Look Closer: Sandhill AbstractPosted by drfl on October 17th, 2011

Completely overcast and rainy conditions can present real challenges for landscape photography.  Often, photographers get caught up in the idea that successful landscape photography must be captured with a wide-angle lens.  Some of the most successful images, however, are captured with long lenses.  This image was captured with a 300mm lens coupled with a 1.4 teleconverter on a Canon 50D.  That’s long for a landscape!  I really wanted to isolate the abstract nature of the intense red and orange colors of the prairie grass that were emerged during the rain.  While I was initially bummed by the rainy conditions, I wouldn’t have seen these colors without it and if it had been sunny, the colors would be contrasty and hard to capture.  I found that when I looked closer I could find a more intimate and abstract landscape that I might not have seen otherwise.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/7.1, 1/250 sec.
Cherry County, Nebraska

Also, I wanted to mention that if you have not “liked” me on Facebook, please do by following the link below. I will be adding some unique information, events and deals there in the future.

http://www.facebook.com/JourneyOfLightPhotography

Photo Friday: Kissed by Morning LightPosted by drfl on September 9th, 2011

Today’s image is another from northeastern Nebraska. While traveling around the countryside just after sunrise, I found these undulating hills of corn that were graced by the first light of the morning with clouds that mimicked the patterns on the ground.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 84, f/8, 1/250 sec.
Dixon County, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Tranquil FieldPosted by drfl on September 2nd, 2011

This past weekend the family and I got away from the city and went to Ponca State Park in northeastern Nebraska. This is one of my favorite areas of the state – forests atop high bluffs, rolling hills, and a slower pace of life. On both Saturday and Sunday I went out into the surrounding area to explore and capture what I found. Both days I had excellent light – great sunrises with dynamic clouds. Today’s post was taken on a random gravel road that I decided to explore. I was drawn to the hay bales as they dotted the landscapes. The fields were very green, even though it was August due to increased rainfall. It almost looked like spring with the dew glistening on the grass, almost that is, except for the harvested hay.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/8, 1/100 sec.
Dixon County, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Almost HarvestPosted by drfl on July 15th, 2011

When I first began capturing photographs of the American Midwest and Great Plains it was my goal to NOT capture any agricultural type photographs. I felt that the area was underrepresented in scenic imagery with other subjects and I wanted to fill that void. As I travel through this area I find myself passing crops, silos, barns, and farmhouses that lend themselves to a successful image. While it is still not my goal to focus on the agricultural aspect of the area, some of the scenes with which I happen across I cannot help but stop and shoot. Today’s image is one such example. The clouds were looking ominous and looming on this hot and humid summer evening, so I packed up and headed to one of my favorite locations, Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area. As I passed this farm, as I have done dozens of times before, I looked back and saw the clouds contrasted by the wheat almost ready for the harvest. After travelling another mile down the road, I decided to make a u-turn and head back to see what I could capture.

As I’m also focusing on some monochromatic imagery this year, I have included a black and white version. As usual, I would appreciate knowing which you prefer.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/9, 1/40 sec.
Saunders County, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Around the TreePosted by drfl on March 4th, 2011

Prairie grass is fascinating to watch, especially when one is standing in miles of it.  Acting as one connected organism, groups of prairie grass move and sway in unison with even the smallest of breezes.  A quiet rustling accompanies the movement, gentle, calming.  On the prairie one can find peace and solitude with miles of nothing and nobody.  The vastness is engulfing and liberating, making one feel both small and large simultaneously.  It is endless and eternity.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/9, 1/60 sec.
Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Nebraska

Photo Friday: The Cold LandPosted by drfl on January 28th, 2011

I went out and used my new 24mm Tilt-Shift lens this past week.  On today’s image, however, I did not tilt, nor shift, I only used it as a 24mm lens to take advantage of the sharpness that the lens has to offer.  I love the stark white interspersed with the grasses and the various patterns that emerge which fresh snow on the plains bring.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 24mm TS-E 3.5L, f/11, 1/30 sec.
Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area, Nebraska