Look Up: Sunbeam PoetryPosted by drfl on November 30th, 2011

Often, photographers become so focused on capturing one type of image that we often ignore what else is happening in the environment around us. When I was out on the prairie near Valentine, I was caught up in getting some wide-angle landscape shots when I looked up and saw beautiful clouds floating in front of the sun while sunbeams shot out in all directions. I managed to snap 3 shots before this scene disappeared.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 40mm, f/8, 1/8000 sec.
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Photo Friday: I’ve Dreamed 1,000 DreamsPosted by drfl on November 25th, 2011

On an early November day I went to the Lincoln, Nebraska area to get some late fall shots. Today’s post is an image I captured about 10 minutes prior to sunrise on Branched Oak Lake on a windy and cool day.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/11, 10 sec., 3-stop Hard Singh-Ray ND Grad, 2-stop Hard Singh-Ray ND Grad
Branched Oak Lake, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Warm Evening Glow and Prairie GlowPosted by drfl on November 18th, 2011

I am always searching for unique images and unique destinations. I often research the areas which I travel, but some of the best shots were captured in places that I did not necessarily expect. Today’s post is one such image. Toadstool Geologic Park is a fairly well known location in Nebraska and one that I have shot before. The photographic possibilities are endless and I could spend weeks just trying different compositions, light, etc. The first time I visited Toadstool, I noticed that there was a trail through the park that led to the Bison-Meng kill site 3 miles away. On that trip, I did not have the opportunity to take this trail, but I made it a priority on my last visit and took the trail twice.

The first time I took the trail, I had planned on shooting the stars that night as the forecast called for clear skies. I decided to do some scouting so I started off and wandered down the path through the otherworldly landscape, pinnacles, spires and canyon walls rising on either side of me. After about a 45 minutes the path climbed and I emerged from the canyon area onto a grassy prairie above the landscape. Not wanting to stay long so I could get setup for my star shoot, I surveyed the area and quickly descended back into the canyon.

The next day I decided I wanted to shoot the plateau area so I began the about 2 hours before sunset and once again made my way through Toadstool park and the canyon area and climbed up onto the plateau. After walking for another half hour, I came to the edge and carefully selected my vantage point. All around me were photographic possibilities from a vantage that I had never seen shot before. I imagined myself, not on the prairie of Nebraska, but rather in the Badlands of South Dakota and indeed, later I was told by a local that the Badlands could be spied on a very clear day. Here, the gentle prairie gave way to a harsher landscape.

Within 20 minutes dusk was upon me and I took my shots, knowing it would be a while before I could return. I used my 24mm Tilt-Shift lens vertically and shifted the lens left and right so I could maximize my image resolution later with stitching. As darkness began to fall I walked back satisfied with what I had seen. As I approached the trail I saw another beautiful scene before me. As the light was quickly fading, I setup my camera and captured one last image on the plateau. After three clicks the light was gone and I was left to hike back through the canyon in the dark. I picked up the pace and made it back in about a half hour, briefly stopping only for the startling sound of a porcupine hiding in a bush.

It was a unique location and one that I hope to return to again someday.

Technical Details (Warm Evening Glow):
Canon 5D Mark II, 24 TS/E 3.5L II lens, f/8, 3 images stitched, 2-Stop Hard Singh-Ray ND Grad
Oglala National Grassland, Nebraska

Technical Details (Prairie Glow):
Canon 5D Mark II, 24 TS/E 3.5L II lens, f/8, .4 sec., 2-Stop Hard Singh-Ray ND Grad
Oglala National Grassland, Nebraska

Holiday Print Promotion AnnouncedPosted by drfl on November 17th, 2011

Looking for a unique gift for a loved one for the Holidays? Want to avoid the crowds at the mall? From today until December 24th, I am offering 15% off any fine art print or canvas wrap from my online store. Simply use the promo code HOLIDAY2011 upon purchase to receive your discount. Happy Holidays!

Deciding When To Search For the “Best Light”Posted by drfl on November 14th, 2011

An autumn tree photographed in the morning, under full sunlight.

An autumn tree photographed in the afternoon, under cloudy skies.

While at the calendar signing at Costco this past weekend I was asked many questions. There were lots of people intrested in my stories and experiences from shooting images for a Nebraska calendar. Some long time residents of Nebraska had been to many of the locations depicted and indeed several were from the eastern part of the state, the region where 80% of the population lives. Of course, this was done for a reason – if people recognize a location, they are more apt to purchase the calendar. Others had lived in Omaha, some their entire lives without seeing hardly any part of the state. It was those that were often surprised at the diversity of the landscape in Nebraska and the Great Plains as a whole.

Without a doubt, however, the number one question I was asked and am asked at art shows is “How do you get the best light?” It’s no secret, I tell them, I only show you the images where I the light was right for the situation. Beginning photographers and those that only shoot occasionally have not yet learned to “see” the light. What this means, essentially, is that there is are appropriate lighting situations for every occasion. Early on, I thought I only wanted the best sunrise/sunset light and if I didn’t get it, I shot nothing and went home. Now, I know that if I’m not going to get that crazy light, it maybe a good lighting situation for intimate nature scenes, or wildlife, or something else. Seasoned photographers have practiced images in all kinds of light, and you know what, sometimes we even surprise ourselves with a lighting situation we did not expect.

There is a common mantra among pro nature photographers – There is no such thing as “bad light”, there is only light and what you make of it. If I had heard this as a beginner I would have retorted with a “Yah, right!”. I can understand it’s hard for new photographers to grasp this, but over time and experience, it becomes easier. Don’t let the lighting conditions limit your creativity, as I once I did, let it unleash it.

Technical Details – Long Way to Go
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/18, 1/200 sec.
Branched Oak Lake State Recreation Area, Nebraska

Technical Details – Electric Fire
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 87mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec.
Arbor Day Lodge State Park, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Under Western SkiesPosted by drfl on November 11th, 2011

Today’s image comes from Valentine National Wildlife Refuge which lies in the heart of the sandhills. As I have mentioned previously, this is the area that is causing reviews of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline proposals. In an article dated yesterday (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45242052/ns/us_news-environment/t/us-orders-alternate-routes-controversial-oil-pipeline/), it appears that other routes may be researched. I’m not sure what the end result will be, no one is sure, but what I can say is that the Sandhills is a unique region that has a distinguishing landscape all its own.

This was a somewhat difficult image for me to capture. The winds were blowing 30-50 miles per hour which made not only the tripod and camera unsteady, but it also made for a very uncomfortable shoot. As the name implies the Sandhills are made of sand. They stay in place by the grasses and plants that grow, but that doesn’t keep all the sand in place and with wind that fierce, the sand whips up and stings. I sat here for about an hour and a half and almost left because I thought there would be no light, but my patience was rewarded when the sun descended behind these clouds and gave me this show.

Because of the winds, I was unable to capture the grass stationary, so I used it as an opportunity to use a slower shutter speed and blur the grass. I was happy with the ultimate effect. During my entire stay in Valentine the winds were fairly strong so I captured a video with my 5D Mark II to show what I was dealing with. I’ve embedded a 42 second video of prairie grasses waving in the wind at the Niobrara Preserve not far from Valentine.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/11, 1/4 sec., 2 Stop Singh-Ray Hard ND Filter + 3 Stop Singh-Ray Hard ND Filter
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska