Aug 31, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp41451.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
There are times when despite your best efforts, you find yourself in an interesting place in the worst light. Highnoon! Ever been in that position, I sure have and was again the other day. What do you do?
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4165.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I tend to work with the contrast and underexpose to make more of this abundant element. That means you have to think of black as a design element so with these massive mesas in Monument Valley, you use the black to speak of the natural design of the rock. The underexposure also pumps the blue sky and red in the rock. So then it’s just back to the basics of arranging the elements and going click. So, highnoon isn’t that bad once you think through the problem and come up with a solution. And those folks joining us shortly on the NAPP Safari at PSW, you might need this thought process for the first moments of our safari.
Photos captured by D3x, 18AF, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 30, 2010 | Landscape Photography
When you are incredibly fortunate, the storm breaks at sunset and performs the magic only Mother Nature can produce. With the opening in the clouds, the pedal hits the metal to get into place.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4391.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I mean, we’re talking illegal speeds because for me, a gorgeous sunset works ONLY when you have something interesting with it from the landscape. Just pretty colors in the clouds just doesn’t cut it for me. On the western horizon I saw an opening in the clouds, that means a brief beam of light was going to make it through. Watchout cars…crazy Moose comin through!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4411.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
With the dust in the air, you knew the light would be blood red. What do you want in that kind of light in Monument Valley? Monument Valley!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4408.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
And here’s the gold and the end of the rainbow! As simple a click as one can make. Just got in place, dialed in -2 exp comp and click. For me, this one click of this one mesa makes all the time this trip, last trip and all those times dying to be here worth while. Mother Nature, she knows drama!
Photo captured by D3x, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 30, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4279.swf, 402, 600 [/swf]
Atmosphere is so important to landscape photography. I’d rather have an overcast sky to a bald blue sky. Give me a storm breaking up though and I’m in pig heaven!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4303.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Why a breaking storm? Well a storm that is forming means the solid gray skies are coming so my hopes are dashed on the rocks for any drama in the sky.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4359.swf, 402, 600 [/swf]
But a thunderstorm breaking up, which typically happens near sunset, means the drama is coming and the pixels are going to be burnt. The trick is to have an open mind, a number of focal lengths handy and be flexible between color & B&W photography. With that, you look for the drama which in a nutshell are changes from light to dark in combination with interesting shapes in the landscape. And with that, you’re now ready to chase the light!
Photos captured by D3x, 70-200VR2, 24PC-E, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 27, 2010 | Landscape Photography
Russell Brown in Monument Valley, one of the most tranquil places on the planet. You might be saying to yourself this is an oxymoron but actually, he’s a natural here. Russell was supposed to be apart of our April adventure here but he went on a trip to Mexico and actually ate something that made him miss our trip.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4048.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
So we’re here to make it up to him. And I’ve always wanted to be here in August when it’s supposed to be incredibly hot with killer thunderstorms. It’s not real hot but the weather is shaping up for the storms. Jake & I got our gear back from Nikon after their annual check ups (planned it so it would happen after their workout in Alaska) so we were ready to get them all dirty again. This is such a gorgeous place, we see our good friends today and we’re with great friends. Life doesn’t get any better!
D3x, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 19, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCAKHR0668.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Yeap. we did the planning, over a year in advance. We were with THE experts, the best in the field and we made the trek and none of that, not one single iota of it guarantees that once you get on site, you will get to make a single click. That’s how it goes in wildlife photography and despite shelling out $4k to make the adventure happen, after day two, we’d not even seen our quarry let alone got any glass on it. And I’m just fine with that!
Na, sitting on the slope with rain dripping off my gear and myself is not how I wanted to spend my day but to be honest with you, that’s better than being stuck inside four walls personally. There are always moments, perhaps just seconds when the clouds lift and light comes through on the horizon that reminds you that you are just spec on this planet and your time here if you’re really, really, really lucky will count for something. And the rest of the time, just sit back, take a deep breath and be grateful you at least have a shot at the brass ring.
Photo captured by D3x, 70-200VR2 on a very wet slope in AK
Aug 19, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5524.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
With the boat in the water, we headed back to camp to grab our gear to head out. You look up on the slope on Slope Mtn (name isn’t on a map) to that sunny patch, those bare rock outcroppings is where we were to spend the day. The 700′ vertical climb in less than 3/4 of a mile was simply brutal for me. If that wasn’t bad enough with the 600mm/D3x on my shoulder going up that loose shale, the rain made it official. It was a bitch of a climb for this old man!
This would be the last time we would see the face of Slope Mtn for two days! The biologists flew up the mtn just as nimbly as our quarry with Jake right behind them. Then for the next five hours, Jake & I sat in the damp fog and rain, out in the open on that slope looking at rocks. Our quarry requires sun and we surely had none. So wet and sore, we worked our way back down the slope wondering if we had traveled ten hours up the Haul Road for nothing.
Photo captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
