Squeezing Out More Detail – Above the CloudsPosted by drfl on January 30th, 2012

I like detail in my photography – good, sharp, clean detail. I don’t think I’m unique in that regard, in fact I would say the vast majority of photographers feel the same way. I like sharp lenses, high megapixels, low noise. Once again, I think most of us would agree with that. Of course, camera technology isn’t the only thing progressing. Adobe continually makes improvements to Photoshop. Filter manufacturers, both the physical and software continue to progress, and most importantly, I continue to learn and evolve my post-processing techniques.

Over three years ago, I photographed Rocky Mountain National Park with the best cameras I had at the time – An original Canon 5D and a Canon 20D. Very capable cameras, in fact I still use the 5D original flavor from time to time. On a quite evening I captured the above shot with my 5D, a 17-40 f/4l lens, and a Singh-Ray 3-stop soft grad. I processed the shot in Photoshop CS4, used Nik’s Viveza 1 for some of the color balancing and then passed Nik Color Efex’s Tonal Contrast Filter over it for a bit of sharpening. Remember, I said I like sharp, so I thought I was gleaning more detail out of it. After reviewing this image again, I now cringe at the result. Heavy hand, very heavy hand.

I’ve always thought this image had potential so I’m going to provide some insight into my new process of today. More – after the jump.

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Sandhills SentinelPosted by admin on January 18th, 2012

The Sandhills of Nebraska is an ecologically sensitive region that has been the subject of heated discussion due to the plans of TransCanda to build the Keystone XL pipeline across the area.

While I am glad that an increased awareness of this area has finally come, it should have come sooner and in a more positive light instead of the crux of a international debate.

The Sandhills is an area that is both beautiful and subtle, undulating hills and prairie as far as the eye can see. This is not the stereotypical Nebraska of corn and agriculture, but it is an area that comprises 1/3rd of the state. I have had the opportunity to photograph it several times and each time I know I will return. I encourage everyone to visit this place at least once if for nothing else, to hear prairie grass speak with every breath of the wind, to watch the clouds slowly traverse the azure sky and to experience the quiet solitude with only your thoughts as company.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 200mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec.
Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

After the Flood: A Return to DeSoto National Wildlife RefugePosted by drfl on January 16th, 2012

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 91mm, f/8, 1/320 sec.

For years I have visited DeSoto, my family often in tow. My eldest daughter, Riley loved to run the halls of the visitor center and look at the artifacts of the old Bertrand steamboat that had met its end in the mud and muck of what became DeSoto lake. I would occasionally visit by myself, finding a quiet solitude on the Cottonwood trail or on the shore of the lake.

The flooding of the Missouri this past spring, summer and into the fall affected lives, changed landscapes, and even modified the course of the river. Nuclear power plants stayed shut down, roads and highways were under water and destroyed, houses and farms were devastated. DeSoto was among the areas that was hit hard. The lake rose several feet and aerial photographs showed a large body of water covering the land that once existed in the former oxbow of the Missouri River.

The water has now receded. A week ago I returned to photograph it once again with a friend, Jayson Alder. Today I am presenting some images from that trip. I invite you to also check out Jayson’s blog to see what he captured as we hiked along the Cottonwood trail. I would also like to thank him for letting me use his 100 2.8 Macro lens. I really don’t need any help in wanting more equipment, but I must say the lens performed well. From the short time I used it, I do recommend taking a look at getting one if you are interested in doing some macro. Right now I use a 50 CM lens which works well, but you have to be close to your subject and it autofocuses ssssllllloooooowwww. Of course, it is one of only two lenses that remain from Canons original EF lineup from the 80s! The faster focus and longer distance of the 100 2.8 Macro was nice!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 100 2.8 Macro, f/8, 1/125 sec.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 145mm, f/7.1, 1/640 sec.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 100 2.8 Macro, f/7.1, 1/125 sec.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l, f/16, 1/8 sec.

An End of Year Retrospective for 2011 – The Top 11 Images of ’11Posted by drfl on December 29th, 2011

Following the lead of my An End of Year Retrospective for 2010 and An End of Year Retrospective for 2009I am presenting my favorite images of 2011. These have been mainly chosen not only because I personally liked the image, but in many times because of my experience while capturing the image.

I begin with one of the first images I captured in 2011, an image of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. This made the list for two reasons, first, because of the flooding of the Missouri River, Boyer Chute has not been accessible and I am not even sure how it will look. Second, this was the first image I made with my Tilt/Shift 24mm TS-E II and it really showed me how much fun I was going to have with that lens.

This image almost didn’t happen. As I mentioned in my post from July, I don’t normally capture agricultural scenes, but as I was driving to my destination, I couldn’t help but stop and capture this image. The wheat, the clouds, the silos all just seem to come together.

This image made the list for a similar reason as the previous entry, I was driving on my way somewhere, saw these two horses hanging out in a field and I stopped and made a quick image. Later, upon review, I found that I liked the composition and the poses the horses had.

I included this image because it was a little outside of my norm of shooting, much like “Almost Harvest”. Due to high winds across the prairie at Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, these tumbleweeds had piled up against a long fence. I liked the contrasts and patterns and decided to spend a little time, probably almost 2 hours, working various compositions. Although I captured a few I liked, this was the one that resonated with me the most.

Every Time I go to central or western Nebraska, I have to shoot the Milky Way. Toadstool Geologic Park lends itself well to this type of photography, so naturally, I had to take advantage of the opportunity.

This photograph made the list, well, because pheasants are darn hard to shoot and I feel like it came out pretty well!

This image made the list because I wanted a unique perspective on Snake River Falls in Nebraska. I found this high vantage point after searching and hiking for a bit. Additionally, because of new developments, Snake River Falls is endanger of no longer being publicly accessible, so this could potentially be the last image I capture of it.

Forty mile per hour winds, pelting sand, lousy light, everything seemed to be against me for this image. Then, only 10 minutes prior to sunset, clouds rolled in and the sun’s light shot out from behind with a beautiful intensity. It’s good to be patient.

Fog, trees, contrasts, shadows and patterns, I like the simplicity of this image.

After walking about a mile in waist deep snow before sunrise, the sun finally crested the horizon and bathed snow covered Rocky Mountain National Park and Long’s Peak in warm light.

Lastly, after a spring snowstorm came through Rocky Mountain, I ventured to Moraine Park and waited for sunrise. The light was good and by using my Tilt/Shift I was able to shift for greater detail. That’s when a plan really comes together – good plan, great weather conditions and cooperative gear!

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: 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