Landshape Photography

The trail was steep, but the light was flat...

2011-08-22T09:44:00.001-07:00

but at least I got rained on.

So saturday, I had my first chance to get out since our little guy was born back and the end of April.

I chose as my destination sundial peak and lake blanch, the twin peaks wilderness. The idea was lake, wildflower (I had reports they were going off), and peak. The trail is 2.5 miles with 2700 feet of elevation gain. For you non mountain folks, that translates as STEEP. However, if you time it right, at sunset the peak is bathed in a warm glow of the setting sun.

I started hiking about 5:15 figuring about 2-2.5 hours to make the hike, which would put me there right for the golden hour. About a mile in, I could see the clouds start building to my southwest. Storms can build quickly in the mountains in the summer. Undeterred, I pressed on. As I kept going the clouds got thicker and thicker. Then I heard it. The low rumble of thunder in the distance. It got louder and louder. I could see the clouds building over the ridge in front of me. I passed group after group descending, yet I still pressed on. I paused in an open meadow to see if I could figure out the storm. A watched bolt of lightning steak across the sky directly overhead. CRACK!!! That's it. Exposed in a high alpine meadow is not the place to be in a thunderstorm (lighting kills more people in utah every year than any other weather related death). Time to call it. I was 1/2 mile from the top.

I snapped a few frames, just to make myself feel worthwhile. While I was doing so, it started to rain. Perfect.
The highlights are blown, but I kinda like the raindrops....

About 1.5 miles down canyon, after the rain had stopped, I peaked over the side of the trail to see a wee little water fall. I grabbed a few more frames, and felt better about these.

I made it back to the car in the pitch black (my orignal plan was to hike out in the dark).

It did feel good to get out, I just need to be more productive next time I get the chance....

Oh no, not MATH!

2011-06-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

On my drive in today, I was thinking about my sunset pic from the other night. This shot was taken a couple of days ago, right off my back deck. (Yes, I have a nice view).

The exif info is stripped out of it, but it's as follows.
Focal length 200mm
F/3.2
Shutter Speed 1/200 sec
ISO 1600

Since I was shooting with my 70-200 f/2.8, and I had my camera in Shutter priority mode with the shutter speed at 1/200 as to minimize visible camera shake in the final image (things were moving to quickly for me to pull out my tripod). As a result, I got a final F-stop of f/3.2. That's a pretty wide open aperture, which we normally associate with a shallow depth of field, yet looking at the picture, most of it is pretty sharp and the depth of field appears infinite. How'd that happen?

I did a quick pull on google earth and measured the distance from roughly my house to the mountain in the shot. I figured, in round numbers, that it was about 12 miles away, or 70,000'. Plugging this info into the Depth of Field Calculator, it gives me the following. This is a great site, and I have it bookmarked on my smartphone.

Subject distance 70000 ft
Depth of field
Near limit 1351.3 ft
Far limit Infinity
Total Infinite
In front of subject 68648.7 ft
Behind subject Infinite
Hyperfocal distance 1378.5 ft

If you look at the near limit number, which is the closest point of acceptable sharpness, it's a meer 1351 ft away, and extends to infinity. Since everything in the frame is farther away than than 1351 ft, then the entire image is in focus even almost wide open with an F-stop of f/3.2. This would be counter intutive to me (and most of us) had I not done the math (albeit after the fact). I would have thought that I needed a smaller aperture and tripod to get everything in sharp focus. In this case, distance was my savoir.

The bottom line here is knowing a little bit the math and physics behind photography can help you utilize and exploit the limits of your equipment....

To see more of my photography, visit my website www.landshapephotography.com/

Inspiration

2011-04-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

I get my inspiration from a lot places. There are lots of folks who's work I admire and look up to. So I put together an incomplete list of photographers who's work I think is inspiring.

Check out their sites...

Aaron Reed - http://aaronreedphotography.photoshelter.com/
Adam Barker - http://www.adambarkerphotography.com/
Adam Burton - http://www.adamburtonphotography.com/
Adam Clutterbuck - http://www.adamclutterbuck.com/
Adam Salwanowicz - http://www.panoramio.com/user/588149
Alain Briot - http://alainbriot.com/
Alain Proust - http://www.alainproust.com/
Alex Nail - http://www.alexnail.com/
Andris Apse - http://www.nzlandscapes.co.nz/
Andris Apse - www.andrisapse.com
Andy Mumford - www.andymumford.com
Ansel Adams - http://www.anseladams.com
Antony Spencer - http://www.antonyspencer.com/
Art Wolfe - www.artwolfe.com
Ben Jacobsen - http://www.benjacobsenphoto.com/
Bill Hatcher - http://www.billhatcher.com/
Bob Hudak - www.bobhudak.com
Bruce Dale - http://www.brucedale.com/
Camille Seaman - http://www.camilleseaman.com/
Carr Clifton - http://www.carrclifton.com/
Charles Cramer - http://www.charlescramer.com/
Charlie Waite - www.charliewaite.com
Chip Phillips - http://www.chipphillipsphotography.com/
Chris Friel - http://www.chrisfriel.co.uk/
Christian Fletcher - http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/
Christophe Carlier - http://www.christophecarlier.com/
Christopher Burkett - http://www.christopherburkett.com/
Colin Prior - http://www.colinprior.co.uk/
Cristal De Givre - http://www.cristaldegivre.com/
Dan Baumbach - http://www.timelesslight.com/
Daryl Benson - http://www.darylbenson.com/
David and Marc Muench - http://www.muenchphotography.com/
David Burdeny - www.davidburdeny.com/
David Clapp - http://www.davidclapp.co.uk/
David Fokos - http://www.davidfokos.net/
David Langan - http://www.thenorthlight.co.uk/
David Noton - http://www.davidnoton.com/
David Tolcher - http://www.davidtolcher.co.uk/
David Ward - http://www.into-the-light.com/
Dennis Frates - http://www.fratesphoto.com/
Everton Mcduff - http://www.macduffeverton.com/
Fran Halsall - http://www.fran-halsall.co.uk/
Galen Rowel - www.mountainlight.com
Garry Brannigan - http://www.garrybrannigan.com/
Geoff Ross - http://www.geoffrossphotography.com/
George Lepp - http://www.georgelepp.com/
gordon wiltsie - http://www.alpenimage.com/
Guy Edwardes - http://www.guyedwardes.com/
Guy Tal - http://guytal.com/
Helen Dixon - http://www.helendixonphotography.co.uk/
Iain Sajeant - http://www.iainsarjeant.com/
Ian Cameron - http://www.transientlight.co.uk
Ian Plant - http://ianplant.com/
Jack dykinga - www.dykinga.com
James Kay - http://www.jameskay.com/
Jay Patel - http://www.jaypatelphotography.com/
Jeff Jones - http://lumnos.com/
Jeff Swanson - http://www.interfacingnature.com/
Jeremy Walker - http://www.jeremywalker.co.uk/
Jim Brandenburg - http://www.jimbrandenburg.com
Jim Clark - http://www.jimclarkphoto.com/
Jim Paterson - http://www.jimpattersonphotography.com/
joe cornish - www.joecornish.com
John Greenwood - http://www.exposingbeauty.co.uk
John Sexton - http://www.williamneill.com
John Shaw - http://www.johnshawphoto.com/
Jon Gibbs - http://www.jon-gibbs.co.uk/
Jon Cornforth - http://www.cornforthimages.com/
Josef Hoflehner - http://www.josefhoflehner.com/
Kah Kit Yoong - http://www.magichourtravelscapes.com/
Keith Aggett - http://www.keithaggettphotography.com/
Ken Duncan - http://www.kenduncan.com/
Ken Schory - http://www.kenschory.com/
Kennan Ward - http://www.kennanward.com/
Kevin Mcneal - http://kevinmcnealphotography.com/
Lee Frost - http://www.leefrost.co.uk/
Maciej Duczynski - http://www.lonelywolf.pl/
Marc Adamus - www.marcadamus.com
Marcin Bera - http://www.marcinbera.com/
Mark Denton - http://www.markdentonphotographic.co.uk/
Mark Gray - http://www.markgray.com.au/
Mark Voce - http://markvoce.com/
Matt Lauder - http://www.mattlauder.com.au/
Michael Anderson - http://www.michaelandersongallery.com
Michael Fatali - http://www.fatali.com/
Michael Frye - http://www.michaelfrye.com
Michael Gordon - http://www.michael-gordon.com/
Michael Kenna - www.michaelkenna.net
Michael Levin - http://www.michaellevin.ca/
Michael Nichols - http://michaelnicknichols.com/
Michael Reichmann - www.luminous-landscape.com
Michael Schlegel - http://www.michaelschlegel.com/
Mike Mc Farlane - http://www.mikemcfarlane.co.uk/
Murray Fredericks - http://www.murrayfredericks.com.au/
Olivier Seydoux - http://www.oseydoux.com/
Patrick Endres - http://www.asmpalaska.org/members/EndresP/Endres.html
Patrick Smith - http://www.patricksmithphotography.com/
Paul Schilliger - http://www.paulschilliger.com
Paul Wakefield - http://www.paulwakefield.co.uk/
Peter Eastway - http://www.petereastway.com.au/
Peter Watson - http://www.peterwatson-photographer.com/
Rafael Rojas - http://www.rafaelrojasphoto.com/
Randy Dyar - http://www.ryandyar.com/
Rhys Davies - http://www.rhysdaviesphotography.com/
Ricardo Silva - http://www.theuntappedsource.com/
Rob Hudson - http://www.open-aspect.co.uk/section426194_357575.html
Rodney Lough Jr. - http://www.rodneyloughjr.com/
Rolfe Horn - http://www.f45.com/html/recent/recindex.html
Ryan Dyar - http://www.ryandyar.com/
Sally Gall - www.sallygall.com
Samuel Bitton - http://www.samuelbitton.com/
Scott Hotaling - http://www.lightofthewild.com/gallery-list
Shawn Thompson - http://shawnthompsonphotography.com/
Simon Beedle - http://www.simonbeedle.com/
Tad Moyseowicz - http://www.tm-photography.co.uk/
Tom Mackie - http://www.tommackie.com/
Tom Till - http://www.tomtill.com/photography/index.cfm
Tomas Kaspar - http://www.tomaskaspar.com
Tony Sweet - http://www.tonysweet.com/
Tristan and Cyril Campbell - http://www.absolutelynothing.co.uk/
Tristan Campbell - http://www.tristancampbell.co.uk/
Uwe Steinmuller - http://www.outbackphoto.com/
Varina Patel - http://www.photographybyvarina.com/
Vincent Munier - http://www.vincentmunier.com/
William Neill - http://www.williamneill.com
Xavier Jamonet - http://www.ecrinsdelumiere.com/
Yann Arthus-Bertrand - http://www.yannarthusbertrand.org
Zack Schnepf - http://homepage.mac.com/zackschnepf

Going Live...

2010-11-17T11:18:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

I hope to go live with my site LandShapePhotography.com very soon. I have a very simple demo site up at this point. Feel free to check it out. When we go live, I'll have MANY more photos online. You'll also be able to browse my photographs and even purchase a print or two if you'd like. I am really excited about dipping my toe into the pool so to speak.

So stay tuned!

Best regards,
Lonnie

Before and After

2010-11-17T11:13:00.000-08:00

After Processing

As most of you know, I have been experimenting with a new workflow over the past month or so. I had been using Sony's raw processor, but have slowly been transitioning to ACR. I am REALLY starting to like it and I'm amazed at what it can do. The first pic below is what I considered a b-roll shot due to the lack of a dramatic sky and overall flatness of the image. It's right out of ACR as is. The second shot is the same one after running thru ACR. Big difference. I was able to warm up the wall, and simulate the sunrise that never really happened that day. This is shot (temple of the virgin at sunrise) is a Southwestern Classic and can be elbow to elbow with photographers during high season. There are still a few things that I want to tweak with it, but so so far, I am impressed with how I was able to transform the image....

Before Processing

Be careful out there

2010-11-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

Look out below!

How many times have I been on a very steep slope with my camera in hand and thought "This wouldn't be so steep if I had skis on"? This funny little bit of truth came up this week when I was discussing photography with some friends online. We were taking about some of the things we do in order to get the shot. My friend mentioned that he had spent hours bushwacking to a remote location to shoot a waterfall in the pacific NW. Seeing his shot I mentioned that I had crawled up a steep slope while at Bryce Canyon to get some shots of a couple of hoodoos and some little arches from an unusual angle. While standing there, I just about took the slide for life with a bunch of expensive gear in my hand and on my back. I had to hand Scottie my tripod for her to use as a walking stick to get down.

While it's cool that so many of us will go the extra mile for our photography, I'll also stress safety. Have a plan on where to shoot. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Take extra food and water on hike. Don't count on your cell phone to get you out of danger. Basically, use common sense.

Now with that out of the way, I do love the excitement of pushing things right to the edge. It can make the difference from a shot we've seen 1,000 times and something else. Just don't drop your camera...

Keep your eyes open

2010-11-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

So Scottie and I took a hike into this place on Saturday. It was a great autumn day with blue sky and perfect temps. Calf Creek Falls in the Grand Staircase Escalate National Monument was one of the places where we went on our epic "5 day first date" 17 short months ago. I have been there a couple of times and it is one of my favorite places in Utah. One of the things I like about this canyon is the evidence of pre-puebloan people's in the canyon. About a mile or two into the hike, there is a small grainery so high up on the canyon wall it makes you wonder how anyone could reach it. What conditions would make people go to such extremes to protect their food supply in such a fashion? It's a cool thing to think about for sure.

Just up canyon from the grainery, there is a set of 3 pictographs on the far side of the canyon. The interpretative guide to the canyon points them out for the visitors to this place. I have seen them, and photographed them before. From the trail, they are quite far away, and even with my longest telephoto, lots of copping is needed the isolate the figures. If you look closely, you can see the three figures holding "hands". The figure on the right is also painted over another anthropomorph. There is a smaller figure on the lower right and what looks to be the start of a 5th figure above and to the right of this set. These were most likely the work of the Fremont about 800 years ago.

Just before we reached this spot, I saw, on the same side of the wall three very faint images which I mistook for the other the main set of pictographs. I couldn't really tell, and they were in the wrong spot which confused me. I clicked a few frames and didn't think much of it. I wasn't until we sat down to eat dinner that night did I realize what I had really captured.

Modern DSLR's are awesome. They allow us to review our work instantaneously. Under the bright desert sun, I had done this, but missed what I consider the real gem of the artwork in this canyon. As I scrolled around the image, there were in fact, at least two more anthropomorphs in this "new" panel. To their right, two more. So I continued to review the frame zoomed in and found my new favorite set of native american pictographs, a family of very faint bighorn sheep. I had walked by them how many times and have never seen them. One half observation and one half accident. I only found them by keeping my eyes open and using the tools I had at my disposal.

Here are some crops of the above frame. I can't wait to get back and bushwack to that side of the canyon and explore.

Two anthropomorphs and a cross

Can you find all 5 big horn sheep?

More anthropomorphs.

The Moment

2010-10-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

To me there is nothing more amazing than the exact moment the sun cracks the horizon and those long rays of light spills across the landscape. Or the converse, when the sun goes to bed, and the last rays of the day creep ever upwards into the heavens. Most folks know about "the golden hour", but few stick around for "the purple hour". Sunrise and Sunset are subject to the laws of physics, the de-fraction of light in the atmosphere, and it's why the sky lights up at those times of day. A once heard an old timer speak of waiting on "a second sunset". It's relative to the technical discussion, but this is a spiritual and philosophical conversation. If you've ever witnessed it, you know what I'm talking about.

Regardless if I get a shot or not, on those mornings when I wake up early, crawl out of bed, stand around groggy in the cold, waiting on "the moment", it's worth it. It's worth it because I get to see things that 99.99% of people never get to see, simply because they are too lazy to get up at the time required to witness "the magic". When I am lucky, I get to bring those moments to people through photography. Getting to share just a little bit of this wonderful world with people makes me smile.

Menu Falls Zion NP

2010-10-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Not everyday is epic. Even when we are in epic places, sometimes things just don't work out. Those are the times when creativity and experience are at a premium. My trip to Zion NP back in May was an example of that.

Epic scenery, check.
Small crowds, check.
Wildflowers, check.
Awesome light, EHHH! Try again!

I got to the park late enough in the afternoon that on a normal day, there should have been beautiful golden light reflecting off the red canyon walls. Instead, I got gray nasty skies and soft, flat light. Flat light equals low contrast, which generally conveys softness, gentleness and mildness in photographs. Not the look I was going for on that day. So, I started thinking. I could shoot wildflower macros, or moving water or I didn't know. Sigh...

Undaunted, I put on my pack and started to hike one of the easier trails, just to see what I could see and if I could find any inspiration. I did get a few frames I liked, but nothing spectacular. I made my way to the Zion Lodge and caught an uncrowded up canyon shuttle. Sitting at the front of the bus near the driver, I asked her "So, what do you have for a photographer that's off the beaten path?"

"Well", she replied, "Have you ever heard of menu falls?"

"Menu falls? No, I've never heard of it. It's not mentioned in any of my guide books. Where is that?"

"Well, it's a little know spot in the park, near the Temple of Sinawava. Since there aren't many people on the bus, I can drop you there, but you'll have to walk to one of the bus stops to be picked up."

So the bus made a really quick stop in the middle of the road, I jumped off and made my way up the little boardwalk. I jumped the rail, pulled out my gear and set up. This place was a little oasis in the desert. If it wasn't for the red rocks, I would have thought I was in the pacific northwest, or any number of mountain streams back "home" in North Carolina. Even with an hour or so to go before sunset, it was starting to get dark beneath the high walls of the canyon. I clicked off a few frames. Success. With a little help, I had managed to find the perfect location to shoot given the conditions of the day. Not what I had hoped to come away with from my trip, but a solid image nevertheless. I knew that nobody else in the park that day, got anything similar to this shot. In fact, I've only seen a few images of this location, which is normally overlooked by folks wanting to shoot the classics of the Subway, the Narrows or Arch Angel Cascades.

So be prepared. Have a plan, but be willing to shoot what you are given. Even with guide books, and research before hand, don't be afraid to ask for local knowledge. Sometimes, you might just be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Until next time,
Lonnie

Arches NP Sunrise Junkshow

2010-10-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Turret Arch thru the North Window

I love shooting the classics of the Southwest. I don't always love the junk show that goes along with it. Scottie and I were headed down to meet my parents for our annual gathering in the Four Corners Area. I arranged my work schedule to get some work done in that part of the world on Friday. Fortunately, that allowed my some photo time in Canyonlands and Arches.

South Window Sun-up

Not having a real plan on where I wanted to shoot Friday AM beyond "Arches", we got up before sunrise and got in the car. I scoped a few areas on the drive in and wasn't feeling the love at any of them. Knowing the geography and layout of the park I ended up, along with every other photographer in the park that day it seemed, in the windows section. The windows are most likely the best area to shoot sunrise in arches. The rocks face the right direction (generally east), and are easy to get to. As we got out of the car in early twilight, I could already see 1 person standing in the North Window. As we crested the hill, I saw what looked like 5-10 photographers lined up to shoot turret arch thru the north window. Ugh. Junkshow. So I started looking around. After about 10 mins, I found a spot that would give me some good foreground interest and a good view of the south window. I set up and waited. Facing west, I could see the sun working it's way up to the east. As the first rays of light touched the top of the sandstone, I snapped a few forgettable images, and waited for the rock to really light up. A few moments later, magic. The rock came to life as it always does this time of day. Five mins later, and it was over. The rocks got too hot and too flat. I was done.

North Window Reflection

Not be be out done, all of my friends done with shooting Turret arch headed my way to see what was so interesting that I skipped the classic (I have shot turret arch a couple of times in the past). I was already packed up and headed out. As Scottie and I were walking, I noticed a very small puddle on the slick rock. A little light went off in my head, remembering and reminded of some of Tom Tills work. I pulled out my camera put on my widest lens, dialed up F22, bumped up the ISO and got down on my belly, my lens only an inch or two above the puddle. I hurried to fire off a few frames before anyone else saw what I was shooting.

The image on the right was what I got. I like it not because it's the greatest image I have ever shot, but because I took advantage of what was handed to me on that day. I'm sure that of all the other photographers there that day, nobody else got this one. That I can be proud of.

Until next time,

Getting the shot.

Hello!

2010-10-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hi All! Slow day here so I figured I'd dip my toe into the blogosphere. I would guess if you are here, you already know me, but if you don't here's a little bit about me.

I've been taking pictures since I was a kid. I got my first SLR, a Olympus OM-10 when I was in middle school. Armed with a 50mm lens, I spent alot of my parents money on film and developing. I was the photographer for my high school year book for 3 years, and had my own B&W darkroom for a few years. I've never taken a photo class, but read lots of books and looked at lots of images.

I put the hobby down for a long time, and picked up a prosumer level digital camera about 4 or 5 years ago. Took a lot of snapshots and a few real photographs. It took meeting my lovely wife Scottie who took an interest in my work and helped provide the tools I needed to take the next step.

So here I am, an "enthusiastic amature" trying to learn as much as I can every day. I take images of things I like, and hope others like them too. This space is dedicated to sharing not only the images, but a little behind the scenes info into the hows and whys behind the shots.

Take care, and hope to share more images soon!
Lonnie