The Cool Influence of RC

Jan 18, 2011 | Landscape Photography

If there is one thing I love about working with peers, is learning from them. And when that peer is a crazy Mexican who is a genius, full of energy and totally new to a location, nothing but amazing happens. RC is with us at our Yosemite DLWS infecting us all with his approach to HDR. It’s not HDR for the sake of HDR, but a way of bringing more of the world through our heart and out to others.

Above is a simple click finished in ACR only. The 2nd image is the start of my learning RC’s technique (not too well I might add) shooting a 9 image HDR processing in Nik HDR. I have to admit, my efforts from the morning shoot learning this technique were pretty disappointing to me. I see so much more in RC’s images then mine. I just love failure when I know there is a solution, I just have to work my way to it.

And my final, a HDR B&W that I like! We have a really nice group of folks with us this week at DLWS. The new format is a ton of fun and we are off to a great start thanks to Yosemite and RC. Stay tuned, more to come.

Photos captured by D3x, 24f1.4AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Still Workin the ol Timie

Jan 17, 2011 | Landscape Photography

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6111_HDR.swf, 585, 400 [/swf]

While attempting to make the most of what RC is teaching us, I still worked on my own “nostalgia” look mimicking the old 1920s post cards from Yosemite. With some colors washed out, others pumped up, finding the right combo for each scene is a fun challenge. It first requires finding the right scene such as the outflow from low Yosemite Falls. Then there is the exposure and finally the processing. This image which is a combination of HDR, Color Efex and curves gets pretty close to the look. Still have a ways to go but I have a workflow foundation which is half the battle. Having the energy of RC and the folks makes trying this fun more then a chore. So I’m looking forward to the morning fun!

Photo captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film

There is Fun after Dark!

Jan 17, 2011 | Landscape Photography

We’re here in Yosemite having one helluva a great time. This is in part because we’re in Yosemite, and in Yosemite with this crazy Mexican who has never been here before.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp63581.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

RC is like a kid in a candy store and he just keeps on sampling. Well, just because the sun is gone doesn’t mean you can’t keep shooting. Na, you can slip and slide on the ice and photograph Yosemite Falls. So, off we went!

This is a real simple shot. The D3s is set to ISO 1600, M 8sec f/2.8 with AWB. You look at the upper photo and compare it to the lower photo you’ll notice the lower photo, the rock face is “warmer.” That’s because the AWB is A6 (there it is again). And all the light on the trees? The majority of it is the moon. The tree trunk on the right that is all lit is from headlights. I just wish I had a video for you because RC and his antics had us laughing the entire time. Photography should be fun and that is all we’re having!

Photos captured by D3s, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Febuary in January?

Jan 17, 2011 | Landscape Photography

Horsetail Falls is a late February occurrence, that is the magical shot. This is because of two factors, water and light. (Update: the falls did not look nearly as nice the next day to the point we didn’t go to the falls.)

With our recent storms in the Sierra, we have the water so the falls are flowing. This is special because they don’t always flow each year. So with the water, I wondered if we’d have the light.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp56781.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

After the sun set, you could see the red glow grow. What I find really cool is that even though we didn’t have that magical light of Feb, you look, you can see that red band of light that does occur off to the left of the falls. I just find it fascinating to know the sun / earth will move enough in three weeks so that red shaft of light will hit the falls.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp57181.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

After the sun had set, we kept on shooting. The glow from way out in the Pacific still worked it’s magic. This is the face of El Cap and that granite acts like a great reflector forever bouncing around the last beam of light. That little bit of “alpine glow” was brought out by using AWB A6. Don’t know what that means? Grab your instruction book, it’s worth learning about!

Photos captured by D3x, 70-200VR2 w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Oh, I Can Do Better, Even for Macro

Jan 16, 2011 | Landscape Photography

OK, I’ll admit it was a great macro opportunity. The best part, I didn’t have to get down on the ground and stick my ass up in the air to take it. So I decide to get in the swing of things and work the subject a little better. So here’s my first click.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp53571.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

The 1st thing I did was improve the background. In the last blog the dark background didn’t work for the conditions, snow. So I moved so I had a white background. Next, from the 1st to 2nd photo here, I titled the camera from plum to the earth to plumming the subject to the frame.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp53681.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Yeap, still shoot in HSC mode with AWB A6 to warm up the leaves. I’m only shooting at f/8 to maximize sharpness on the hoar frost while not pulling in the background.

And lastly, I went vertical with the camera still plummed to the subject and not the earth. And for Moose, it’s not a half bad macro shot.

HSC = 1 Less Walk

Jan 16, 2011 | Landscape Photography

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp53321.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

So we’re working the meadow, it’s simply gorgeous! I start walking and walking and walking. I have just the 70-200VR2 which is working great. I end up about 3/4 of a mile from the van when I turn around and realize how far I’ve gone. I look back and see the gang standing around a small valley oak in what appears prayer so I head back the short distance to them. I reach them to find them photographing the frost on the oak leaves. Darn cool!

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp53351.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

My problem is, I only have the 70-200 and I want a bigger image size and I’m at its MFD. To be really honest, and this will sound bad, but I was too lazy to walk back for my 105MC so I simply turned on the High Speed Crop and shot away. With the D3x, the images quality is still killer and besides, it’s just a macro shot :-)