Simple Rhythms

Mar 18, 2011 | Landscape Photography

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP89311.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]

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There is just something about shooting down on waves that grabs my eye. The shades of blue and white, the patterns, the shimmer, I spend so much time trying to make the single click that captures that rhythm. Nothing complicated to photograph, just watch and click as you like and then admire. The bottom frame I’ve been staring at for an hour as I get work done. I have no idea what it is about this one frame that has caught my eye, but it has.

Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film

When Size Matters

Feb 23, 2011 | Landscape Photography

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp01341.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]

I hear from a lot of folks saying they don’t have a 600mm lens. They ask “How do I get a large subject in the frame without the big lens?” This is a really great question. Here are some suggestions when you feel lens challenge and your desire the large subject size. The first option is demonstrated right here. Can you tell what it is?

Compostionally, I think this is a vertical photo with the tree trunk being so strong visually. But when you rotate the camera vertically, even though that is all we’ve done, the subject now “feels” much smaller in the frame. Nothing has changed other then the camera’s orientation yet in the vertical format the Bald Eagle appears smaller. This is because of the space above and below the eagle in the vertical format compared to the horizontal format. Yeah, you can make your subject size appear larger that simply. Is this the only way? Not hardly but it doesn’t cost you a thing and it’s really simple to do. Just thought I would pass it along.

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film

YA Wk2 D4-4

Feb 18, 2011 | Landscape Photography

And just as quickly as the storm comes in….

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What I’m doing to make the contrast pop is 1st, shooting in Vivid and then underexposing -.05. And that’s it.
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

YA Wk2 D4-3

Feb 18, 2011 | Landscape Photography

And just as quickly as the storm comes in….

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The storm blows out but the crusties remain. And how you ask am I getting the contrast I am in camera? You’ll have to read the next blog….

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

YA Wk2 D4-1

Feb 18, 2011 | Landscape Photography

The magic that is Yellowstone in winter returned and if all its glory! The 6-8″ of fresh snow greeted us as we were the first into the park (which we always are) and some drifts too big for us to go directly through. With the wind chill, we were down to around -14. This combo made for a killer day of finding and photographing crusties. What are crusties?

Crusites are my own nickname for Bison caked with ice and snow. Some see this and are amazed that a fur barer could have snow caked on them. But between body fat and the fur, very little heat escapes so the snow can stick. The one key ingredient to make this work though is some moisture and that’s where the steam from the thermals comes into play. In Yellowstone in the winter when the conditions are right, it’s easy to find crusties. This duo were literally right on the road. We simply crept up on them with the snowcoach doors open and shot a few clicks without leaving our seats. When you have this kind of opportunity, it’s time to do eyeball photography. It was a great start to a great day of crusty photography!

Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film

YA Wk2 D3-4

Feb 17, 2011 | Landscape Photography

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We had heard about the fishing Coyotes but had yet to see them actually in action. We left the Bison in the blizzard, sun was history when we came across this loan animal out in the Madison River. Does he look miserable or what?

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We never saw him catch a fish but it wasn’t because of a lack of trying or camouflage. Look all that snow that’s pilled up on him from the storm, yikes! Winter is back in the park and instantly the photo opps are jumping out. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 (HSC) on Lexar UDMA digital film