MooseNewsBlog

Yesterday I was in Yosemite trying to shoot, today we’re in Vermont most definitely shooting! Third trip the charm? Having Kevin with us since it’s his first time here? Whatever it is, we are finally in VT when there is killer fall color.

We literally didn’t even leave the parking lot of the resort to make these images. The light was cruising across the slopes, the color was lighting up and the protons were flying.

The number 1 technique to making create fall color shots is backlighting. The number two is including a little green. After that, it’s just simply enjoying and soaking in the beauty!

Photos captured by D3, 200VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

After the light had passed for the project, we headed out to Glacier Point for the very soul rewarding view of the valley. It was my kind of photography, point the lens up, make a click and convert to B&W with Silver Efex Pro. Ahhhhhhhh………………!

Photo captured by D3, 14-24AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Well, I’ve had a killer time so far this week working on a new project with new parameters with a new end game. I love, just love being pushed and this has me thinking again a little differently about my landscapes and making them speak just a slightly different language. I will most definitely be exploring this more and incorporating it into my next generation of landscape. (Can you see the effect of the smoke?)

Photo captured by D3, 105VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

The control burn that begun yesterday in the Sequoias smoked our shoot pretty darn good this AM. No amount of driving got us out of it so we headed under cover. Under the cover the the giant Valley Oaks that is. While we eliminated the smoke in the sky, we dove into big shadows and big highlights. I pulled out the technique I used in the redwoods earlier this year to condence the 9 stops of light down to 4. While our eyes can see 27 stops, the camera can only handle 5 and I like it even less. I know, I know, I’ve not published the technique yet. I can tell you I’m getting it written down because it will be one of my lessons next year at Photoshop World.

On another front, Brad Moore just emailed me this piece of great news. Flash is coming to the iPhone! That means you’ll be able to see MooseNewsBlog photos on your iphone. Thanks Brad for keeping me current!

Photo captured by D3, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

It was one darn good, productive day doing what I love to do most, take photos. Heck, we even got a little wildlife photography in with a pretty Mule Deer buck. The light had gone for our project but not gone for general photography. The clouds were on their way out of town when I noticed them gathered in the gap between Basket Dome and Half Dome. The photo was a simple click and the finishing done with Silver Efex Pro. Perfect end to a perfect day!

Photo captured by D3, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

We started off early this AM by simply heading to the pond that’s on the highway at Fish Camp. It’s a gorgeous little pond that is amazingly reflective. I decided to go with the artsy fartsy approach on this one photo.

It was finished by using Color Efex 3.0 Tonal Contrast and painting in the effect on only parts of the fir needles and some of the grasses, leaving everything else el natural. It was a good subject to warm up the shutters and get the mind focused, literally, on the project at hand.

Photo captured by D3, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

We got home at 01:00 from our WA trip and by 07:00 I was on the road again. Working on a new project with Outdoor Channel, I had the opportunity to just drive by Half Dome in Yosemite. We had rain all day long with the clouds really not playing very nice. So, when I had a heartbeat of light on Half Dome, I made the click.

Now I was home long enough to see what Mr. UPS had left. One of the cool things was the new Nikon P6000. I shot with it all day long and when I’m not brain dead and can figure out how to work this new Raw format, I’ll put up some cool images I took with it.

Photo captured by D3, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Remove a tree, bring on fall color and now you can see what I saw in my heart at the time of capture. I’m just getting psyched for next week’s DLWS event in VT.

And when I was shooting boats, I needed direction so I just looked up.

I hope you have a great weekend and if you’re in the Seattle area, you join us at the NWCCC Conference. Whatever you do, take a picture of it and share it!

Photos captured by D3, 200VR on Lexar UDMA digital film