The Romance of B&W

Aug 20, 2021 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

Monument Valley landscape captured by Z 6II / Z70-200f2.8

In the perfect world, all could venture to the same locale that inspires us and take in the wonders we are so fortunate to do with our hearts and cameras. The next best thing is to invite those we share our images with to step into that moment with us through our photographs. When it comes to landscape photography the B&W screams that love affair we had. It permits to make the most of black to hide certain elements while including them. It permits us to speak in visual depth. And most importantly, it permits us to communicate with the power of light to the viewer that, “they need to be there!” Straight out of the camera, B&W is also very simple to bring home. Great memories and photographs, the romance of B&W!

Fall Mammals – Plan Carefully!

Aug 17, 2021 | Wildlife Photography

Alaskan Bull Moose captured by D5 / 180-400VR

Fall is when mammals, especially big game look their best with their winter coats. Those coats change slightly each year based on the quality of the browse and the temps. This year with the heat waves and extreme drought, much of the west isn’t offering the same quality habitat as in a typical year. Just watching the White-tailed and Mule Deers on The Ranch, I can see a measurable difference in their pelts. So if planning on chasing the big boys, do some homework for the region you’re heading to. I will make a difference in your final photograph. Fall mammals, plan carefully!

14mm Sometimes is Not Enough!

Aug 13, 2021 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography

Walker Lake 2 image pano captured by Z 6II / Z14-24f2.8

The winds were howling in Hawthorne, NV as we pulled over on the shore of Walker Lake. The clouds we’d seen long before arriving at the lake were already in NY by the time we parked. The scene was charging that fast so my original thought about an image had changed many times. I stepped out of the truck at first with the Z70-200 but by the time I turned, I knew I needed wide. Grabbed the Z14-24f2.8 and put the camera to my eye and knew that wasn’t wide enough either. I love shooting at 14mm but as you can see here, a bunch of drama was not in the viewfinder. That’s when I knew I had to take a two image pano to bring in the all the drama. It’s so easy to do today! In ACR, bring in both images, click on making a pano, and done. The morale of the story, when working with a fleeting scene and you need to do wide, a two image pano can be faster than changing lenses!

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

Maybe Later?

Aug 10, 2021 | Wildlife Photography

Billy Mountain Goat captured by D4s / 80-400VR

It’s late summer and school for many’s kids begins shortly. All you gotta do is head to a National Park and you know lots and lots and lots of folks are on their summer vacation. For many photographers, this is their opportunity to get that shot, try that new lens or experience their thrill of critter photography for months. Perhaps you planned for the last six months to get to Logan Pass, Glacier Nat’l Park. You’ve seen killer photos of their Mountain Goats and you want one of your own. You got to Glacier, you even got through the reservation system so you can drive the Going to the Sun Road. You’re excited as there is no wildfire smoke, you even have a slight cloud cover nicely diffusing the light. You get to Logan Pass and even find a parking spot. Success!

You get out with your favorite lens (it doesn’t take much length) and you walk towards the large gathering of folks. You come up to them to see the Mountain Goats! But you take a second look cause the photos you saw from Logan Pass are not what you’re seeing in front of you. Most don’t realize the summer is not the best time to photograph big game or bears, or anything that grows a winter coat. That’s because they molt that thick coat off so they can grow a new one for winter while staying cool during the summer. I refer to them as “moth-eaten” but that’s not the cause of the ugly coat. And without that winter coat, well, they just don’t look the same. So if you’re summer plans include photography big game, maybe later?

The Subtlety of Color

Aug 5, 2021 | Landscape Photography

Bandon Beach captured by D750 / 14-24f2.8

Our vision and the “system” it is connected to within our mind and heart is such an amazing sensor to our world! When you contemplate all the info it takes in and relates to us in a heartbeat and without any thought, there are simply no words for it. Translating that input we have visually and matching it with our cameras, that on the other hand can be hand-to-hand combat at times. At times, it can take the joy out of the simple moment we’re trying to capture. This is what I’ve done ever since digital hit the office to make it all simpler.

When I see red in the sky, I set the WB of my camera to Cloudy. Cloudy actually represents a Kelvin temp, 6000k. Our AWB has a limit and in many cases, it is trying to “generalize” the light/color when we want a very specific color, in this case, that of sunset (or sunrise). Many want to do this in post which is of course is an option. I prefer to get it right in the camera making it responsible for getting my memory recorded correctly so that later, I don’t have to think about what was the color, I know because the camera got it right. Often, I will dial the WB up to 9-10k when the color in the sky is that deep, blood-red like the sun trying to make its way through wildlife smoke. It is your memory, you need to preserve it the way that works best for you. I’d rather not think about it, just feel it so I make the camera earn its keep and get it right :-)

It’s Monsoon Season!

Jul 29, 2021 | Landscape Photography

Monument Valley captured by Df / 18-35AF

The summer monsoon season has arrived and so far is producing spectacular weather. The emotion and moodiness of this weather can be visually incredibly exciting, challenging and dangerous. Being out in the weather leads to the great images if you’re ready. Are you?

The first basic is watching the weather which is a lot easier now with the assist of our iPhones. TMRWWeather, MyRadar, and Lightning Pro are my favorite apps for watching an approaching storm and being prepared. Being prepared includes having the rain shell, the Miops charged (and firmware updated), white towel packed (as you’re going to get wet), and knowing escape routes if you get surprised. Much of the big weather is in the southwest where flash floods can become lethal. You need to know focal length, exposure as well as safety to make the most of this glorious season for landscape photography!

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