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

Photo Friday: Ice TreesPosted by drfl on February 5th, 2010

After skipping the last two Photo Fridays I have returned with an image I captured a couple of weeks ago at Boyer Chute near Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska.  I hiked into the refuge and found a grove of cottonwoods tipped with hoarfrost.  I spent some time photographing the patterns and contrasts through the trees.  This image was taken about 20 minutes before sunrise when the cool blue of twilight dominated the prairie.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 200mm, f/8, 1/15 sec.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

February 2010 Computer Desktop WallpaperPosted by drfl on February 1st, 2010

With a new month comes a new free wallpaper!  This month’s selection is “Cold Fire”.  To use the computer wallpaper for February 2010, click on the image that correlates with the resolution of your monitor and then right-click on the subsequent image and choose “Set as desktop” (or wallpaper).

1024×768

1280×1024

1440×900

1600×1200

1920×1080

The Photographer’s LuckPosted by drfl on January 19th, 2010

“Wow, you must have been lucky to see that!”, “That was lucky you had your camera ready at that exact time!”, or “Did you feel lucky when you saw that?!” are all sentiments I’ve heard voiced at shows and exhibitions to myself and other photographers. Are photographers really “lucky”? While I am happy to have witnessed some of the beauty offered by this earth, this word is perhaps used too freely amongst some of these individuals.

Andrew Fleming, a Scottish researcher, leaving for vacation, left some petri dishes out in his lab containing strains of the staph bacteria. Upon his return he noticed that in one dish one of the staph strains had died near where a mold had taken over. Recognizing the benefit of being able to create a substance to combat bacteria, he worked for years exploring this discovery. The mold he discovered was later termed “Penicillin” and the the modern antibiotic age was born. Of course, many might say he got “lucky”, but in fact he had the knowledge and experience to recognize the implications of what he found. It took years of hard work and dedication, but his serendipitous discovery could have been lost on a less inclined mind.

Seneca, a Roman philsopher is quoted, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”  Pratice, patience, planning, education, all go into building an artist’s preparation for when opportunities arise and these opportunities do not come readily. For example, a photographer who wants to capture the morning sun on a particular mountain peak must research sunrise times, angles, weather conditions, and ascent routes. Once all this information is compiled and processed the artist can then prepare equipment, dress appropriately and ascend the slope to gain the opportunity for a beautiful alpenglow shot. Upon arriving, more preparedness is then required compose the shot, utilize the appropriate filters, and later process the shot to its fullest extent.

Creating art forces artists to observe to the world in a more detailed manner. With more observeration comes a greater the apprecation of the gifts of the this world. An artist’s main goal is to share the beauty that comes from the heart and imagination and this requires dedication and preparation. The thrill of capturing beauty could be perceived as luck, but the end result is a greater realization of the gifts we have. As for the gifts I have?  I agree, I am lucky.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 25mm, f/8, 1/13 sec.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Twilight BluePosted by drfl on January 15th, 2010

Taken at twilight from the tower at Platte River State Park in Nebraska after a fresh snow.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 200mm, f/8, 1/60 sec.
Platte River State Park, Nebraska

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

5 of the Most Ridiculous Arguments in Nature PhotographyPosted by drfl on January 7th, 2010

#5 Film vs. Digital

Finally, it seems that this argument has lost much of its momentum.  For a while individuals dedicated to film believed that the quality of digital would never match that of film.  It seems that enough film hard cores have come to the realization that the day has finally arrived.  Many digital people have also realized that there is still viable images and techniques that only film can produce.  Digital photographers using film and film photographers using digital, I guess we can all be photographers once again!

#4 PC vs. Mac

The computer is a tool, simple as that.  Some people like one brand, other’s like another.  Mac people, get over yourselves, you are no better than the PC people.  PC people, acknowledge that Macs are here to stay and will not be going anywhere.

#3 Photoshop vs. PhotoPaint (vs. PaintShopPro, etc.)

The program is a tool, simple as that.  Photoshop has its pros and its cons as do the other programs.  If someone is adamant about how great a program is, perhaps the initial image needs to be stronger. 

#2 Nikon vs. Canon (vs. Pentax, Sony, Digital Backs, etc.)

The camera is a tool, simple as that.  Nikon has some great gear and Canon has some great gear.  They both get the job done beautifully (as do the others, as well).

#1 Digital Manipulators vs. Documentarians

This particular argument is perhaps the most hypertensive, knockdown, drag-out fight that has been fought in the nature photography communities.  Countless soapbox speeches, different experiences, and various viewpoints have been espoused.  I remember at one art show at which I exhibited there was a gal who looked at my photograph, “Someday We’ll Find It…” and commented cynically, “I’ve never seen a rainbow look like THAT before.”  There is the old cliche that photographers must learn to “see” and it’s been my experience that many people just don’t “look”.  For example, there have been 3 spectacular occurrences of sundogs this month.  Of those, I have asked various people if they saw them, to which they universally replied they had not, even though I know that they were driving or otherwise outside.  I met up with three individuals during one of these beautiful sundogs, pointed up to the sky and said, “What do you think?”  All three replied, “Wow, I hadn’t realized that was happening!” even after they had been driving for a good 20 minutes during the show.  My point here is that many people get caught up in their day to day lives and never realize the beauty that surrounds them.  In a world of increased digital manipulation one can be forgiven if they do not realize what is real and what is not. 

This leads me to my next point, what digital manipulation is “right”?  In the article, “Photoshop and Nature Photography, how far is too far?”  Darwin Wiggett takes Michael Freeman’s view that the visual arts, including photography, is a representation of real life and therefore is a manipulation by its very definition.    Jim Goldstein concludes in his most recent post “Embracing the Imperfect Image” that perhaps we are over manipulated and an “imperfect image” should be embraced.  Indeed, my post from July “The Imperfect Image” discusses my discovery of the beauty that lies within an image with “flaws”.  Ultimately, after listening to one side and then the other, my view is that only an individual can decide for themselves what constitutes taking an image “too far” to become “perfect”.  Which side is right? It’s up to you decide, just don’t clog the communities with the banter, it takes away from the real goal: creating great art.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d, 70-200 f/4l @ 200mm, f/18mm, 1/15 sec.
Long’s Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

10 Tips for Cultivating Creativity in 2010Posted by drfl on January 5th, 2010

Get up and get out of your comfort zone.

1. Use a lens that you don’t often use.  For instance, if you shoot wide-angle landscapes, try a landscape with a telephoto.  If you shoot wildlife with a telephoto, try shooting wildlife with a macro (probably smaller wildlife).
2. Use a different filter. (Physical or Photoshop)
3. Shoot from your belly.
4. Shoot in different light.  Shoot into the sun, in midday light, in diffused light, in fog.
5. Shoot a different subject.  If you normally shoot landscapes, shoot portraits, if you shoot portraits, shoot wildlife.
6. Shoot different angles.  Shoot horizontally, vertically, diagonally, up, down.
7. Shoot with minimal Depth of Field by choosing the largest aperture on the lens (i.e. f/2.8, f/4, etc.).
8. Shoot everything out of focus.
9. Photograph with a friend and look through each other’s viewfinder/screen.
10. Stop reading this and get out!

Belated Photo Friday: Cold FirePosted by drfl on January 4th, 2010

For the past couple of Friday’s I haven’t included a Photo Friday photograph, mainly due to the holidays. Today, I am presenting my first image of the year. Taken at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge after quite a bit of snow in some balmy -12 degree temps. Crisp and cold!

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/13, 1/4 sec., 2-stop Hard Singh-Ray ND-Grad
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Cold Fire - Snow and Sunrise at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge

Omaha Holiday Lights Festival - 2009Posted by drfl on December 28th, 2009

I don’t usually get a lot of time to photograph the city, but every year I make it a point to go to downtown Omaha and photograph the holiday lights that the city places on the trees throughout the mall. On each visit I attempt to make a photograph from a new location or a new perspective. This year was particularly spectacular as we got over a foot of snow dumped on us. I headed down right after the snow and before many people had walked through so that I could get a shot without any footprints. I was the first to make the prints, but of course, when I was done my feet were very cold, but my car was close.

Below are links to previous year’s images. It’s always fascinating to see how the city has changed.

• Holiday Lights Festival - 2005
• Holiday Lights Festival - 2006 - I
• Holiday Lights Festival - 2006 - II
• Holiday Lights Festival - 2007 - I
• Holiday Lights Festival - 2007 - II
• Holiday Lights Festival - 2008

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/9, 2.5 sec
Omaha, Nebraska

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Holiday Lights Festival - 2009

What is “Acceptable Sharpness”?Posted by drfl on December 23rd, 2009

A few weeks ago I wrote an article entitled “How to get Sharp Enlargements: Breaking the Megapixel Myth”that gave some tips on creating images that could be greatly enlarged. Now, I am going to address the issue of “Acceptable Sharpness”. In a perfect world of capturing sharp photographs we would all have a remote similar to the movie “Click” in which we could simply hit the “pause” button and everything would simply stop. At that point we could setup our gear, put our tripod in place, connect our cable release, set the mirror lockup, choose the sharpest aperture, put on the best lens, fix the lowest ISO, and then finally capture the image. Unfortunately, no such device exists and so we are left to deal with breezes that blow, animals that run, and hands that shake and As a result, not all nature images are studio perfect. When zoomed in and analyzed imperfections may be noted, perhaps a little motion blur, perhaps a bit of depth of field issues and of course, hand held photographs will almost always be less sharp than an image from a tripod mounted camera. Does this mean that these images should be tossed out due to technical imperfections? At what enlargement point would these images degrade? These are the questions that led me on my path to finding my “Acceptable Sharpness”.

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