There we were at Cliff House having breakfast. Like always, had my camera on my side. There we were, the DLWS staff just enjoying conversation when I look out the window and see this could come floating in. It was real simple, walked over to the window, frame ‘er up and click.
Photo captured by D3s, 50f1.4AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been going to Ft Point. My first trip as far as I know might have been in a stroller, but whatever the case, I just keep going back. This could be because it’s historic and I love history, it could be its location, the base of Golden Gate’s south tower, or it could because it’s a great place to shoot. Shooting there again this weekend proved to be another great visit.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9912.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I visited the Fort this time deciding to attack it with two basic thoughts, use 1 lens and chase the light. In the beginning, the light was winning, I couldn’t make it snap in the viewfinder no matter how I looked. Then I looked down a hallway of one wing, you could see through a half dozen doorways without obstruction. With that one shot under my belt, the rest started to fall into place.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9977.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The majority of the images were taken with the razor sharp 50f1.4AFS at f/1.4. I had a lot of fun with that for quite awhile until I went up on the second level. I got to one of the canon ports and it just screamed 16Fish. The problem, NO light! We’re talking dark as sin, just small droplets of light here and there and that’s what made it all work. Handholding at 1/10 of a second, I cranked off some fun shots. These two are the current favorites; that could always change. These are both single capture HDRs. A three image HDR is in the show, see if you can figure out which one it is in the gallery below.
Click Here to launch the Ft. Point Gallery.
The one thing that is very deceiving is these two images were taken in locations that were really pitch black. The exposure comp dialed in was -2.5 stops to deal with the darkness. That exposure comp along with the little light really popped the color in the brick and made the blacks really black. All good stuff! When it comes to finishing, other than the B&Ws (still not sure what I like better, I started with B&W but now like the color) was real simple, it’s right out of the camera.
I’ll be going back again in a couple of days. I wonder what will strike me this time, can’t wait!
Photos captured by D3s, 50f1.4AFS / 16Fish on Lexar UDMA film
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Yellowstone8065.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Oh man, yeah, we’re hooked bad! Yellowstone is just so gorgeous and we love sharing our long time love affair with this park with others. So we’re goming back in 2011 to offer a five day Yellowstone Adventure. Based out of West Yellowstone, we go into the park and surrounding area each day with one goal, shoot! Wildlife and wilderness are our subjects as we travel in the luxury of a snow coach throughout the park.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Bison8081.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
This is just a small sampling of the photographic possibilities. With just one vehicle and our permit, the possibilities are limited by only one thing, time. We’re in the park before the sun rises and out by the glow of headlights. The party is limited to just five (with staff of 3). You spend your entire day with Moose (yeap, stuck in the same van with him) receiving one on one instruction for probably more time than you want. It is cold, it is white, it is long days and it is a lot of photography! The dates are 07-11 Feb 1st week, 14-18 2nd week, 2011, price is $4295 (half down to reserve spot) and includes instruction, snow coach transport into the park and lunch. This year’s trip (which starts in a couple of days) sold out in a couple of hours so don’t think about it too long. 760.924.8632
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
There I was sitting in my favorite chair, images selected, thought at hand staring into the fire. I had it all ready, text written, images tagged and the draft saved when I looked out the windows to see the simple beauty of a Sierra sunset lighting up the sky. I grabbed the camera which is always sitting next to me and went out and shot it and then came back and deleted all I had wrote, removed the tags for the images. And now, you see it here.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8088.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Sometimes I get all wrapped up in some technique or flowery words or, something other than just simply enjoying making a simple click. Enjoy a simple click.
Photo captured by D3s, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Two days left in the year and the paperwork covers the desk. When you’re in the business of photography, there are just some things you just can’t ignore and one of them is making sure all the “business” for the year is done. My good friend Jeff Snyder has wisely reminded folks on Facebook to check with their accountant and make whatever purchases they need to so they can take advantage of whatever write offs are recommended to them.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6756.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
What does this have to do with wildlife photography? If you’re in the biz, you know how little we get paid for our passion (thought lucky we get paid at all to follow our hearts) so making every penny work twice for us is essential. This photo of a Junco was literally just taken moments ago from my desk. I might be stuck at the desk but photography goes on. Sharon has icicles hanging from her ears from my keeping the window open to shoot, but I got the shot. The moral of the story is simple, make the most of what you’ve got. Be it taxes, gear, time or opportunities!
Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
I have to admit, I enjoyed the challenge of shooting in the contrasty light of high noon. I actually looked for situations where I could play with HDR for a couple of reasons. I had a new way I wanted to finish my HDR images pushing the edge of Elvis on Velvet without going there and, had new HDR software I was asked to beta test (not so hot). For the most part I liked my new approach to finishing of the HDR in Photoshop (nothing different in Photomatix). It’s still a work in progress to achieve what I was seeing in my mind’s eye on paper. My bud RC got me to thinkin about it, now to keeping moving forward with that thought.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7517.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I wasn’t going HDR just because I could, I wanted to achieve a certain look. I wanted to bring some of that “old” Hollywood western light & warmth to the images while not going cross the line. I reached my goal 50% of the time which ain’t to bad for experimenting with new ideas. This image from inside the grocery store turned out to my liking. So did the bed and wagon wheel. Jury still out on the Model Ts. I assembled a little collection of what I’ve finished from our two hours of shooting for you to check out. You can see them here, enjoy! And the very last image, that’s no HDR, it’s just one I like.
And be sure to check out Jake’s blog, a couple of very sweet images from the same shoot!
Photos captured by D3s, 24 & 45 PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film