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.

Deciding When To Search For the “Best Light”Posted by drfl on November 14th, 2011

An autumn tree photographed in the morning, under full sunlight.

An autumn tree photographed in the afternoon, under cloudy skies.

While at the calendar signing at Costco this past weekend I was asked many questions. There were lots of people intrested in my stories and experiences from shooting images for a Nebraska calendar. Some long time residents of Nebraska had been to many of the locations depicted and indeed several were from the eastern part of the state, the region where 80% of the population lives. Of course, this was done for a reason – if people recognize a location, they are more apt to purchase the calendar. Others had lived in Omaha, some their entire lives without seeing hardly any part of the state. It was those that were often surprised at the diversity of the landscape in Nebraska and the Great Plains as a whole.

Without a doubt, however, the number one question I was asked and am asked at art shows is “How do you get the best light?” It’s no secret, I tell them, I only show you the images where I the light was right for the situation. Beginning photographers and those that only shoot occasionally have not yet learned to “see” the light. What this means, essentially, is that there is are appropriate lighting situations for every occasion. Early on, I thought I only wanted the best sunrise/sunset light and if I didn’t get it, I shot nothing and went home. Now, I know that if I’m not going to get that crazy light, it maybe a good lighting situation for intimate nature scenes, or wildlife, or something else. Seasoned photographers have practiced images in all kinds of light, and you know what, sometimes we even surprise ourselves with a lighting situation we did not expect.

There is a common mantra among pro nature photographers – There is no such thing as “bad light”, there is only light and what you make of it. If I had heard this as a beginner I would have retorted with a “Yah, right!”. I can understand it’s hard for new photographers to grasp this, but over time and experience, it becomes easier. Don’t let the lighting conditions limit your creativity, as I once I did, let it unleash it.

Technical Details – Long Way to Go
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/18, 1/200 sec.
Branched Oak Lake State Recreation Area, Nebraska

Technical Details – Electric Fire
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 87mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec.
Arbor Day Lodge State Park, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Happy Arbor Day!Posted by drfl on April 29th, 2011

Happy Arbor Day!

A little bit about Arbor Day from Wikipedia:

Arbor Day (from the Latin arbor, meaning tree) is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day. The national holiday is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April; in Nebraska, it is a civic holiday. Each state celebrates its own state holiday. The customary observance is to plant a tree.

Arbor Day Lodge State Park is one of my favorite state parks in my home state and every fall I try to make it down to Nebraska City for Apples and to see the large variety of trees transform to their autumn dress. Today’s photograph was taken last fall at Arbor Day Lodge State Park under a beautifully changed Maple tree.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 50 CM, f/7.1, 1/100 sec.
Arbor Day Lodge State Park, Nebraska

It’s Not Too Late….Posted by drfl on December 20th, 2010

Fortunately, it has been a very busy month for me.  Unfortunately, for me that has meant less (actually near-zero) shooting and for both of us this has led to no postings. 

Today, however, I am sending out an unabashed marketing message telling everyone that it is not too late to order prints and receive them by Christmas from my print store @ http://store.journeyoflight.com. 

On the blogging side, I do hope to have a couple new blog posts by the end of the year.  I will definitely be adding an end of year retrospective as I did last year so look for that next week.  Until then, I might have an image or two pop up time allowing.  If I don’t I wish everyone very happy holidays!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/4000 sec.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

2010 Fall in Nebraska – Day 5: Last LeafPosted by drfl on November 12th, 2010

Recently, my 135 f/2 lens has been used exclusively for portrait work. I really wanted to see what I could do with it in nature because this is both extremely sharp and has great bokeh. When I cam across this leaf in the browning grass, the lens was the perfect focal length for this scene, and what can I say, I’m a sucker for autumn leafscapes. 

Technical Details:
Canon 5D, 135mm Lens, f/6.3, 1/800 sec.
OPPD Arboretum, Omaha, Nebraska

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 10: Final RestPosted by drfl on October 22nd, 2010

Today is the last day in the aspen leaf series. I found this leaf after hiking up to Big Meadows on the west end of Rocky Mountain National Park. I was particularly drawn to the contrast of the warm hues of the leaf with the cool tones of the foliage.

Come back on Monday for wildlife week!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 50 CM, f/9, 2 sec.
Big Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado