The earthen dam which contains Tennessee’s Watauga Lake, viewed from just off the lake’s main channel.

Watauga Lake is a man-made hydropower and flood control reservoir belonging to the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). It is relatively unpopulated and un-touristy, making it a much more relaxing place to be on the water compared to the more heavily-developed lakes, especially during peak periods like Labor Day and Memorial Day (when other recreational lakes can be quite overcrowded).

I was fortunate to get this shot at all, having spent the entire day up to then shooting in aperture priority and spot metering mode. Argh!! As Murphy’s Law would have it, I had also disabled the instant preview and was avoiding chimping, partly to save battery and partly to prove to myself that I didn’t need to review every single shot I took (ook ook ook!).

Still, I’m sure I looked the part as I leaned out the back of the boat, left hand supporting the lens barrel from below for support, blasting off shot after badly-exposed shot like an idiot. Somehow, most of the decent images managed to be either exposed well enough, or salvageable in post.

Remember kids, pre-shoot checks are important for a reason!