View from my room

I’m in New York at PhotoPlus. Great to see so many blog and BT Journal Fans today. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. Back in my room for an hour working on tomorrow’s shows and wanted to share the view at sunset.

and then when the lights came on…. Off to dinner with the Kelby Training crew…it will be fun!

Photos captured by D700, 24-70AFS, kleenex box tripod on Lexar UDMA digital film

Delkin Express Card 34 Reader

I had an old EC reader that I liked. Well, it died (over use I guess). Talking with my good friend  Jeff Snyder at Adorama I soon had the new Delkin Express Card 34 reader. Well, I put it in and it was slow as frozen maple syrup. A little reading and I found I needed a different driver. Went and downloaded what I thought was the right one and, no go. So, I went back to reading and found one that works. You find it here (DDEXP54CF2.exe). This new UDMA reader is schweeet….bottomline, it’s lightning fast!!

New Epson Printers – 7900 & 9900!

It’s 02:30 and I’ve just arrived in my hotel room. While I’m bushed, I was totally brought back to life by the exciting news Dan Steinhardt of Epson sent me via email about the new 7900 & 9900 printers. Here’s part of the press release

“Representing a level of technology unprecedented in Epson’s history, Epson America today announced its next generation of professional ink jet printers – the 24-inch Epson Stylus^® Pro 7900 and the 44-inch Epson Stylus Pro 9900. This Epson Stylus Pro series incorporates Epson’s latest achievements in photographic ink jet technology, including Epson’s MicroPiezo TFP^TM print head with new Epson UltraChrome^® HDR Ink technology, to deliver a higher level of print quality, increased performance with speeds almost twice as fast as previous models, and the widest color gamut ever from Epson Stylus Pro printers.”

Hot dogs…I’ve been waiting for these babies. I can’t wait until they’re in our office!

Helping in the Finishing Dept

A concept I’ve been inspiring for quite a while now is knowing your post finishing at the time you click the shutter. Our former assistant Josh Bradley probably heard this more than any human should have to endure. It might be why he came out with this killer book that truly delivers on what I’ve been saying.

Josh’s new release The Official Nik Software…..(got a cramp writing the whole title) is a marvelous resource for using what I find are ESSENTIAL tools in the digital darkroom, the Nik Suite. Dfine, Sharpener Pro 3 and Color Efex Pro 3 not only make up for defecentcies in our capture devices, but takes the mind and matches it up with the heart. It’s a must own if you work in the digital darkroom.

Sharon & I were very disappointed that the whims of life forced Josh to leave WRP. He had made a solid start in photography. You’ll see that for yourself in his text, images and more importantly the message he brings in the love of his photography! Go buy a copy, you’ll see what we saw in the talent of this young man.

PS…WRP isn’t seeking applications for the assistant vacancy. When I find the right person, you’ll hear about it here. Thanks

Yellowstone DLWS opening

We have an opening in our Yellowstone DLWS winter event. Yellowstone in winter is spectacular, you can head here to see just a sample of what we experienced this year. We really hate hearing that the times are cutting into folks passion to explore photography, but that’s the current reality. There are 7 of you out there who put your names on the waiting list, we’ve left you messages but not heard from you. If you’re reading this, call now to reserve your spot. Everyone else, it’s first come, first serve. Hope you can join us for all reasons!

South Dakota Base Camp

Winter is about to start and my mind is already going to spring kids. Base Camp is heading to the Black Hills of South Dakota for our spring BC. I’ve lost count how many times we’ve shot in the Black Hills, it is a favorite of ours generating many of my all time favorite images. The two above, Upland Sandpiper and Bison Bull were both taken last year as Base Camp. This is just a small sampling of what the area has to offer.

Base Camp is probably more timely than ever for those wanting to improve their wildlife photograph and their wildlife photography business skills. In these uncertain times, now is the time to make the move.The dates are 18-22 May, 2009. We’ll be based out of Custer State Park, SD. We have only 1 space in our FL Base Camp in Feb. To reserve your spot call Sharon at 760.924.8632

Had to gain some self respect

After the “stream” incident, we moved on to an old mine site. We came to it when the late afternoon light was working its magic. I traveled out with the 24PC to work on my “miniature” technique as well as a new idea for dealing with extreme exposure ranges.

This is an old stove now just resting out in the open on a large wooden platform. The beam of light and the play of shadows in the background were why I composed it the way I did. Finishing the image was done using ColorEfex Pro 3 Tonal Contrast / Dark-lighten Center.

The “joke” of the photo you can’t really see in this small thumbnail, but there is a sign in the lower right corner that states, “Please Keep Off Porch.” In case its falling down wasn’t hint enough. The photo was taken again refining my interpretation of the miniature effect. Photo finished the same as above.

Photos captured by D3, 24PC on Lexar UDMA digital film

Great start to the week

We normally don’t schedule a PT for Mondays because, well, it’s Monday. Sharon though managed to make one happen today and I’m glad she did. Dave came wanting to learn how to take a 3D world and communicate it in a 1D frame.

We spent the morning going over his images and then spent the afternoon putting what we discussed into action behind the camera. It’s always very gratifying to have a student soak up the info and then put it into action. But I wasn’t happy when we came to this scene and Dave made a better click than I. Here’s my over the shoulder attempt to copy his cool shot.

I wish I had Dave’s shot to show you how this one should have been done. On second thought, I’m glad I don’t have his better image to blog. Well done Dave!

Photos captured by D700, 24-70AFS /SB-900 on Lexar UDMA digital film

The Sun Does Shine

Breaking with my own norm, I’m posting one of my better images (normally these are saved for print projects and not blogged). This God Beam kissing El Capitan in Yosemite Valley was taken a few weeks back while heading to start a new project. I thought of this image after reading one of my favorite blogs.

It was raining when I stopped at the “new” Tunnel View. The rain had cleared out all the tourists, I hear they melt. I saw this beam of light painting itself across the valley as the aperture in the clouds flew past with the wind. I grabbed the camera that was sitting in the seat and dashed out to make the click. Finishing was no more than bringing down the upper sky using Split Grad in Color Efex Pro 3.0.

The photograph came about yeah, because of camera technology, f/stop+shutter speed and all the rest of that stuff. But more importantly, it came from the passion of making the image because of the magic of the light! It sums up what we are all dealing with in our daily lives as well. While it was raining on me, I could see the light in the distance. Go out and make it a great photographic weekend!

Photo captured by D3, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

This is a shinning light!

Life is this funny thing that we try our darnedest to influence only to learn we have no real influence over the big picture. Our day started by hearing sad news for our new, dear friend and ended up by being reminded that the sun will come up tomorrow. Sharon & I are blessed in that those who we work with are also our family. You could tell that from the silly blogs this past weekend from New York. The silliness of family thank God keeps on rolling.

From my good friend RC comes this from one of his notes to the family. “This however pales in comparison to how much he and his wife Sharon have become our friends. Now, Moose and Sharon are out in CA (living amongst the bears), and we don’t get to see them as often as we would like to. I spend a lot of time texting with Moose however late at night (I think 2 nights dont go by without having a txt flurry.. hes very tech too.. so we can geek out), and he’s always checking on Sabine and Jenn to make sure they are OK.

Well.. Moose likes to send Sabie stuff and one of the things Sabie is getting attached to is a Moose! I think it’s kinda cool cause we’re attached to Uncle Moose too… check it out!”

Thanks Sabie for the reminder not to take life as seriously as life wants us to take it. Thanks to dad too!

Westcott's StrobeLite Plus kit

What’s Moose up to you must be asking yourself. I guess I could blame this all on Joe and Scott and a desire to reinvestigate a type of photography I worked in the late seventies. But we had nothing like the Wescott StrobeLite Plus back then! Studio photography is where I started my photographic pursuit and in my journey of exploring light, it’s back to my roots I go. But where to start? Light!

There is this killer event, Photoshop World where some of the best creative minds congregate twice a year. At the Las Vegas event I meet this really nice guy, John Williamson. We just started to talk photography (hard to believe its’ a topic I like to talk about) and at the end of the conversation he handed me his business card (he works for Wescott) and said if there was ever anything he could do. Well, I immediately tapped his expertise (he’s one smart dood). Knowing how highly Scott talks about Wescott, I told him my needs and asked what he recommended. When I got home a few days ago I found the Strobelite Plus kit waiting for me. Hot dang!

The custom kit John set me up with was two StrobeLite Plus heads (really sweet light), 7′ Octabank (killer, giant, light), 12×50 Strip Bank (might tip my hand with that one), stands and this killer Spiderlite Travel bag. Now you know how I like to take my own product shots but have to be honest with you, I don’t have a studio big enough (right now) to set up all this gear to do a product shot of it. I can tell you though that in the future you will see images taken using this incredible lighting system. I mean I’m still in awe. All this gear that creates such a gorgeous light all goes into a case smaller than the body box that holds our screen for DLWS. It’s that kind of innovation and eye to design that makes this most definitely the studio system for me! You can check out their line here. And it’s back to the studio for me. And if you want more info or to buy, contact Jeff Snyder at Adorama (where I buy all my gear).

Westcott’s StrobeLite Plus kit

What’s Moose up to you must be asking yourself. I guess I could blame this all on Joe and Scott and a desire to reinvestigate a type of photography I worked in the late seventies. But we had nothing like the Wescott StrobeLite Plus back then! Studio photography is where I started my photographic pursuit and in my journey of exploring light, it’s back to my roots I go. But where to start? Light!

There is this killer event, Photoshop World where some of the best creative minds congregate twice a year. At the Las Vegas event I meet this really nice guy, John Williamson. We just started to talk photography (hard to believe its’ a topic I like to talk about) and at the end of the conversation he handed me his business card (he works for Wescott) and said if there was ever anything he could do. Well, I immediately tapped his expertise (he’s one smart dood). Knowing how highly Scott talks about Wescott, I told him my needs and asked what he recommended. When I got home a few days ago I found the Strobelite Plus kit waiting for me. Hot dang!

The custom kit John set me up with was two StrobeLite Plus heads (really sweet light), 7′ Octabank (killer, giant, light), 12×50 Strip Bank (might tip my hand with that one), stands and this killer Spiderlite Travel bag. Now you know how I like to take my own product shots but have to be honest with you, I don’t have a studio big enough (right now) to set up all this gear to do a product shot of it. I can tell you though that in the future you will see images taken using this incredible lighting system. I mean I’m still in awe. All this gear that creates such a gorgeous light all goes into a case smaller than the body box that holds our screen for DLWS. It’s that kind of innovation and eye to design that makes this most definitely the studio system for me! You can check out their line here. And it’s back to the studio for me. And if you want more info or to buy, contact Jeff Snyder at Adorama (where I buy all my gear).

MooseNewsBlog Readers score!

It’s no secret I love to design, redesign and generally kabitz with manufactures on products that I depend on. We all benefit time from time when these ideas get incorporated into products. Well this time, YOU benefit. directly from my kabitzing. Check out this offer for YOU guys from Scott at LensCoat.

Dear Moose,

I want to thank you for all the help and insight you provide to us, through testing new products, helping improve existing ones and helping us identify the needs of photographers. As a small way to say thanks we’d like to offer your blog readers worldwide Free Shipping. Moose Blog readers will get free shipping on LensCoat orders of $100 or more from now thru the end of October 2008. During checkout on the payment screen enter in coupon code mooseblogfs and click redeem.

Thanks Scott!

Lastolite EzyBox 18"

When you pop out that flash, do your photographs look like, well, they were lit with flash? Light sculpting tools are a very important part of making portable light, flash, work for you. You want to kiss your subject with light and the Lastolite Ezybox is a great tool for doing just that. While the Ezybox isn’t new, there is a new design and accessories.

You can’t see it here, but there is an internal baffle between the outside skirt and the flash. This softens the light while makes the light from the small head of a flash (SB-900 being using here) into a large light source. While I have it attached to a C Stand in the studio, the new extension pole (seen on the right) is great for positioning the unit in the field. What makes this so cool is it all folds up into nothing making it a snap to take it into the field with set up in a snap. You can see how here.

They even thought about us wildlife photographers. The new MP1959 ShotHide permits you to drape yourself in a stealth camo so you can walk right up to critters so you can light them without their knowing it…. Gotchas!

I have three of them and the product shots you see here on the blog and the website were all taken using at least one. The new design is sweet (I think we can thank Joe McNally) makes them a must. You can get yours here.

Lastolite EzyBox 18″

When you pop out that flash, do your photographs look like, well, they were lit with flash? Light sculpting tools are a very important part of making portable light, flash, work for you. You want to kiss your subject with light and the Lastolite Ezybox is a great tool for doing just that. While the Ezybox isn’t new, there is a new design and accessories.

You can’t see it here, but there is an internal baffle between the outside skirt and the flash. This softens the light while makes the light from the small head of a flash (SB-900 being using here) into a large light source. While I have it attached to a C Stand in the studio, the new extension pole (seen on the right) is great for positioning the unit in the field. What makes this so cool is it all folds up into nothing making it a snap to take it into the field with set up in a snap. You can see how here.

They even thought about us wildlife photographers. The new MP1959 ShotHide permits you to drape yourself in a stealth camo so you can walk right up to critters so you can light them without their knowing it…. Gotchas!

I have three of them and the product shots you see here on the blog and the website were all taken using at least one. The new design is sweet (I think we can thank Joe McNally) makes them a must. You can get yours here.

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