Dimming Light From a Northern SunPosted by drfl on July 30th, 2009

On a cool July evening, upon Jack Sinn WMA in eastern Nebraska, the evening was quiet except for the frogs and insects and the occasional honking of geese overhead.  This was one of those times that the light was exceptional and I managed to get several “keepers”.  I also got 3 ticks, but I decided not to keep them.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/18, 1/8 sec. 3-stop Singh-Ray Hard Grad
Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area, Nebraska

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: http://www.journeyoflight.com/journey06/photo.asp?pictureid=DimmingLightofaNorthernSun&xmlfile=/journey06/xml/color/midwest.xml&x=18

Chimney Rock and the Nebraska FrontierPosted by drfl on July 9th, 2009

Today I am going to take a break from my “Missing the Mountains” series which will return tomorrow.  About over a month ago I posted an image to Darwin Wiggett’s Life and Learning Through the Lens monthly contest.  The theme was an alternative view to icons.  I submitted this image of Chimney Rock with the following tidbit:

While the state of Nebraska in the United States has very little that many would consider “icons” it does have Chimney Rock – the pinnacle by which many of the early settlers guided their wagons in their journeys to the west.  No photography book on Nebraska would be complete without an image of this prairie landmark.  Almost all the photographs I have seen have focused on the rock almost solely, with its jagged features dominating the composition.  In my rendition I choose to show it more from a distance, as the early travelers would might have initially seen it – a distant beacon of the next waypoint.

As it turns out, Mark and Leslie Degner, chose my image as this month’s winner!  More details and great submissions can be seen on Darwin’s Blog.  This image has always had some great memories associated with it.  I was really starting to get into digital photographer around this time and I took a great trip through South Dakota and Nebraska with my wife.  It was a wonderful trip and we both agree that this is one of our favorite images so it was pleasing to see that others enjoyed it too!

Technical Details:
Canon 20d, 17-40 f/4l @ 27mm, f/9, 1/50 sec.
Chimney Rock National Historical Site, Nebraska

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: http://www.journeyoflight.com/journey06/photo.asp?pictureid=ChimneyRock&xmlfile=/journey06/xml/color/midwest.xml&x=0.

Peaceful GlowPosted by drfl on May 20th, 2009

While growing up my parents always thought it was important to travel the area in which you live.  This doesn’t mean that’s all we did, but we would make it a point to see some of what the area has to offer.  Since I grew up in Nebraska I had the opportunity to see western Nebraska, Scottsbluff, Chimney Rock, Pioneer Village, and other parts of the state many people never see.  Now that I am adult with my family, I have also tried to plan trips for my family to see the different areas close-by. 

Today’s post comes out of my recent trip with my family to the Valentine, Nebraska area.  It’s an image of the grasslands and prairie in the sandhills at Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.  At sunset on this particular evening the grass glowed golden with the light of the setting sun and the clouds reflected the last color of the warm light in the distance above the hills. 

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/14, 1/8 sec.
Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Early Spring RainPosted by admin on March 27th, 2009

A couple of days ago I returned to Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge after a soft spring rain to capture the clouds as they moved off from the storm. I always love the effects of this weather – the smell in the air, the reflecting puddles, and of course the light that can be captured right after a good rain. Here, a road that bisects part of the plain at the refuge had just been plowed and the rain left several nice puddles in the texture of the mud. I wanted to capture the road with the sky to give the full effect of the weather on this landscape so I used a vertical composition to elongate the road and accentuate the feel of the distance.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/11, .4 sec., Singh-Ray 2-stop hard ND grad
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

No More Sleepy DreamingPosted by admin on October 10th, 2008

After a fairly long absence I decided it was time to update the blog. I have lots of new photos to share that will be coming along. Today’s photo was actually taken in the beginning of September at a marsh right outside of Lincoln. This is a perfect example of how landscape photographers (especially in Nebraska) really have to be aware of the weather. I have several websites I check to see how the clouds will be lining up for the evening. Occasionally, I get right and have a spectacular sunset. Sometimes, I am completely wrong and the clouds change direction and the sunset fizzles. For about two months I had been aware of this location and realized it would be a great location for sunset. On this particular evening, the clouds looked like they were going to be right over the marsh with an opening to the west to allow the setting sun to underlight the clouds. It was not disappointing.

Technical Details:

Canon 5d, 17-40 f/4l @ 26mm, f/11, 4 sec., 3-stop singh-ray hard dodged
Frank Shoemaker Marsh, Near Lincoln, Nebraska

Silent TransitionPosted by admin on July 31st, 2008

A storm was rolling through on this particular evening and I headed out to Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge to setup a prairie/sky shot. I found this interesting tree stump instead and used it to anchor the scene with the sky.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d, 17-40 f/4l @ 19mm, f/16, 2 sec.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge

To view other photographs, order this photograph as a print, or purchase licensing rights, please visit my website at http://www.journeyoflight.com/.