The simple beauty of a simple tree

The afternoon was one of those classic Eastern Sierra days, warm sun, clear skies and the sleepies on the breeze. So we took a drive and the gang was introduced to some parts of California none knew existed. We then headed up a canyon that is not well known either and we played with the Aspens. The snow of last week sent the trees into fall color mode only to be hit by a heat wave so the leaves are just turning brown rather than any show. Despite this, the elegant trunks against the Sierra gray granite made for a ton of great photography. Enjoy.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1411.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1425.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1482.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1522.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1537.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1586.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1569.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Photos captured by D3x 70-300VR / 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Doing bald is such a challenge

The radar picture was clear when I went to bed, it was clear when I awoke, it was going to be a bald sky morning. If landscape photography weren’t a challenge enough, we had this to deal with as well. We’re so lucky here on the Eastside to have a great place for just such a morning, Convict Lake.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1295.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Before the sun is even close to making an appearance the light starts to bounce around in the massive bowl. Shooting at -2, photo opps abound when you think in a more graphic style of shooting. This is when symmetry comes into play and probably when I chimp a lot. I tend to have the image on the monitor and stare at it just to be sure I like how all is aligned.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1339.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Then once the light does hit the top of Mt Morrison, the color is as one of our adventurers put it, spiritual. The intensity in the color is from the underexposure and nothing else. It doesn’t last long but it’s long enough. We ‘re heading south today to explore some more of the East Side. I’ll be blogging through the weekend to keep you informed and inspired.

Photos captured by D3x, 85PC-E, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film

Eyes where wide open

The afternoon found my favorite, bald skies, staring us in the face. Decided to take the gang to a special place, an old mine up in the hills. You’ve seen many images from here over the years as I often take photographers up to the old site. Why? It’s a bloody challenge! As soon as you walk in you just know there are images all around, they just tend to not be in the viewfinder. I’ve made a couple of favorites here though so the challenge keeps calling me back. I knew this image was here, today though I found it in the viewfinder

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1121.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

It’s an screened, outside cooler for pies and cakes (must have smelled great). The black tar paper is just about everywhere so not including it is not an option. Making it something is the challenge and the light this afternoon along with the weathered warmth of the wood just clicked for me.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1139.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

I like both images though they are totally different. I think one is stronger than the other, just don’t know which one, yet.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1166.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]

A monkey could have found this last image so the moose fell into it easily. It was a good day!

Photos captured by D3x, 85PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film.

When is Exp Comp NOT applicable?

It was one of those mornings for me when 1+1=2 and 2 was the right answer for the day. After a solid, productive shoot at Mono Lake, as McNally would say, we heard the call of the wild pancake. After breakfast the light was getting had so perfect time to hit the falls. Up the hill we went and we were rewarded with a couple of hours of sweet photography.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1008.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

I was just starting to get in the grove when I came up to this subject. The nasty highlights on the left just wouldn’t leave though the cool light on the right was fading. I’m already shooting at f/32, ISO L.1 and polarizer attached to get the blurred effect I want. Normally I would just dial in exposure compensation and be done with them, but what’s the problem with the solution? Yeap, you got it, it would increase my shutter speed making it faster and the water sharper. That’s not a solution.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP1005.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

So what was the solution? I’m so proud of myself to think of this. I used a 2 stop screw-in neutral density filter and rotated it so it basically darkened the left side while not effecting the right side. of the image That’s such an obvious solution and when I actually think of those right at the time I need them and not after I’m putting the tripod in the trunk, I’m proud of myself.

Photos captured by D3x, 45PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film

Back in the Saddle again

You’ve probably been wondering “where the heck is Moose?” Probably just been wondering were are the blog posts. I came back from PSW with a little bug which laid me flat and bed ridden for a few days. I couldn’t find a button on the TV remote let alone type. So, no posts. But I’m vertical again and good timing, we started out Eastern Sierra Adventure today.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0859.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

We started our day at Mono Lake for a very schweeeet sunrise! It was a great start because it helped the really great group of shooter we have learn that shooting sunrise doesn’t mean you have to point your camera to the east. The light as it bounced of the Tufas was as soft as can be and lucky for us, the only clouds for hundreds of miles where in the right place for us. This is my first image from the morning and we’re having a short break so wanted to get it up to say I live.

You might be able to see in the image what appears a narrow band of focus. The minimum DOF I started with at Brooks earlier this summer continues to invade my thought process. I like it a lot here. This was shot at f/2.8.

The rest of the morning was great for me. While it’s not earth shatering, whenever I think of an obvious solution to a problem for the first time, I pat myself on the back. what was the solution? That will come next post when I have more time.

Photo captured by D3x, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film

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