Photo Friday: Under Western SkiesPosted by drfl on November 11th, 2011

Today’s image comes from Valentine National Wildlife Refuge which lies in the heart of the sandhills. As I have mentioned previously, this is the area that is causing reviews of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline proposals. In an article dated yesterday (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45242052/ns/us_news-environment/t/us-orders-alternate-routes-controversial-oil-pipeline/), it appears that other routes may be researched. I’m not sure what the end result will be, no one is sure, but what I can say is that the Sandhills is a unique region that has a distinguishing landscape all its own.

This was a somewhat difficult image for me to capture. The winds were blowing 30-50 miles per hour which made not only the tripod and camera unsteady, but it also made for a very uncomfortable shoot. As the name implies the Sandhills are made of sand. They stay in place by the grasses and plants that grow, but that doesn’t keep all the sand in place and with wind that fierce, the sand whips up and stings. I sat here for about an hour and a half and almost left because I thought there would be no light, but my patience was rewarded when the sun descended behind these clouds and gave me this show.

Because of the winds, I was unable to capture the grass stationary, so I used it as an opportunity to use a slower shutter speed and blur the grass. I was happy with the ultimate effect. During my entire stay in Valentine the winds were fairly strong so I captured a video with my 5D Mark II to show what I was dealing with. I’ve embedded a 42 second video of prairie grasses waving in the wind at the Niobrara Preserve not far from Valentine.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/11, 1/4 sec., 2 Stop Singh-Ray Hard ND Filter + 3 Stop Singh-Ray Hard ND Filter
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Ask Around: Calm Mist and Morning’s WelcomePosted by drfl on October 19th, 2011

The locals are often very helpful on good locations around the area. When I was exploring the Oglala Grassland this past September, I stopped into the lcoal ranger’s office to grab a map. While there, I asked the ladies where I should visit to get some good shots. They recommended an area on the north side of the grassland. One morning before sunrise, I took a road up that direction and saw mist rising from this reservoir. I drove up the two-track road, grabbed my gear and captured these photographs.

Meng Reservoir, Oglala Grassland, Sioux County, Nebraska

Technical Details (Calm Mist):
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 40mm, f/9, 1/160 sec., Singh-Ray 2 Stop Hard ND Grad Filter

Technical Details (Morning’s Welcome):
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 21mm, f/8, 1/100 sec., Singh-Ray 2 Stop Hard ND Grad Filter

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: Grass AbstractPosted by drfl on March 11th, 2011

Happy Friday!  Photo Friday today is a black and white abstract of grasses.  While out taking a small walk through the OPPD Arboretum, I came across this grass that had been flattened from a large animal (likely a deer) resting or sleeping on it.  I was drawn to the lines and patterns, the swirls and the contrasts.

Technical Details:
Canon G10, 8.9mm, f/4.5, 1/200 sec.
OPPD Arboretum, Omaha, 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