It Can’t Make up Its Mind

Apr 4, 2024 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

The Bitterroots captured by Z 9 / Z70-200f2.8

Whenever Sharon & I are out running errands, we always take time to swing through Lee Metcalf NWR. The gear is in the car and the bins are in hand looking and this time of year, we’re keeping an eye out on the Sandhill Cranes as they nest on the refuge. The wx was on the gray side at first and then broke for a short time and then the rain came, again. The snow line is high on the Bitterroots giving them a white cap which is gorgeous! With the clouds dancing around, the sun playing hide & seek, can’t help but to look up and take in the beauty. While we didn’t find the cranes this field trip, we did have a gorgeous view to reward us for cruising. As the rain started up again on us, snow up on the peaks, the wx told us it was time to head back towards home. But we had to wonder if, it can make up its mind.

The Bitterroots captured by Z 9 / Z70-200f2.8

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!

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