The Great One

Denali captured by Z 6II / Z70-200f2.8

I’m up in Alaska not for landscape photography but when it fills the horizon, I can’t ignore it! As the sun rose at 09:08 Denali, the Great One was visible to the north. A mountain that makes its own weather, it’s not visible most days so when it is, it’s special. From up on the mountain, looking across to The Great One the first light lit it up, and wow, what a view! We were very fortunate to see it all day which made being skunked a little less disappointing.

Panos – Easier Than Ever

3 Image Pano of Buggy Barn Museum captured by Z 6II / Z14-24f2.8

I’ve always loved panos, I do a lot of them just for myself as they are such a great reminder of a great memory. Back in the early days of digital, they were incredibly time intensive and just not fun. With ACR today, they are a snap and funner then ever! As far as I’m concerned, the Z bodies make them faster and better than the iphone. This is a really quick one I did with the Z 6II / Z14-24f2.8 using Mode #17. I shot the panos in a rush setting up for the day’s shoot. I then grabbed the three Nefs in Photo Mechanic, Cmd E to open in ACR, Selected the three images, right click and selected Merge Panorama and that was it, done!

What you’re seeing is the fabulous Buggy Barn Museum in Texas. This is a brilliant place to go and shoot and I can’t recommend it enough to you!

Reflecting on New Hampshire Color

Willey’s Pond captured by Z 6II / Z105mc

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are about to all go ablaze with fall color! I’m there right now and in the last 48hours, the color has ignited!!! This is reflection is just a small hint of the spectacular show. Nothing really tricky about the shot, include no shore, a tad of wind to give the reflection a base, shot in Vivid and right out of the camera to here. I Gotta run, that color is changing fast and I don’t want to miss a leaf!!!!

The Snap has Snapped

Miranda Aspens, NM captured by Z 6II / Z24-70f2.8

I was taught long ago that great fall color comes from a wet spring and a sudden cold snap in the fall. While we didn’t have a real wet spring, the temp was 28 this morning and that has set the clocking ticking. Fall color has begun here in the Bitterroots so it’s time to head out and get me some!
I have two approaches I like to start with when photographing fall color, long and short. I like shooting with the Z70-200f2.8 & Z24-70f2.8 from “outside” the color looking in. I look for a green background for the fall color which makes it pop. I underexpose to saturate the color. And I use a polarizer, rotating it so the majority of the leaves have the blue reflection from the sky removed.
Then I love to move right into a grove of fall color with the Z14-24 and simply lookup. I prefer says when there are whispy clouds and look for a pattern in them to place the fall color against. Well, nough said, time to grab the camera and head out, the clock is ticking, the snap has snapped!

Where’s the Light?!

Philmont Training Center captured by Z6II / Z24-70f2.8

04:45 as I headed to the truck, I can see the moon play hide and seek in the clouds. That’s exactly the clouds I wanted for sunrise. Once on the knoll, the faint glow on the horizon told me the sun was coming, but now the clouds had slid east past the horizon. Would we see the light?

To bring The Ranch to you, I shot a five vertical image pano, handheld and assembled quickly in ACR. The scene I shot though was much different. What you see is my response to the view and not actually the view. I want you to fall into this vast and beautiful place. The overcast which prevented the sun from bringing a glow never shinned. So I brought the light into the scene in post. If I hadn’t told you, I don’t think you would have known. I just want you to feel the warmth and not wonder, where’s the light.

Sheba Moment

Sheba captured by Z 6II / Z14-24f2.8

From a mile away we saw that “white spot” on the black sands of the Oregon Beach. We knew instantly it was a Great Pyrenees which we have a huge soft spot for so we headed over. On the way, I had to make a click as they seemed very much alone. By the time we had walked up to Sheba, we could see she is old and we go on to learn she’s 13, really old for a Pyrenees. Its owner said we could greet Sheba and she felt old as well. We found out she’s on her last days and her owner wanted the last few to be the best possible. It seemed Sheba loves the beach, this quiet section so it’s where she’s spending her last moments. We took in Sheba’s view, made a couple of clicks and then said goodbye. I like Sheba’s beach!

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