Oct 20, 2009 | Landscape Photography
I just love this state, in the fall that is (to be fair, I have never been here any other time). The little treasures that are tucked away in its countryside are simply so much fun to find. For example, we took the DLWS gang to Hartwick State Forest Park yesterday afternoon. Barely on maps, this great piece of wild heritage it really tucked in the middle of nowhere.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP3165.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
All the photos here were taken by walking no further than 100 yards from where we parked. Yeah, there is just that much potential because these are only 3 of the 19 set ups I did in this small stretch of the forest. I walked really slowly just looking side to side, up and down selecting those opportunities I wanted to capture.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP3189.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I mentioned in an earlier blog I wanted to work my B&W fall color, kind of an oxymoron, I know but what can I say is, I was very pleased with my progress in that pursuit yesterday. Here’s my favorite from yesterday.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP3251.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
The skies were not the best for shooting straight up but were beautifully diffused for shooting in the forest, but I wanted to shoot up. I kept looking and looking, got a stiff neck and then finally after the sun had set I found a small window to shoot. I took a number of variations of this, dancing with the bit of blown out sky you see here in the lower left. Still not sure if I will leave it of close in some leaves to make the bright area smaller or not, but I’m happy with the image.
We were going until after 11PM and out again well before daylight. MTC
Photos captured by D3x, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 19, 2009 | Landscape Photography
Starting at a place called Fishtown, sounds kinda fishy to the newbies but the photography at this small locale smells pretty sweet! Arriving prior to sunrise, the surprise that the old dock town has in store is hidden. Once the light starts to come up, the possibilities abound.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP3104.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The clouds had so much promise, the light was encouraging but it ended up being a promise unanswered. So I turned to the digital darkroom. This photo was taken at -1.5 so capturing all the highlight detail in the sky was tricky because the 16Fish takes in so much. That meant the fishing village went into shadows and black. That was a plus and minus. The plus was some of the yuck disappeared, the minus was some of the cool stuff disappeared as well. So I simply went into NX2, dropped some Color Control points on the buildings, brought up the brightness, contrast and warmth and called it finished. It was a lesson that the class thought was pretty darn cool. Especially since it only took a minute to finish.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp3106.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
And then there is my hero, Joe McNally. From this sleepy little village Joe enters and finds subjects, situations and of course, killer images. I was on the other end of town and got in only during the last few minutes but I like the one quick portrait I was able to capture. That guy, he just works magic!
It’s going to be a great week!
Photos captured by D3x 16Fish / 200f2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 18, 2009 | Landscape Photography
We revisited a favorite MI scene of mine today. This very tranquil farm just screams to be photographed. But unlike our last visit, the dramatic lighting was missing this time. Drama is incredibly important to a strong landscape photograph, without it they simply suck, suck, suck. So without drama in the light falling on the scene, this is what the camera recorded.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2869b.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Most would see this and rightly so enjoy the scene but not make any clicks. You have to admit, the light is pretty boring. But with knowing NX2 and its Color Control Points, you can “light” the scene by simply working the colors that are available in the scene. This photo was finished entirely in NX2 and took less than 2min.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2869.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Yeah, I would rather mother nature did all the heavy lifting and light the scene for me but there are times when that just doesn’t happen so you need to turn to the tools in the digital darkroom to finish your passion.
Photo captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 17, 2009 | Landscape Photography
DLWS is back in MI and it’s great! It’s just gorgeous here, the fall color just blazing away and the scenery just couldn’t be finer. The staff as usual has come in early to scout the food…er, I mean the locations, and have found the best locales for fudge… I mean photography.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2807.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The hardwood forests here on the UP (yeah, I know, we’re not technically on the UP so don’t email me) are spectacular. Part of the scouting we do prior to DLWS is a bit of history learning. We went to a lumber museum where I learned a lot. I had no idea how much of this part of the country was clear cut for lumber. Wow!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2842.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Wondering the old lumber roads and railroad grades, uncovers some of the magnificent treasures this area has to offer.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2858.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
And what might seem sacrilege when you have abundant fall color, exploring it photographically in B&W fascinates me. The key is: strong blacks, especially in the trunks. This is a good start but I plan on doing better as the week progresses and students push me to kick it up a notch. Probably the best thing about teaching is the push to take things beyond the safe and sure.
Photos captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 15, 2009 | Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
Our time shooting together just flew by! We were already at our last shoot and as you can see, and clouds finally floated in. We went back to the Alabama Hills for a number of reasons. The biggest being that it’s a totally different place in the evening. I took the guys to a place I really like for sunset, obviously I’d been there before so the challenge for me was to do something new.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2547.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Pretty quickly I latched on to this rock. I had the 16Fish attached and the combination of the lens and the rock’s shape intrigued me. I shot it and one of the first problems was the exposure on the left over the Sierra. It was blown out and no matter what I tried, I couldn’t pull it. So I ended up doing a 7exp HDR. I’m very happy with the results.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2571.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I then turned the corner and looked at the same rock with the 16Fish and saw another shape and photo, even though it was the same rock. With the turn I was no longer getting the blown out clouds over the Sierra so this was a simple, single click.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2585.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Then, being really quick on the draw, I wondered what would happen if I continued on the same path. You see what I got. It’s kinda cool it appears to be three different boulders when it’s all the same. Then to finish off the series, I went to the complete other side and did a landscape covering the boulder and the world around it.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2736.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Sharon & I want to thank John, Adam, Ray, Patrick, Rick and Russ for permitting us to share a little bit of our backyard and bring to life for them an unique part of our wild heritage!
Photos captured by D3x, 16Fish on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 14, 2009 | Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
Except me that is. This once very busy hub of the Owen’s Valley has long since faded away to become one of its many lost towns. It’s not a ghost town, folks still live in Keeler and the post office, though a hole in the wall, and still delivers mail. While you will find some things on the web about Keeler, I have the feeling that my little tribute to it here might bring more folks to its door step. Be respectful, it is private property.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2446.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The residents have a sense of humor, especially when it comes to the plight of their town and the toll time has taken on it. Keeler Beach where Haz-mat suits are required is just a hint of the tongue-in-cheek attitude these hearty souls have about their home. The sign was in shade so a SB-900 set at 200mm -2 was used to make the white lettering light up.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2417.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The old train station hasn’t seen a train for decades. Its many layers of paint is slowly giving way to time and making a great photographic subject along the way. Hours could easily be spent just photographing its many sides. While you could shoot it any time, I prefer in the afternoons when the most interesting portions are in shade and the colors more vibrant in the waning light.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP2438.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Then there is this contribution to the day. I see many things appearing on these discarded television sets in the future. I think the time travel they once offered to the residents of the forgotten town of Keeler still have a little travel left in them. At the very least, the town of Keeler was the last type of landscape the group was expecting on an Eastern Sierra adventure. That’s the fun of traveling with me, you just never know where I’m going to take you.
Photos captured by D3x, 24PC-E / 85PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film.
