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?

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

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

Announcing “The Quiet Beauty of Nebraska”Posted by drfl on November 2nd, 2009

For the past few weeks I have been putting the final touches on my book “The Quiet Beauty of Nebraska”.  I’ve neglected my blog and some other duties, but I am finally ready to make it available.  Comprised of over 40 photographs from across the state of Nebraska, this book focuses on the scenic landscape, nature, and native wildlife that I have travelled far and wide to capture. 

To see a preview of the book and/or purchase, please take a look, it would make a great gift for the upcoming holiday season!
 

The Quiet Beau…

By Derrald Farnsworth…

Book Preview

Photo Friday: The Land of The BuffaloPosted by drfl on October 9th, 2009

The two biggest tips photography students are given when photographing wildlife is to get in close and fill the frame and to keep the eyes sharp. As a results, anyone who is really trying to get into wildlife photography ends up buying longer and longer lens, especially if you want to be close enough to even see the eyes of the animal. When I first started out in the film days, wildlife was not my primary focus so the longest reach I had was 70mm. I then moved to digital and thought the 320mm equivalent from my 70-200 f/4l coupled with the 1.6 crop factor of my Canon 20d would improve my work. This only led me to purchasing the 1.4x teleconverter to achieve 448mm. And yet, it still wasn’t enough. I’ve always tried to intrude as little as possible when I photograph critters, and when I was in Canada and saw a mother grizzly bluff charge a guy trying to photograph her cubs with a point and shoot, it reinforced the need for us to give them their space.  So I ended buying a 300 f/4l lens, which gave me a total of 672mm effective focal length when added to my 50d and my 1.4tc. And yet, it still wasn’t enough. For a while I thought I just needed that extra little reach, maybe a 400mm or a 500mm would just about cover it. Getting filled frame shots of wildlife is challenging, requires good equipment, great technical skills, and even better behavioral information of the creatures, but I was stuck on longer is better (and more expensive).

Upon review of my work I was definitely getting closer and closer, but I realized that there was a missed opportunity for images with wildlife on the landscape.  Wildlife environment portraits can be as compelling and as challenging, so I made it a goal this year to capture some of these types of images. I ended up looking for patterns and shapes in the landscape that complimented the critters, using lenses with less focal lengths, and generally keeping my distance. Today’s post is a result of that endeavour.  Here, the two buffalo are fairly minor part of the frame, with the rolling, grassy hills as the major component. The setting sun illuminates both them and the grass, warming the scene and accentuating the patterns of the hills.

To see an example of me getting in close (with buffalo), check out May 18th’s post at: A Buffalo Profile.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/250 sec.
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

This photograph is available from my website at: The Land of the Buffalo - Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Photo Friday: An Autumn FriendPosted by drfl on October 2nd, 2009

Today brings my first wildlife photograph from my recent excursion to South Dakota. I have found that Pronghorns range anywhere from the very timid to the bold. While traveling out of Custer State Park and into Wind Cave National Park I briefly glimpsed the head of this guy resting on a hill. I quietly crept up slowly taking shoots and careful not to disturb this creature. He stood up, aware of my presence, but apparently not too troubled. I was able to capture this shot and then I quietly left.  He never ran, but sat right back down again. Perhaps, an example of being too acclimated to humans.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4 tc, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec.
Custer State Park, South Dakota

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: An Autumn Friend - Pronghorn in Custer State Park, South Dakota

Photo Friday - Larger Than LifePosted by drfl on September 25th, 2009

Today, I have a special guest post from my wife! Since she has not immersed herself into the photography world from a technical aspect, it is always refreshing to have her fresh perspectives on what I am doing and additionally, her support has been invaluable. So, here is her take on today’s Photo Friday image.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Derrald’s. I like the detail of the bee, from the sharpness of his wings, to the individual fine hairs of his fuzzy body. I think there is an interesting juxtaposition of the sharply-defined bee and the slightly out of focus thistle. It seems the colors in this picture are very vibrant as well. Normally I think of bees as miniature enemy pilots out to sting me, but viewing this picture, somehow I do not feel threatened at all. - Holly Thomas

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 50 CM lens, f/7.1, 1/100 sec.
Near Cedar Rapids, Nebraska

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Larger Than Life - Bee and Thistle

Small, Cute…. and Deadly!Posted by drfl on September 22nd, 2009

I have recently returned from an adventure west and north to South Dakota and western Nebraska. My very pregnant wife, 2 year old, and I had some fun, saw some stuff, and I was able to do some work as well! Buffalo, pronghorns, big horn sheep, mountain goats were some of the critters we managed to see. In addition, we had a look at some killer prairie dogs - literally. Seems that some of these little guys have the plague. Didn’t realize that one until we saw the signs - “Caution, Prairie Dogs Have Plague! Keep People and Pets in the Vehicle.”

As far as landscapes, we got around to traveling through Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, the Black Hills, Chadron State Park, and Toadstool Geologic Park.  Additionally, we happened to stumble upon the only Uranium mine in Nebraska.  Once again, didn’t realize that until we saw the radioactive warning signs. Of course, my wife thought I was trying to kill us, or at least make us all very sick. It’s been a few days now and I can report that so far we have no symptoms and we do not glow in the dark.

I tried some new techniques during the trip and over the next couple of weeks I will be sorting photographs and processing and I may upload an image or two from the trip.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/6.3, 1/640 sec.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Photo Friday: Ionu (Eye on You)Posted by drfl on September 11th, 2009

For some reason this guy allowed me to get close and take a few shots.  I focused on the eye that was reflecting the blue sky behind me.  Backyard nature at its friendliest, but I am sure the neighbors don’t like him eating their flowers!

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4 tc, f/6.3, 1/100 sec.
Omaha, Nebraska

Soaring With Your Personal Photographic VisionPosted by drfl on September 10th, 2009

Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself. -Mary Schmich

As humans each one of us is unique. Not one of us acts the same, speaks the same, or enjoys all the same pastimes. Genetics and environment have combined to create the person we are and many endeavour to achieve something greater than the sum of our parts.

If you were to take 10 photographers and place them in an unfamiliar location with a camera and any lens, filters, and equipment they choose you would have 10 unique images. No image is wrong, no perspective more correct than the other.  Yet photographers so often wish to imitate other’s work.  When one sees an image that inspires and moves, the siren call to create something similar can be powerful. When used properly imitation can be a strong learning tool, from it we can examine the process and techniques used to create the same types of mood and images.   

On photography forums I frequently read comments such as “wow, you really captured the [insert photographer] feel here” or “this could almost be [insert photographer]’s work”. If it was your wish to grow and learn from the experience of producing something similar, than great. However, if it is your desire to always walk in another’s footsteps, never to find your own creative path, then know that you will forever be enslaved to someone else’s vision.

As artists we yearn to create. Each photograph freed from our imaginations should follow our vision, it should be our own.  We need not fetter ourselves to an imitated style.  Use the lift of another to give you the boost necessary, but then fly on your own.  Catch your creative updraft and soar.