A Weekend at the Lake

    I spent Labor Day weekend surrounded by friends, fireworks, and fresh water. Immediately after classes ended on Friday, we drove three hours to Lake Cypress Springs, a 3, 461-acre reservoir about ninety miles outside of Dallas. The initial drive up to the lake was incredibly uneventful. As we drove farther away from Dallas, the scenery outside the window gradually morphed from burgeoning real estate development to small town dilapidation. After three excruciating hours, most of which was spent sitting in traffic, we finally turned on to the dirt road leading to our destination. The first night was spent barbequing, playing cornhole, and watching the sun set on the horizon. The grass was cut short and wet with earlier showers. The sun reflected upon the waves, making the water a kaleidoscope of color. 

    In this picture, I tried to convey the serene atmosphere

Lake Cypress Springs at sunset

of the setting sun creating an ombre effect both in the sky and upon the waves. I also chose this particular picture because of how it shows the sun peeking through the forest in the far distance. I wanted to show the natural features of the land, rather than the aesthetic houses lining the shores. Furthermore, I tried to capture the texture of the water by holding my phone low to the water, creating a sense of movement and dimension.

    The next morning I awoke to the sound of my

friend's dog, Bailey, barking at seemingly nothing. 

Eager for silence, I accompanied her to the backyard where we played the most thrilling game on planet Earth: fetch. As I threw the ball again and again, I couldn't help but appreciate the tranquility of morning. The lake was quiet, not a single boat to be seen. The Texas heat was not yet present and I could feel a gentle breeze rolling off the waves. 

    Later on in the day, my friends and I decided to try

our hand at paddle boarding. As I stood up on the board, I felt as if I was looking at the lake from a completely different perspective. The waves which had seemed like barely a ripple from land, now felt like an earthquake beneath my feet. After giving myself time to adjust,

I was able to paddle over a hundred feet to a nearby bridge. 

I took a picture under the bridge that I felt

illustrated the physical man-made landmarks of the lake, including the electrical lines and bridge itself. I thought that the lines stretching out into the distance created a mesmerizing illusion and emphasized the incredible distance of the bridge.

As my friend Jack paddled by, I took a picture that depicted the disturbance of the water behind him.

To me, this change in the natural flow of water

illustrated his movement and speed as he cut through the water with ease. In the photo, you can also see the outline of a pontoon in the background. I chose to include this photo with the boat in the background because I thought it was important to accurately depict the number of other boats on the lake. I also thought it created an interesting juxtaposition between the quiet, serene activity of paddle boarding and a rowdy, fast-moving pontoon boat.

Paddle boarding past the pontoons

Bailey enjoying a well-earned break