Photo Friday: Winter Prairie SunsetPosted by drfl on January 21st, 2011

Last week I mentioned that I have given myself two challenges this year.  One is to create more black and white photographs.  The other is to become familiar and master the nuances of my new 24mm TS-E II f/3.5L Canon Tilt-Shift lens.  In college I had the opportunity to use a medium format view camera and with that equipment I had access to tilting mechanisms that allowed modification of the plane of focus.  In this post I will not go into how it works, the Scheimpflug principals, etc., (See this article for that) but sufficed to say view camera landscape photographers have been using this function for years to get everything in focus from near to far with a large aperture.  So what are the pros and cons, why did I decide to purchase this lens, and for what work do I plan to use it?

(Read on for more!)

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The Return of Photo Friday and a 2011 ChallengePosted by drfl on January 14th, 2011

This year I am adding two major challenges.  One is mastering a piece of hardware that is now in my possession which I’m going to leave you guessing on until I actually get a chance to use it.  The second is to work on making more black and white images.  When I first started seriously in photography, all I made were black and white photographs.  I used to carry a camera containing only TRI-X and T-Max Kodak film and that it what I used to make images.  I slowly moved into color slide film, but I still would carry a camera with black and white film.  Once I went to my first digital SLR, a Canon 20D, I figured I could make black and white images whenever I wanted.  Guess what?  I rarely did.  This year I am challenging myself to make at least 20 black and white images that I will present on this blog.  I’m excited for these new challenges and what new experiences they may bring!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/11, 1/125 sec., Polarizer
Toadstool Geologic Park, Nebraska

A Touch of Summer – Golden MorningPosted by drfl on January 6th, 2011

Yesterday I saw the new license plate for Nebraska. It contains both the state bird – the Meadowlark and the state flower – the Goldenrod. I wasn’t impressed with the plate, both from a design standpoint, but also from a subject standpoint. There isn’t anything wrong with the meadowlark, as a matter of fact, Nebraska shares this state bird with Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming. The Goldenrod, however, is the state flower of two states, Kentucky being the only other one (It is also the state WILDflower of South Carolina). From a visual perspective, a solitary Goldenrod is unimpressive, which is how it is displayed on the plate. When one ventures into a field of Goldenrods, however, that’s a different experience altogether.

The color yellow commands attention. That is why so many signs and plaques are created in this color. Even a hint of yellow can grab someone’s gaze. On the plate the flower is dull (Click here to see it!). In nature, the flower is vibrant and warm.

So, I wandered into a field of Goldenrods this summer and captured a few photographs. For some reason I never processed them until now. Since we haven’t had any snow this winter (I think we sent it all east) I haven’t had much wintry imagery to make so I’m presenting a warm capture!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 29mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., 3-stop Hard Grad
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

The JudgementPosted by drfl on December 29th, 2010

For a melancholy winter day.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 19mm, f/10, 1/30 sec.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

The Art of the Follow-UpPosted by drfl on December 28th, 2010

One of the most important sales items I have learned through the years is the follow-up.  If someone shows interest in something follow-up and do it quickly.  If you don’t get a response, follow-up again.  I usually wait a week between the first and second follow-up, but sometimes I follow-up more quickly, depending on the prospect.

So often we get busy working on something else or our contacts do that we don’t connect.  If you don’t respond or follow-up you can be almost certain it will result in lost business.  Keeping in contact with old customers and follow-up with them on a consistent basis can bring additional business.  By following up you not only send a gentle reminder, but you show that you are organized and care about their needs.  This can go a long way.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 50 CM, f/10, 1/80 sec.
Schramm State Recreation Area, Nebraska

2010 Fall in Nebraska – Day 5: Last LeafPosted by drfl on November 12th, 2010

Recently, my 135 f/2 lens has been used exclusively for portrait work. I really wanted to see what I could do with it in nature because this is both extremely sharp and has great bokeh. When I cam across this leaf in the browning grass, the lens was the perfect focal length for this scene, and what can I say, I’m a sucker for autumn leafscapes. 

Technical Details:
Canon 5D, 135mm Lens, f/6.3, 1/800 sec.
OPPD Arboretum, Omaha, Nebraska