Jan 20, 2010 | Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
After a picnic lunch at one of the best spots on the planet to have a picnic, we headed back down the road. We came around the corner when the skies opened up. It wasn’t for long, but long enough to make some really gorgeous clicks of a gorgeous winter landscape.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp1353h.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Now with the one frame success from the previous day with this new processing thought, I had to play with it more today. I found some images that didn’t work so well. I found a couple others that I was kind of impressed by. This is one of them. Above is the after, below is the before.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp1353.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The extra drama in the clouds is what I’m liken and what I’ll keep focusing in on. Those who follow me on Twitter got this additional hints tonight: 1 camera, 1 lens, 1 click, no in camera or software filters and handheld. More to come :)
Photo captured by D3s, 14-24AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 20, 2010 | Moose Adventures, Wildlife Photography
This might sound really weird and contrary to common belief, but Bison in Yellowstone, those massive, historic herds have just not been around for the past month. The popular theory is the warm winter has left open meadows higher up so the Bison have had no need to move down to the thermals to graze. Not that the 3″ of snow received today was any great dump, but we finally found some Bison to work.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp1173.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Just after the sun rose (but still hidden in the snow storm), we found some lone bulls and with the knowledge of the day before, we parked, waited and worked them while we could. Nowhere near great stuff, it was good lessons in Bison biology (two main traits, food goes in, crap comes out). When this bull moved out of range, we wiggled down the road. A while later we were in Hayden Valley and there we found the herds that they day before weren’t present.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7486.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
Both of these photos demonstrate the one aspect of Bison in winter I’m lookin for, that crusted snow on the face. Neither one of these photos (bull top, cow bottom) is the final image I’m looking for but it’s a good start. We’ll keep working the herds in hopes of making that one clean, snow crusted face shot.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7488.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
And then there is this shot. You might be thinking this should have the cut line of “The End” but that’s not actually what I was seeing. The symmetry of this pregnant cow just caught my attention. True, it’s an ass that only a bull could love but I found it photographically pleasing. And I’m going to leave that and that!
Photos captured by D3s / D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 19, 2010 | Moose Adventures
In all my years visiting Yellowstone, one place that always draws me back and so I’ve shot the bejiggers out of it is Midway Geyser Basin (home of Grand Prismatic). I’ve shot this place every way you can imagine and yet, I’ve still not scratched all the locale has to offer.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0810.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
One aspect of the basin that is always in flux is the steam. It comes and goes, it blows all directions of the compass and can be lit in just as many ways. Because of this huge variable you can never take anything for granted, assume that just because you’ve shot it before it’s not going to be worth shooting again. Excelsior Geyser is the case in point, I have thousands of images of it yet today, I found one more to add to the files. I really like the paradox of ice right next to 180 degree water and steam. Camera set to Cloudy, Exp Comp set to 0, click! I love the photo.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0852.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
This is the first time I’ve had a 16Fish always in my pocket so I put it to use at the basin. I really loved what was streaming through the viewfinder, it was a totally new way for me to photograph it. The light was perfect. Life is good!
Photos captured by D3s, 24-70AFS / 16Fish on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 19, 2010 | Moose Adventures, Wildlife Photography
Have you ever seen that photo of a Coyote frozen in mid air as it pounces on a mouse under the snow? Well right now in Yellowstone if a Coyote tried that, its nose would be smashed back into its head. There is no snow here for all tense and purposes! This Coyote demonstrates the hunting style when there is no snow, cocking the head and licking.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7339.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
With that said, we had a great day! No, not a Bison to photograph. No, the sun didn’t make an appearance. Yeah, it’s literally +50 degrees too warm but it still produced some really cool images. How? Simple, you push the envelope, you open your mind to new ideas and try a lens you would never thought of using before. Yeah, coming back to the lodge in the snowcoach I thought to myself I didn’t do so well today behind the camera. Total frame count for the day was only 287 but then I looked at my images and now I’m very excited to go out again tomorrow when the forecast is for more the same. It’s going to be a great week, I just feel it!
Photo captured by D3s, 200-400VR (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 6, 2010 | Moose Adventures, Wildlife Photography
[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
Dec 29, 2009 | WRP Ed Zone
We’re announcing our next Eastern Sierra Adv, April 08-11, 2010. Basing out of Lone Pine, CA, we’ll shoot until we drop for four days some of the best and least known treasures the Eastern Sierra has to offer. From snow to wildflowers, to the highest and lowest point in North America, we’ll try to see it all. Locations such as Alabama Hills (photo below), Stovepipe Wells, Bristlecone Pines (if open), Mt Whitney, unnamed canyons and never explored washes to ghost towns are on the menu.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/AH0888.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The four days are crammed between shooting, talking, a couple of meals and post processing. This is a landscape photography adventure. Those who attend should do so because they see something in my landscape photography that intrigues them and then want to learn more about it. There is a lot more to the landscape photograph then f/stop and shutter speed and that’s what we spend our time exploring. You can see a small sample of what we’ll explore here or searching the blog further. There is a staff of 3, Moose, Sharon & Stephi and a participant group of 6. The price is $1095 and included instruction only. If interested, call Sharon at 760.924.8632.
