Sep 11, 2009 | Landscape Photography
I looked out the front window and saw the first colors of fall in our front Aspens. Man, where did the year go? We have a couple of days until we hit the road and part of our travels will be to fall color on the East Coast. In my own personal evolution, I want to improve on what I did last fall which means I need to review my images from last year. Looking at some of the techniques I started last fall, this is an example of one I need to explore further this fall.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Weston0265.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
This is the grist mill in Weston, VT. It’s a five image HDR, the result of the beginning of my own exploration of the technique I’ve perfected to my taste that I’ll be teaching in a couple of weeks at Photoshop World. What’s working for me is the placement of the color and the sharpness retained in the leaves. What doesn’t work is the color it’s just too, too. One of the problems with my early HDR was the increased in the contrast. That extra black punches up the color and that’s what I don’t like. I avoid that now in my images so I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned and a couple of new ideas to fall color.
What am I changing up this fall with this technique? Two things is depth of field and variable focus points. Would you like to know more? So would I since at this point they are just ideas that crossed my mind as I looked at my images from last year. I’m not sure what caught my attention in my review but something did and DOF and focus point came to my mind of a means of improving on what I’ve started. That’s the great fun of photography for me, the challenge of moving forward and either loosing or winning so I can move forward the next day.
Photo captured by D3, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 1, 2009 | Landscape Photography
In the midst of a project that is boring but a must do so I didn’t get out behind the camera all day. The hurricane way down south is pushing some moisture our way though creating an afternoon of gorgeous puffies. I know, I saw them from the office window. I happened to look up just in time to see the last glow of the day so I stopped what I was doing, grabbed the camera and headed outside for the last minutes of daylight. It’s really no more than a color graphic with three principle colors but it’s how you mix and match them that makes it seem like so much more.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8042.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
The entire view from the deck you can see here in this 16mm shot. You can see the small slice I actually used of the sky to make the image I like. The most common question folks ask when I post sunrises/sunsets is, “How do you know how much to include?” Sunrises and sunsets are a very personal thing, we all have a different response to them so that in part is a big part of the answer. For me, these types of photos have to have more than just color and that’s where the dance comes in. In this photo, I needed just a little pine tree to instill a sense of place and enough black for the eye to relate to so the other colors seem to pop. After that, underexpose -1.5 stops and a WB of Cloudy and I’m done. Darn, that meant I had to go back to my desk and work.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8031.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Photos captured by D3x, 45PC-E / 16mm on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 24, 2009 | Landscape Photography
After dinner we proceeded east towards home. We came up to Tuolumne Meadow just as the thunderstorms over Lee Vining Canyon were dissipating and the sun was setting. The sun was dancing behind clouds and the Tuolumne Peak and as it came and went, the thunderhead would light up and then fade, light up and fade. It was great!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7601.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We only had about fifteen minutes total of shooting time, but in that short time had a number cool opportunities. I made enough cool image to create this Gallery. I shot with just the 24PCE and 85PC-E on the D3x.Hope you enjoy.
Aug 24, 2009 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7454.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
With Steph being here, we took a drive Friday over the hill to introduce her to Yosemite Valley. We had a great day exploring and sharing with her our backyard. We headed back up the pass towards home to find a dinner picnic spot and found a quiet one at the end of Tenaya Lake. While we’re eating, the sun slowly sank and the light got better and better. I’d taken to the lake’s edge my bday present, a new 16 Fisheye, I’d had it for a while but hadn’t found a shot for it. I’ve always wanted to own a 16mm, never had a need and my family being so good to me, made a long time wish come true.
The making of the photo was pretty darn easy. The curve of the rock shoreline and three boulders caught my attention. I laid on the ground about two feet away from the center boulder and titled the 16mm up to bend the horizon line as it appears and went click. In the DD I lit the three boulders using Nik’s Color Efex Brillance/Warmth and called it a day. I’m not “apply the 16mm because I can’t make an image” kinda guy but find it to be a very specialized tool to be used only certain times. Now that I own one, I’ll have to look more for those special opportunities.
Photo captured by D3x, 16 Fisheye on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 19, 2009 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6792.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Well, after looking at the water for light, I turned to see some leaves backlit. This is totally not what you normally see me shooting. These particular leaves were oriented vertical so the sun streaming through them was totally the wrong direction (compared to a leaf laying horizontally).
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6693.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
With the hard shadows coming in an odd direction I was instantly drawn to them. They just looked surreal with the different lighting pattern. I shot a whole bunch but only a couple were worth finishing. What you see here is right from the camera. Pretty wild light!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6500.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Now here’s a rare photo, in my files that is. This is only the 4th or 5th leaf picture in my career I actually like that I took. No clue if it’s any good, don’t know why I like it and doubt if I could do it again but I’ll keep it. It shows there’s always hope.
Photos captured by D3x, 105VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 19, 2009 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCMCLC0627.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
It was one of those morning when the light went hard two heartbeats after the sun made its appearance. One of the things I typically do in such situations is run to the shadows. Either use the shadows as design elements or find within shadows other subject lacking that direct hard light.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCMCLC0642.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
So we blasted from Mono Lake and went up to Lee Vining Canyon. The first light that caught my attention was that flowin with the water. It was the play of color with the reflections that caught me attention. Not great but got me lookin. Following its course took me to an outflow where the creek dumped into a deep pool. Here I liked what you see above. It took about 30 images, the motordrive blasting away to capture the right combo and pattern of light and dark. Since I’m not that good at this, I’m kinda happy with this image.
Photos captured by D3x, 105VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
