Making the Photo: Autumn’s Batik

Here comes the June 2026 episode of “Making the Photo” by Dear Bubbles! This month, we're talking about "Autumn's Batik" from the Tonto National Forest in Arizona in November 2024. In this video, get a behind-the-scenes look at why this scene caught my eye and how I approached the scene from a creative and technical perspective. Hear what exposure settings, camera equipment, and processing tools (including a live demo of Curves and masking/brushes). I also walk through The Visual Journey to reveal my intention, attention, orientation, and engagement for this frame. Hear more about how to darken a background, using a polarizer with water surfaces, and using tone check to confirm the tones in your frame.  (Since this is a Patreon-exclusive post, Patreon supporters will need to be logged into their Patreon account to access the video. Click Refresh at the bottom of this post, then select “Allow” if asked about information sharing).