Z 8 New Monochrome Picture Control

Feb 19, 2024 | B&W Photography, Random Thoughts

Waco EQC-6 captured by Z 8 / Z50f1.2  Flat Monochrome: Monochrome: Deep Full Monochrome

Tucked in with the amazing and massive Z 8 2.0 Firmware update were two new Monochrome Picture Control, Flat & Deep Full along with the already present Monochrome. I took the Monochrome family out for a spin this past weekend, the test results you see here. The images above are straight out of NX Studio. All three monochrome PC are quite stunning and when applied to the right scene and visual story come right out of the camera print ready. It will take some more time for me to make the three options easily applied to the right scene but I love the results and the challenge. A tip of the hat to the engineers at Nikon for bringing us the Z 8 new monochrome Picture Control!

Landscape, Light, Drama calls for B&W!

Feb 16, 2024 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

Fountain Flats captured by Z 8 / Z24-120

Romancing the landscape, I know of no finer pursuit with a camera. When light is served up, the power of nature is on display with eminence visual depth, Black & White is the obvious option. Dialed in -.07 exp comp, set the Z 8 to Monochrome (here are my B&W settings), and went click. Then the best part, put the camera down and simply take it all in. Landscape, light, and drama call for B&W!

The Changing Landscape

Jan 24, 2024 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

Lower Yellowstone River captured by Z 8 / Z24-120

The Yellowstone River is an impressive act of nature! It’s a view I’ve stopped to take in many times but looking through all my files from years passed, not taken. Why when it is so gorgeous? Because normally it’s all white as the river is frozen solid. Only if you know the point would you know the river is there. This year though, it’s not been cold enough for the river to freeze over and the snow fall could be called a trace. To give you some idea how little snow, normally when you cruise Yellowstone this time of year, the landscape is a carpet of white, snow covers the world. This year it’s a sea of sage brush with white at its base. That’s four to five feet of snow that’s missing. It’s a scene that’s still beautiful but a bit scary, the changing landscape.

It Wants To …

Nov 16, 2023 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

Absaroka Mountains captured by Z 8 / Z70-200f2.8

Yellowstone is slightly different this year from years pass. That’s because other then on the high peaks, there is simply no snow. In fact, it’s 20-30 degrees warmed than normal. This effects so much, the critters and photography in particular. And while you see the clouds dark and mencing in the distance, by nightfall they are no more than a pretty sunset, not snow dropped. Love to have the snow, I think it wants to.

Shoot, Share & Celebrate!

Oct 30, 2023 | B&W Photography, Random Thoughts

Old Faithful captured by Z 8 / Z24-70f2.8

We are incredibly fortunate to be living at this time with the tools, techniques and passion we use to celebrate life! It seems really hard right now to turn the world off though in that pursuit. Not saying ignore it, but just turn the volume down or off by applying what it is we all do naturally. I’m suggesting that we find those moments that make us smile when behind the camera, one simple click, and share it and celebrate our good fortunes.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to witness Old Faithful reach for the heavens hundreds of times. No two explosions of energy are ever the same. Last week, clouds on the western horizon darkened the sky in the background so the steam condensed in the cool air providing a natural drama. All that was required was to be there. It’s the perfect example I think of what we call should be doing with our photography right now. Shoot, share & celebrate!

Whata Lake!

Oct 25, 2023 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

Yellowstone Lake from Lake Hotel captured by Z 8 / Z24-70f2.8

It is so vast that coming up with a moody photography of it is often a huge challenge. Yellowstone Lake stretches further than you can see so either you have bald skies or clouds here or there, mere dots in the sky. The Park closes in a couple of days for winter and Mother Nature is doing here part with a little wx coming in and that brought for a short time, some dramatics clouds (the sun was out and skies clear about a hour later). Can’t make this stuff up, droved up and parked, open the door, the Z 8 set to Monochrome, clicked and was done. It was a gorgeous moment in this magical place, Yellowstone which of course is home for whata lake!

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