Traveling the Journey of Light | Photoblog Thoughts, feelings, and techniques behind the photography of Derrald Farnsworth-Livingston

A Lamentation to the Unprepared (Namely Me)Posted by admin on February 3rd, 2010

Coyote, why must you vex me so?  How did you know that my 1.6 crop camera, and large lens were in my car across the large frozen lake?  Why must you continue to walk towards me?  Is it a sign of defiance, knowing that I cannot capture you as large as life?  Why? Oh why?  No, don’t disappear into the woods, stay and play on the solid water while I go and get my gear… 

As much as I hate to say it, I was utterly unprepared for this coyote encounter.  For years I had a trusty green photo backup that managed all my gear.  In it I would carry my full frame camera, a crop camera, and an assortment of lenses, including my 300 f/4l and 1.4 tc combo.  About 3 months ago, my photo backup zipper broke and I have been using an awesome shoulder case that I mainly use for brief excursions, but it only carries my full frame camera and shorter lenses.  Normally, I had been carrying my 50D + 300 f/4l + 1/4tc (672mm effective) combo by hand, but as I was to cross a frozen lake I didn’t want to chance falling and dropping it.  Sure, I’ve got my eye on a new backpack, but like many of us, I have decided to cut back on “unnecessary” expenses.  Besides, it’s been a nice treat on my back and knees paring back a bit and carrying less, so all I had was a 5D Mark II and a 70-200 f/4l lens (100% Crop Above).  A lesson to all that read, heed the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared”.  And Still…

Coyote, why must you vex me so?

Growing an Artist-treePosted by drfl on January 14th, 2010

The tree is symbolic of an life of artist. The trunk is the base, the basics, knowledge and experience of the craft. The branches symbolize our various creative endeavours within that craft. Some of those branches are older and stronger and support many smaller branches, some are new and budding, while others are dying. Sometimes we must trim away those dead sticks so that we can encourage new growth. As the years pass, we may try to guide the path of these branches, but often there is a randomness that we cannot predict.

Our inspiration waters and feeds the artist-tree. Sometimes it rains and beautiful buds burst into being. Sometimes its winter and the tree waits quietly for the spring thaw. If we do not tend to the tree, it withers and the branches become brittle, but hopefully we can return and resume the care to save its precious nature.

Nurture and love your artist-tree. Let inspiration wash over it and allow the creative branches to reach to the sky. And remember: visit it often.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/6.3, 1/160 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Photo Friday: Morning RelaxationPosted by drfl on December 4th, 2009

Taken the morning of the second day of the DeSoto show, the sun’s light was filtered by some interesting cloud patterns. For just a few seconds at a time the rays would cut through.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/9, 1/10 sec., Singh-Ray 2-Stop ND Grad, Singh-Ray 3-Stop ND Grad Reversed
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Morning Relaxation - Sunrise Over DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Returning to One’s Roots by Using a Point and ShootPosted by drfl on November 24th, 2009

Over the Sea of Grass

When I was a young lad I had a 35mm Kodak camera that I had won at a contest in Montana.  About once a year my family and I would go on a trip, usually to a national park and I would be sure to pack the camera.  I would take several rolls of film and I would ultimately end up exposing most of it in the first couple of days and then I would have to ration the rest for the remainder.  During the time I was scurrying up on rocks and running up to lake shores to snap a quick photo, I had no idea that one day that would turn into something greater.  My only goal in those days was to capture the beauty around me so that I could be reminded of it later.

As time has progressed, so has my equipment.  During college I used a completely manual Pentax K-1000 to capture almost solely black and white images.  I did quite a bit of dark room work in those days, rolling and exposing my own film, and creating prints until the dead of night with only a singular red light for illumination.  I learned of different lenses, apertures, and shutter speeds.  I first used a tripod and a medium format camera.  Needless to say, the quick point and shooting slowly morphed into more deliberate, careful shooting, I had become a “serious” photographer.   Besides, now I had a grade depending on it.

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A Post Show Thank YouPosted by drfl on November 23rd, 2009

Under the Skies of Fall

Over the weekend, I was setup at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge’s “Art of the Wild” show near Missouri Valley, Iowa. I want to thank everyone who stopped by and saw all the artists’ great work. It was so nice to visit with everyone and I had some great conversations. I look forward to attending again next year.

Additionally, I did get a couple of opportunities to grab a couple of new images. This particular image was taken in the parking lot with a leaf that I found on the ground. The sky was so beautiful I had to capture it in the background. The contrasting colors work well with this centrist composition.

Technical Details:
Canon G10, 6.1mm, f/3.5
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Under the Skies of Fall - An Autumn Leaf Against a Blue Fall Sky

Photo Friday: Graceful GlidePosted by drfl on November 13th, 2009

This is the time of year that migrating birds of all sorts make their way south for their yearly sojourn. Since most things are losing their color and going to earthy muddy tones, I like to take the opportunity to see some colorful, beautiful birds. This graceful Blue Heron is a prime example of some of the birds that make their way through this part of the country.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/6.3, 1/640 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Graceful Glide - A Blue Heron Glides Effortlessly Through the Air

Fall’s Final Curtain CallPosted by drfl on November 11th, 2009

This is an image of the same tree from Autumnal Brillance, close to sunset with the sun low in the sky. The leaves were completely gone in a matter of days after this photograph was captured.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/16, 1/60 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Fall’s Final Curtain Call - A maple tree bursts forth into glorious autumn colors.

Moody Monday - Winter ContrastsPosted by drfl on November 9th, 2009

As winter comes upon us quickly, the vibrant colors of autumn give way to earthy tones, the time before white snow blankets the landscape and creates a scene of purity. This is an abstraction, a composition of this in-between time; branches devoid of leaves darkly contrasting in the moody blue colors.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/640 Sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: Winter Contrasts - Tree branches contrast in a moody blue scene.

Photo Friday: Autumnal BrillancePosted by drfl on November 6th, 2009

Although autumn was fleeting in Nebraska and Iowa this year, there were some hold outs after the snowfall. This maple tree turned brillant warm oranges and reds two weeks after the storm and managed to hang on to a majority of its leaves during some pretty gusty times. I couldn’t help but stop and capture the vibrant colors with the setting sun filtering through the leaves.

Technical Details: Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/14, 1/80 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: Autumnal Brillance - A Maple Tree Bursts into Vibrant Oranges and Reds

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge’s “Art of the Wild” ShowPosted by drfl on November 5th, 2009

I will be displaying my work for sale at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge’s “Art of the Wild” show on November 21st and 22nd. I am offering a diversity of different size prints with mats and some with frames. I will also be selling and signing my new book, “The Quiet Beauty of Nebraska“. If you are in the area, stop by and say “Hello!”.

Information about the refuge:
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located 25 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska on U.S. Highway 30, between Missouri Valley, Iowa and Blair, Nebraska. The visitor center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except federal holidays. For more information contact
712/642-4121 or look us up on the web at http://midwest.fws.gov/desoto.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300mm f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec.
Double Breasted Cormorant, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: High Flying - Double Breasted Cormorant Takes Flight