Aug 31, 2010 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4614.swf, 402, 600 [/swf]
The Valley of the Gods is an amazing location that I just love to visit. I’m making plans to spend a whole bunch more time there, but that requires different travel plans.
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This incredibly small slice of UT when the storms are rolling through is simple, without a doubt, hands down one of the most romantic landscapes in the southwest. There’s a ton of red here, not a issue. I wanted to do a little exploring in B&W and was happy with my results. I can do better but that requires days of on foot exploration. I always love having to have to return to a location :)
Photos captured by D3x, 18AF, 16Fish on Lexar UDMA digital film
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?
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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 25, 2010 | Wildlife Photography
Wildlife isn’t as clear cut as some critter ID books like to make out. This is especially true for critters not recorded or in the public eye. I’ve received a whole lot of emails and comments from folks that they too have photographed the Alaska Marmot. Well, just seeing a marmot in Alaska doesn’t make it an Alaska Marmot.
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This is the marmot 99.9% of Alaskan visitors see and photograph. This is the Hoary Marmot that most photograph at Savage Rock in Denali Nat’l Park. You could also have photographed this same critter in Glacier Nat’l Park or any point in between. It’s range is pretty big and marmots in most locales can become very habituated. This is kinda classic pose and situation for them, on a rock overlooking their small territory for predators.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLMTAM0376.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
This is the Alaska Marmot. The first thing you should notice different between the two is the Alaska has the black face. Next, the Alaska has the rufuos on the hind quarters. The one thing you wouldn’t know is the Hoary is found south of the Yukon River and the Alaska north of the Yukon River.
What’s the third marmot in Alaska? This was a piece of information I didn’t know until we worked this project. The Woodchuck is a marmot and it lives in AK. I’ve never seen or photographed one so if I want them all in my files, darn, I’ll have to go back to Alaska, again!
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film
