twilight and blue hour, about an hour or so before sunrise. I often returned in the evening during twilight and beyond to photograph the night sky.​
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The Mackenzie Project Trailer
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Over 3 months of filming, thousands of photographs, and a pandemic. Watch one man's journey to capture nature's epic hidden secrets in everyday, ordinary places.
Luminous, Chapter 3, Takes Place During A Moonlit Morning
MACKENZIE STORY CONTINUED
MacKenzie is a local water source on the east side of Wallingford, CT, North America, just a 15-minute drive from my home. I maintained a routine of 30 to 60 minutes a day, round-trip, for 3 months. 15 Traffic Lights, 2 Railroad Crossings, through downtown, over two highways, and possibly 11 cows, but who's counting?
Although I've been photographing the area for years, this project still felt special, as if nature were rewarding my efforts each morning by occasionally revealing secrets meant only for those who dedicate the time to seek them. Mackenzie is an ordinary place, pretty, but not even remotely comparible to smaller national parks or monuments. Yet, I found myself discovering beauty that left me in wonder.
Every morning began under dark skies as I traveled east. Sometimes, I passed through without stopping at a single red light—or even 15. On those mornings, it strangely seemed as if the Universe was hinting at an upcoming morning full of wonderful light and magical moments.
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​​Through my daily observation, I discovered a profound beauty within the ordinary. I began to visually chronicle an environmental diary of the subtle rhythms and ecology in an otherwise modest place, the evanescence of morning mist, the daily movements of wildlife, atmospheric marvels, and transient wonders of the night sky.
I couldn't wait till the next day to see what nature might reveal.​
Capturing magical moments in nature requires patience, endurance, and dedication. Without these qualities, it’s unlikely you'll consistently record such moments unless you're lucky.
Occasionally, luck favors us, yes, but endurance rewards us. Regardless, it's these moments and stories that stay with us, that remain memorable; they become part of who we are, and for me, they vanquished the sting of the Coronavirus, which has sadly stolen many people's zest for life during the pandemic.
I learned a great deal from this project. Nature can transform an ordinary landscape into an astonishing, ethereal space, even in my (our) own backyard(s). During the many hours and mornings I spent silently watching the night sky slowly illuminate, I discovered myself drawing closer to and having a deeper connection with the natural world.
Some mornings featured a full moon or a crescent moon, while others displayed a spectrum of stars or striking atmospheric fog. There was gentle rain, thunderstorms, plus many of what I like to call "ordinary" mornings—like the ones we usually see passing by on any given day. By the way, on those mornings, I would encounter all 15 traffic lights despite it being 5 am. 🫤
Nonetheless, while waiting at the traffic light, I reflected on how these fleeting atmospheric events occur daily worldwide, mostly unnoticed. Interestingly, it's the creatures in the wild that observe these moments more often than we ever will.
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Nature doesn't seek attention; it simply exists. It doesn't care if you witness the most incredible landscape phenomena; it creates them anyway. It doesn't wait for you to arrive to put on a show; it just does.
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​THE VIDEO
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The video is divided into sections or chapters. Each song was carefully chosen to create the perfect mood for its section, with each part tailored to match the tone of the music. Here are my thoughts and reasons for each chapter. You can skip to the chapter of interest or read them all.
I just want to take a moment to share my heartfelt gratitude to a wonderful friend who is not only a talented writer but also an incredible photographer. Many of my videos beautifully incorporate his poems and writings, which truly add a special touch. I feel so lucky to have poems that capture each of our unique travel adventures and memories.
I asked Mark Camp if he'd be willing to watch an early version of this film and write a poem capturing its mood. Naturally, he agreed, or I might never speak to him again. 😛
As always, his words deeply touch me and truly capture the essence of this video. I hope they touch and move you, too. To this day, I have people who have watched my videos and then ask how I found a poem that so perfectly matches the adventure. How's that for a conversation starter?
I must acknowledge my wife, Maryann, who requested that I create a looping, relaxing video to display on the large screen as a Mother’s Day gift. Although I mention that it took four years, the footage was actually captured in 2021 and had remained unused. Several months prior to Mother’s Day in 2025, I commenced work on the project; however, I could not simply produce a mundane video.
As a perfectionist, I require my work to have significance. Consequently, this video resides somewhat between those extremes, tending towards engaging the viewer rather than generating mere background noise with aesthetically pleasing images.
From here on, I will describe the making, creativity, and thought process behind each chapter. It gets a little geeky at times. You can think of it as a "behind-the-scenes" story if you're into that sort of thing. You may find yourself enjoying these passages regardless.
THE CHAPTERS
Besides the introduction, the video consists of 13 Chapters. Each chapter corresponds to the length of its song and has its own theme. While the video was designed to be watched in full, it can also be viewed by chapters. ​
Click on any chapter to read it's story. Or scroll down to continue reading.
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Chapter 0: Journey Through Time and Nature
Music: Reflexions by Joseph Beg
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Read Time: 2 Minutes
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We begin with an introduction that provides an overview of this documentary journal. For the background, I chose a Waxing Gibbous Moon filmed over Mackenzie Reservoir. Although our moon doesn't appear to traverse horizontally from Earth's view, I had rearranged the clip to make it appear to do just that.
With the uncertainty of the times and the strain on humanity, nothing was normal in the world. As the moon initially appears from the left side of the frame, it's recognized as such, perhaps offering comfort, but then obviously, something isn't quite right with its horizontal movement.
The music was challenging to find for this section and took time to narrow down between two finalists. The mysterious yet relaxed opening tones complement the atmospheric fog quite nicely, but it's the prominent bass echoing the melody that helps support the weight of the moon.
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The song's tempo complements this piece perfectly. I played with the video clip to fill the frame with just the right size for the moon. I wanted it large in the frame and moving steadily while encroaching on the text, adding some tension but never crossing the text, but instead teasing as if it were about to.
The mist begins to clear just before Mark's Poem. The mist was shot on a very atmospheric morning over the reservoir. I layered it over the moon to appear as clouds moving through, but wanted it to disappear towards the end as a sign of clarity and hope.
Mark's poem sets up the journey ahead and steals the pandemic's overtones of fearful thoughts by focusing on interacting with nature, "just outside your door, along with billions of her closet friends", referring of course to the stars - brilliant!
The message continues with a call to action - "Get out and enjoy the flora and fauna"... And get this, this is where the poem hits - " You'll find peace and tranquility that will recharge your very soul." I still get the chills when I read it. I have them right now as I write this, and again, I think of the many people who were home-stricken, living in fear of what the media was disseminating.
I had to find another moonshot behind Mark's poem. I wanted something with stars to complement his poem. Shooting the moon tightly and capturing stars doesn't usually turn out well. This was a blood moon, and I was fortunate enough to capture some stars, at least enough for this story.
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Don't miss the chance to commune with nature just outside your door, along with billions of her closest friends.
Get out and enjoy the flora and fauna and marvel at all the stars of the night sky. You'll find peace and tranquility that will recharge your very soul.
~ Mark Camp, Photographer, Poet, Friend
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Read Time: 2 Minutes
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Evanescence is the process of vanishing, or fading away, and on atmospheric mornings, the mist and fog would dissipate rather quickly after sunrise. This morning, however, I was thrilled to have an abundance of what felt more like low-lying clouds, something you'd typically experience at higher elevations in the mountains. The opening clips, however, were from a different morning, used for a pre-build-up and to match the music.
I've included a scene with a great blue heron early on, perched high in a tree. This hints at what follows in a later chapter, "The Great Blue Heron", which I loved creating. More on that later.
As the music reaches a crescendo, a complete transformation takes place as we ascend through the clouds, looking towards the heavens. A pan across the clouds lingers to show the blanket that covers the reservoir below, followed by magnificent god rays and rolling hills. Fun Fact: everyone who watched a pre-release in the making said a similar thing:
Wow, did you really take that at Mackenzie Reservoir? It looks more like something out of a National Park.
As the melody descends, I too begin to fall back through the dissipating clouds, revealing a clearer view of Mackenzie Reservoir. The following scene moves over an Island within the reservoir, a reference to the video's last chapter titled "The Island." This scene is special because I was able to capture a swarm of flying insects as I pull back, which then vanish into thin air, enhancing this chapter's fleeting qualities of evanescence.
I knew I wanted to include fishing in the video. Since I was on location every morning, I didn't miss much; in fact, I started to learn the routines of the locals, and eventually I became a familiar face, with them greeting me every morning. So when an unfamiliar fly fisherman showed up one morning, I was ecstatic! He agreed to be filmed after I explained the project. It was the first and last time I saw him there.
The next scene feels a bit out of place since it takes place later in Autumn, but I never planned to follow a strict chronological order. If it works, great, but this clip fits the mood and timing perfectly, and I spent way too much time searching for an 8-second clip that worked better than this beautiful scene of the sun's starburst revealed through the Autumn leaves.
The final scene pans across a row of conifers as the morning sun scatters into dramatic light. A blue jay can be heard twice, among other bird chatter. This sets up the next chapter, "Atmospheric", quite nicely, as it takes place shortly after sunrise, which is where Evanescence ends, and therefore, a nice crossfade between the video and music was a must. I end this chapter with one of my favorite images from Mackenzie.
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Read Time: 1 Minute, 40 Seconds
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Atmospheric was an exciting chapter in development, especially after reviewing footage that revealed striking visuals: radiant light, gracefully dancing waterspouts, and a gentle breeze (mini thermal belts) moving the mist over the water, while the vegetation remained still.
The song selection for this chapter was surprisingly straightforward; I knew instantly while sampling it that this was the perfect choice. The track is genuinely beautiful and deeply emotional.
The introduction begins mostly without rhythm, featuring floating strings that complement the hovering mist beautifully. I introduce the first indication of the plants' calmness as a cello emerges, breaking through the string ensemble with a beautiful, sustained note—very touching. As the strings respond, the cello moves in and out dynamically before finalizing the melody with two descending half-steps.
We now have a modulation that introduces a steady beat, and with its heart-rate-like rhythm, we anticipate something exciting and alive. A waterspout can be seen forming in the left frame. As it dances across the water, it begins to expand, and then it elegantly "poofs" or vanishes while the descending melody and strings dance in lock-step with the visuals. This scene can easily be overlooked by the viewer when they are not engaged; however, when they are engaged, this scene is cleverly graceful.
It's worth mentioning how sweet the bird songs are throughout this chapter. Most of the audio throughout the project is authentic and captured in tandem with the video. I did, however, add additional audio in other chapters when needed. More on that later.
I conclude "Atmospheric" with a scene of wildflowers and a misty, glowing background. As I pull back with the music, I transition to the upper right to reveal the sun and wildflower relationship; it's as if the wildflowers are praising our life-giving sun.
I pull back again to reveal a wider environmental shot. To finish this scene, I once again offer a surprise when our great blue heron makes his entrance on the lower right side of the frame.
Spoiler Alert: I've included a few "easter eggs" in this film. Little snippets that easily go unnoticed unless the viewer is looking for them. Here, as the photograph is revealed, the Heron can be seen flying behind the photograph and then out the other end. Another subtle hint to the upcoming chapter "Great Blue Heron".
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Want to know where all 5 Easter Eggs are hidden? You can find a list at the bottom of this page, or click here to jump there. Easter Eggs Revealed.
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Read Time: 57 Seconds
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Luminous occurs during a full moonset with a clear sky and excellent visibility. I set up a camera with a 500 mm lens and let it record, occasionally reframing as the moon moved out of the frame. A second camera would capture the environment and wider scene.
I didn’t set up a third camera for a timelapse, perhaps if there were interesting clouds, I would have. Since this project isn’t about fast cuts or rushing the storyline, I considered playing out the entire moonset. I had the footage, of course, but two things changed my mind: the length was too long, and finding a song to span the duration was difficult.
I chose not to add a second song or change music halfway through, as it would disrupt the mood. This beautiful song keeps you grounded in the moment, creating a sense of desire for it to last. I used long, intimate, horizontal transitions to illustrate the flow of time and movement.
The scene is simple yet effective. The moon, tranquil and suspended in celestial wonder, contrasts with a soft mist gently drifting over the reservoir. If this scene doesn't soothe your soul, then you might need to spend more time admiring the stars.
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While the initial image for this chapter was in color, I was delighted with a black and white conversion that spoke to me, so I transitioned from color to B&W to conclude this chapter. Both versions are available in the gallery for print. ​
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The title for this chapter was added later. Initially, this section was a mix of random stories. I quickly realized I was assembling clips without a clear vision or goal. The worst part is, I resisted the idea of reorganizing it for a while and kept adding whatever I could find.
Eventually, I walked away and returned a few days later. After reviewing with fresh eyes and ears, I tore down the entire chapter and started over. It was then that I discovered the opening clips, shot near the Reservoir, which sparked the “Dawning of New Day” idea and led me to find a more fitting song.
The opening scene with crickets sets the stage for all creatures, big and small, as they start their day, foraging, hunting, and pollinating. It also shows people beginning their day, as indicated by the headlights of a passing car out of frame.
The song’s opening melody emphasizes a ticking sound, reminiscent of a clock. I then reveal the broader landscape, likely recognizable as Veterans Memorial Park and Community Gardens. We then move to the Reservoir for a sunrise time-lapse to continue our day.
The Blue Tractor: This clip was meaningful because I know the operator, Harry, who worked with my wife at the vineyard. She was the winemaker, and he was her right-hand man; they made a great team. Later, in the next chapter, “Gentle Rain,” you’ll see the tractor again, followed by a green Honda CR-V, which is my wife.
Fun Fact: During my three months of daily visits at the Reservoir, I’d see my wife going to work, leaving work, and often she’d call to see where I was on the Reservoir. Sometimes she’d join me under the NightSky for an evening of star-gazing—and maybe a small glass of wine. ;-)
The chapter continues with my beloved Great Blue Heron and other flora & fauna, saving the Red-Tailed Hawk for last. I had footage of two juvenile bald eagles, but it was too shaky to use.
This chapter wasn’t a favorite, and even after the restart, I struggled putting it together. Although the image with the hay bales was one of my favorites.
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Read Time: 1 Minute, 20 Seconds
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While studying guitar at university, my professor, a Bossa Nova guitarist, assigned “The Gentle Rain” by Luiz Bonfa as a solo piece for me to learn. I fell in love with the song, especially the melody, and who can resist a Bossa Nova rhythm?
Since then, I look forward to early spring when the gentle rains arrive. At home, I open the doors, usually take a few moments to pause what I’m doing, and practice Oleilu—the art of simply being.
I aimed to convey this experience through this chapter. From a technical perspective, the most difficult part was the audio. I had to add extra rain sounds to establish the correct mood. Sometimes, the rain on my umbrella didn’t sound natural, and the transitions between clips were uneven, so I replaced those with forest rain audio clips.
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For this chapter's image, I chose the McKinley Spider, also called the Yellow Garden Spider. This remarkable creature brings many benefits to gardens, so don't kill it if you discover one in your garden; rather, let it help manage your garden by eating gnats, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects that damage your plants. They are not aggressive spiders, and have beautiful markings.
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I had discovered this one on the northwest part of the reservoir, just past Whirlwind Hill Rd, I stumbled upon her by the water's edge. At first bending down to capture footage, I eventually got on my knees to get a better perspective, aiming my camera just a foot or so above ground and shooting up towards my subject.
I was close and completely captivated, and she appeared huge through my lens. I waited patiently for her to move, but she wasn't budging. Like "the great blue heron" (two chapters ahead), I wondered, "Are you ever going to move?" I had to keep recording, knowing that the moment I stopped, the spider would likely retreat from its web. Finally, I was relieved and excited to see it do just that, and I got my shot!
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Read Time: 25 Seconds
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This is the most meditative chapter in the project, and I received excellent feedback from pre-release viewers, who often described feeling completely stress-free and a sense of calm. After shooting the moon so many times, I had to get creative and try something new. I aimed my cameras at reflections of the moon, and before long, I was in a trance-like state watching it dance over the water. From there, I couldn’t stop recording these beautiful movements and reflections. With some creative video editing, this chapter came together quite smoothly.
For this chapter’s photograph, I included another one of my favorite images from this project.
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Read Time: 2 Minutes, 15 Seconds
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We come to a favorite chapter! I envisioned Japanese music, as the Heron is intertwined within Japanese culture, and boy, do I love traditional Japanese songs.
For the opening scene, our prehistoric friend is on an outcrop peering into the fog. I arrived, saw the heron, but shot the landscape instead. The heron’s gaze broke my concentration, and I thought it would fly away, so I didn’t start recording immediately.
I couldn’t take it anymore; I was missing everything—the landscape and the heron. I dashed back to my car down the street, grabbed my long lens, and expected to see a missing bird when I returned. To my surprise, it hadn’t moved.
As it turned out, I have plenty of footage of our Heron just standing there. What started as me thinking, “Please don’t move,” turned into, “Are you ever going to move? I’m running out of batteries and storage.”
I used this opening scene as a central point throughout the chapter while matching the music’s movements. I was fortunate to capture our heron turning around and walking out of frame—I knew this would make for a perfect ending to the chapter.
Fun fact: when the heron walks to the right near the end, it evacuates a good, healthy dump. :-o.
I spent more time than I’d like to admit attempting to remove the few frames needed to clean up the mess (pun intended). It should have taken seconds, but for some reason, it didn’t. I ended up using a zoom-in transition to cut those frames out.
Easter Egg Spoiler: Just after the title disappears, “The Great Blue Heron” there’s a large, but barely visible, silhouette of our Heron. You can see it just behind the Heron to its right. I gently fade it in, and then back out. Have fun looking for it. :-)
After the intro, we learn about the natural habitat and graceful movements of this extraordinary hunter. I could watch this all day, and I found myself spending more time and days observing and recording this amazing bird.
The stealth and focus are remarkable. It moves in a silky-smooth, slow-motion way, barely disrupting the water. Watching its neck flex, and its head peer overhead, down, and through the water at its prey, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I’m sure glad we’re not on the menu.
Finally, we observe a strike and several more successful kills. On the last strike, you can see a frog on the left side of the frame getting the heck out of dodge before he’s next.
As the song’s chorus resumes, we get a lovely pan and follow over the reservoir. This scene felt to me as if it had Japanese overtones, with its foliage and textures.
Over the course of three months of daily visits, this bird brought me immense joy. I began to learn its routine to some degree. They are very skittish, and despite practically becoming a regular myself, I still couldn’t get too close to this animal.
Here’s a technical note: I often wish I had filmed this project in Ultra HD (4K - 3840 x 2160). At the time, I was still shooting in HD (1080 x 1920). I wanted to crop closer on the Heron, but the resolution wasn’t sufficient. While 4K offers four times the resolution and storage needs compared to HD, it would have been advantageous during editing and production.
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Read Time: 2 Minutes, 10 Seconds
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The chapter that almost wasn’t. I knew I wanted to include a Thunderstorm section. After all, I had the footage, or did I? I successfully recorded an entire thunderstorm on the evening of June 30th, 2021. I even reviewed the recordings some years ago, but after importing over 8000 media clips into the project folder, I couldn’t find any thunderstorm clips.
This drove me into a frenzy. Although I’m not the most organized person, I keep my files and folders well-organized. After a thorough search that yielded no files, I felt overwhelmed with despair. To make things worse, I had all the storm photographs but no video clips. I licked my wounds and pressed on.
Fast forward several months. The video editing process is nearly finished, with only final adjustments needed, such as dust spot removal, last-minute color grading, and audio edits. While searching the project’s “IMAGE” folder for something unrelated, I accidentally found the Thunderstorm video clips. These should have been in the “VIDEO” folder, so much for well-organized.
I was ecstatic, but I had already moved on and accepted defeat. Now, what should I do? Should I revisit the creative process and include this chapter? How would it look? Where would I insert it in the story? Would it disrupt the carefully crafted continuity of the other chapters and break the flow?
After bickering with myself, I went to work building the new chapter, positioning it both before and after “The Night Sky.” I believed it fit best near that section, and it settled comfortably before “The Night Sky,” along with its music.
While scrubbing through the footage to capture the lightning strikes, I was inspired by what I saw. When initially running through at normal speed, the sky lights up and darkens in a fraction of a second. However, when scrubbing through frame by frame at 30 fps, I encountered a frame that beautifully told the story by capturing stunning light in a single instant.
I extracted all the highlighted frames from the recording, marveling at each one. I was awe-struck by the beauty, the clouds’ intricate details, and the powerful moments that the human eye cannot perceive in a fraction of a second.
How can I incorporate these single frames into the video? That’s all I kept thinking—this is the story, and I must use the frozen frames somehow!
I creatively overlaid the extracted frames to act as a snapshot over time. The results were stunning. After extensive tweaking with numerous nodal points and curves, I was able to integrate the highlighted moments as their counterparts unfolded seamlessly.
Choosing the right song was tricky as ambient sounds clashed with thunder. ‘A Distant Memory’ by Hanna Lindgren fit well, with the right pitch, frequencies, loose rhythm, and slow tempo. I wanted it to be subtle and not overpower the natural thunder sounds. I considered omitting the music entirely, but it didn’t suit the project.
I hope you find this chapter enjoyable. Interestingly, I found it soothing and calming. When I recorded this, there was no rain where I was, although it was a very active storm. This might be the first time I suggest that the images could be more impactful than experiencing it firsthand.
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Read Time: 1 Minute, 15 Seconds
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We start with an ascent through the trees toward the twilight sky. The song’s pulsating echo resembles a satellite transmission or something in low orbit as it builds to introduce a prominent cello.
Aerial views of the day’s last light fill the horizon, casting beautiful reflective yellows and reds over MacKenzie, which then shift to the blues of the night sky.
The scene shifts to a crescent moon, and I remember how gorgeous this evening was. It was both eerie and beautiful as I stood alone, watching the passing cumulonimbus clouds under a sliver of silver light.
If you pay close attention, you’ll see bats flying through the sky in sporadically beautiful patterns. Back at the reservoir, we also observe beautiful patterns and ripples on the water amidst the stillness of the night.
The Cello’s dramatic entrance is a perfect cue to introduce the starry night. These star shots were all done with time-lapse photography—hundreds of photos taken at 2-second intervals over hours. Later, they are combined in post-production to create captivating video clips. The quick flashes and dotted lines across the sky are airplanes.
I continue to build with the music by introducing what’s known as “the comet effect”, by merging hundreds of photos of stars traversing the sky, a comet-like effect is possible. Pretty awesome!
A note about the Milky Way: while it passes over MacKenzie when looking south from the north end, CT’s light pollution prevents naked-eye viewing. Even professional cameras only catch a faint view.
The image I share at the end of this chapter shows the comet-like star effects I mentioned earlier. The stars at the upper-right frame appear to be curving away from the natural arch and direction of the lower stars. This is because of the use of an ultra-wide lens which introduces distortion. In this case, I quite liked the effect and decided not to correct it in post.
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Read Time: 1 Minute, 22 Seconds
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Another favorite chapter of mine. Infrastructure wasn’t on my list. Why include it then?
After realizing how much beautiful aerial footage I had captured, I reflected on how this project is all about discovering beauty in everyday, ordinary places where we work, live, and play. Without infrastructure, our travels wouldn’t be as easy, and our lifestyles wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable, even for something as simple as turning on a light.
While reviewing footage, I realized that many of my aerial shots not only showed infrastructure but also had plenty of foliage, since it was now Autumn. I didn’t originally intend to create a chapter on infrastructure, but I did plan on making an Autumn Chapter. Ultimately, I decided to include an Infrastructure chapter set in Autumn, and I was very happy with how it turned out.
After crossing the Reservoir to see sunrise, we transition to a vibrant hardwood area, spiraling upwards with glimpses of nearby soccer fields. This is also where the Community Gardens are, as mentioned in “The Dawning of a New Day”.
Eventually, we see a diverse group of soccer players in yellow, surrounded by the nearby cluster of autumn yellows, oranges, and reds.
The dam is featured, along with the community gardens and the surrounding area, including distant views of Meriden Mountain, which is approximately 8.6 miles to the northwest as the crow flies.
I showcase a yellow car, red car, and yellow school bus, all of which require patience to capture and a good lookout! These colors complement the Autumn foliage.
I blend scenes of trees and activity. Usually, photographers avoid telephone poles and lines or remove them later. Here, I incorporated these elements, highlighting their vital role in our lifestyles, which makes the story more compelling.
Choosing an image for this chapter was difficult as I had a few good choices. However, I had a strong desire to include the pump house somewhere in the video, and what better than infrastructure. The water supply (MacKenzie) reminds us again of the resources we consume to live comfortably.
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Chapter 11: Timelapse
Music: Elevated Consciousness by Amaranth Cove
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Read Time: 30 Seconds
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I debated including a timelapse chapter, despite having plenty of footage. On location, I framed start and end shots over the course of an hour or two to capture highlights, such as the sunrise.
Afterward, it was a simple set-and-forget process, as the camera snapped a photo and slightly moved to capture the next shot. I was free to move on to filming other footage.
This song slightly breaks continuity compared to the rest of the soundtrack, but time-lapse videos can be impressive, and this song was a perfect match. Besides, I thought the visuals were worth it. The crescent moon setting was incredible. This was shot on the same night as ‘The Night Sky” Chapter, showing how fast the clouds were moving.
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The image for this chapter complements the end portion of the timelapse. It's essentially the same scene but from differing perspectives. The timelapse was shot from ground level, the ending image by drone.
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Read Time: 2 Minutes, 30 Seconds
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I wanted to add a chapter on Ecology focusing on humans’ relationship with the environment. The concept was there, but it turned out to be the most challenging chapter to put together. My workflow begins by choosing the most impactful visuals from my recordings. After selecting a few strong clips, I find the ideal music that complements the mood and rhythm, then shape the content around that musical direction. This is why selecting the right music is so crucial for me.
I couldn’t find a resonant song, so I paused and tried again days later. The second try had five contenders, but I realized I was forcing it and had to restart once again.
If you allow yourself to relax, the song for this chapter truly resonates and keeps you in the moment. I was searching for a guitar piece to fit into the project, and I finally found it! The reverb and sustained notes create a dreamy, peaceful melody that guides the listener through rolling hills, ascending and descending into the valleys, one after another.
Then, there’s a wonderful modulation towards the end as the camera focuses on a branch from an Eastern White Pine, and I rack focus to the pump house. This subtle and beautiful melody breaks the motif and soothes the soul—man, I can hardly describe the feeling evoked by this simple, breathing melodic statement. It reminds me of similar emotions I feel when listening to “In A Silent Way” by Miles Davis (Original LP Excerpt).
This chapter guides the viewer from dreamy, atmospheric bliss to nostalgic, golden-hour days. It features flora, fauna, and a large female McKinley spider in her natural habitat, showcasing stunning markings.
My favorite section in this chapter is towards the end, when the trees sway to a whispering, and sometimes rustling, wind. The Northern White Pine responds warmly, its branches and needles dancing, while its thick trunk is softly illuminated by flickering light.
I have long listened to a whispering wind. It moves me to my knees in a sentimental way, calling to something spiritual, something greater than us, connected to us. I didn't realize I could feel this through a video, but as I created this chapter, I started to experience that emotional feeling I’ve come to recognize and love from years of listening to the wind.
I found myself tearing up while creating this. I’m sure the song helped, along with the wind and soft, golden light. I don’t know, I don’t fully understand what it is about a gentle, whispering wind, but damn, it’s so powerfully emotional.
I end this chapter at the park down the street, where the soccer fields and community gardens lie.
The sun is setting as I pull back from the rolling hills and vibrant autumn-colored trees. In the open field on the upper left, we see deer grazing to the last light of the day, and just below, soccer players with adorned hardwoods watching on. I loved this scene from an ecological perspective.
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I replaced the end image of this chapter several times throughout the video editing process. The final image wasn't even a runner-up, and yet, now that it's said and done, I couldn't imagine a better photograph for this chapter. From an ecological perspective, trees are some of our most valuable assets, and I couldn't imagine a world without them.
I came to love this image during post-processing. It's an upside-down reflection across the reservoir. I had flipped the image vertically so that the trees were correctly oriented. Between the Autumnal colors and ripples from the reservoir, this lovely photograph reads like a painting with a delightful ensemble of conifers, bramble, and bush.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
~ Albert Einstein
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Read Time: 2 Minutes, 35 Seconds
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I saved the Island for last, completing my top 3 favorites. This chapter flowed well. I had Hanna Lindgren’s (Sending) song in mind and was delighted when it fit. I’ve been saving this song for something special, but never found the right project until now.
This is a beautiful, unique song with multiple movements and a lovely female vocalist crooning. It’s the crooning throughout that lends it such sweetness, creating a dreamy, ambient feel that is both moving and hopeful, as if everything is at peace in this moment. I was delighted with how well this song fit this chapter, especially with its structural and tempo changes near the beginning.
The Island was entirely filmed using a drone. I envisioned spiral-like pans around the island to highlight its autumnal beauty. I experimented with various styles while manually flying the drone to capture the smoothest, most graceful footage in optimal lighting conditions. This included not only spirals but also flyovers, pans, approaches, ascents, and descents, some of which featured dramatic atmospheric effects.
The introductory flyover showcases unfamiliar scenes and Autumn’s falling leaves that gently cover the island with color and elegance. Despite its close proximity to the reservoir’s edge, this island is not accessible, and boats or swimming are not permitted. As a result, it remains a small, enigmatic Island that keeps its secrets well hidden.
Interestingly, the overcast footage right after the intro had a unique quality to the light. Initially, I didn’t intend to use these scenes because of the sky’s gray tones and flat appearance, but something about them felt quite compelling. Essentially, the sky functioned like a large softbox, diffusing the light beneath it. With clear visibility and no wind, an eerie calmness prevailed, which I found intriguing.
A dolly zoom effect was used for the head-on approach to the Island, producing a nice sense of depth— the Island draws closer while the background moves away. This marks where the song shifts and builds. Using the bass note, I transition to a pan from the island’s backside, which is not visible from the road.
The music swells with a soaring sensation as I ascend, unveiling distant mountains and matching the song’s call-and-response through synchronized video cuts. The rhythm slows momentarily, giving the impression that we’re floating above the Island, with gravity poised to pull us back at any moment.
A fade-to-black worked very effectively here. Occasionally, a dark transition can create a substantial impact. It’s also an ideal method to introduce a new scene, in this case, a different day. As the vocals evoke a sense of a gradual descent, I complement it with a smooth, falling transition, diving down into a breathtaking, atmospheric panorama illuminated by dramatic god rays.
Pulling back, we see a complex fog forming a web around the Island, gravitating toward it, seeming almost to worship it. We move closer, just above the trees, for a more detailed view. The scene gently spirals outward, transitioning to soft light on the other side. A broad view of the reservoir, captured during an Autumn sunset, showcases its beauty as our vocalist hums a sentimental and hopeful melody into the fading daylight.
The pull back reveals a beautiful twilight scene after sunset, intentionally extended and slow-paced. I once again include Mark Camp’s poem as a reminder to get outdoors and appreciate nature.
As the scene continues to pull back, we follow a vehicle along the road, its headlights guiding the way by the reservoir. The wind whispers as we await our driver turning the bend with flickering headlights.
For the final image, I’ve included a magnificent aerial photograph looking down the reservoir facing Southwest. The light that evening was simply stunning. The island is framed in the foreground, illuminated with a soft, radiant glow, as the eye follows the reservoir to infinity, where our life-giving sun is about to set for the evening.
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Conclusion
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Read Time: 1 Minute
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I hope you enjoyed reading and watching this visual journal. The original project started in my backyard as I filmed animals going about their daily routines. At the same time, audio from the TV can be heard, featuring harrowing COVID-19 updates. It didn’t take long for me to realize this wasn’t working, and having the news play while I tried to create only increased my anxiety.
It occurred to me that I can visit the Reservoir without human interaction. It’s not a park, nor a place that’s heavily visited. I do wonder, though, whether I would have ever had this incredible experience if it hadn’t been for the pandemic? It was the driving force, that’s for sure.
Inspiration To Get Outdoors
I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir (1838–1914)
Multitudes of people are beauty-blind to the outdoor pictures. I doubt if one in a hundred begins to take in the beauty visible on even a short walk in city or country. ~Delia Lyman Porter, "The Beauty-Blind," An Anti-Worry Recipe and Other Stories, 1905
I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple-tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand
So what could I do but laugh and go?
~Richard Le Gallienne, "Transgression,"
In Harper's Monthly Magazine, July 1912
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Easter Eggs Revealed
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Read Time: 2 Minutes, 50 Seconds
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I’ve hidden a few easter eggs in the video, five to name them all. They are transparent video snippets cleverly blended into the footage. If you’re not searching for them, you might not find them. Some are more obvious than others; either way, they were fun to make and even more fun to find.
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If you prefer to find them on your own, then don't read beyond this paragraph. Here's a hint for what to look for. All five Easter eggs are small, transparent video clips seamlessly blended into some scenes throughout the video. These will be found among water or misty scenes where silhouettes or shapes can more easily be seen. Otherwise, you'd never be able to find them among busy backgrounds.
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Spoiler Alert: Reading beyond this point will reveal the hidden gems.
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Three of the easter eggs are the Great Blue Heron, one is the McKinley Spider, and the last one is the Fly Fisherman.
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Easter Eggs in order:
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1.) Chapter 2: Atmospheric
Around 8:09, when the image is portrayed at the end, the great blue heron can be seen flying through the image and out the other side.
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2.) Chapter 5: Gentle Rain
Around 17:30, during the rainfall where just the water is shown, our great blue heron can be seen along the lower third frame, but I'm not revealing which side. :-P
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3.) Chapter 7: The Great Blue Heron
Around 21:31, just beyond where the chapter titles disappear, there’s a large silhouette of our feathered friend right behind him. It fades in and out subtly.
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4.) Chapter 10: Infrastructure
Around 32:50, when the car diagonally crosses through the reservoir, if you look closely at the body of water on the left side, you'll discover a silhouette of the McKinley Spider, as shown in the Ecology chapter. This was fun to create, but it can be easily overlooked.
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5.) Chapter 12: Ecology
Around 42:17, where the great blue heron is flying away, you'll find our Fly Fisherman as revealed in the Evanescence Chapter. While I won't reveal his exact location in the frame, I've made it so that, if you're looking for it, it's easily found.
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Don't miss the chance to commune with nature just outside your door, along with billions of her closest friends.
Get out and enjoy the flora and fauna and marvel at all the stars of the night sky. You'll find peace and tranquility that will recharge your very soul.
~ Mark Camp, Photographer, Poet, Friend
Written exclusively for The Magic of MacKenzie Project.​​​​
MARK HOUDE PHOTOGRAPHY
