Week 11 Winner

The winner of Week 11 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Rafa Godoi. Sometimes the best moments and photographs are unplanned. This shot taken at Lake Wenatchee in Washington has just the right amount of spontaneity and randomness and that is why we dig it. In addition to winning a $100 gift code to hippytree.com we are donating $100 to the Surfrider Foundation on Rafa’s behalf. Learn more about Rafa below:

Where was the image shot?
The photo was taken at Lake Wenatchee State Park which is glacier-fed via the Wenatchee River. There's a 489 acre camping park with 12,623 total feet of waterfront.

Was there any special preparation required to capture the photo?
Most of my adventures are last minute and unplanned. I just gather the gear I need and want to use at the moment. This day I woke up at 4 am, drove about two hours to the lake, middle of winter, 30°F. While everyone was backcountry skiing or snowshoeing around the lake I decided to avoid the crowd and paddle. Very cold, but peaceful.

What camera did you use and what were the settings?
The photo was taken on a GoPro Hero 6, Raw image format, Wide FOV, shot with the GoPro color profile. I set the camera behind my sunglasses to show the same view I was experiencing at the moment.

What’s your camera of choice?
I love Canon products and I own a couple different bodies; the 6D is the one I use the most. However lately I've found myself using the GoPro Hero 6 because its small size makes it easy to carry with me no matter where I am.

What excites you about photography?
Photography helps me keep memories alive, express emotions... it allows me to share the special moments and places where I've been.