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: Waiting for TomorrowPosted by drfl on July 8th, 2011

As a change from the recent wintry Colorado photos, today I present an image take just a couple of weeks ago at Mahoney State Park. Near the toboggan run, there are several large Burr Oak trees that I enjoy photographing on occasion. On this warm summer eve, I captured the setting sun through the branches of one of these large, old residents of the park.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 10-22 e-fs @ 10mm, f/20, 1/10 sec
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Nebraska

Printing and Preparation – DeSoto NWR Art FairPosted by drfl on November 19th, 2010

I’ve been a bit absent since I’ve been preparing for the DeSoto Art Fair being held this weekend at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge near Missouri Valley, Iowa. I am very excited this year as I am expanding the prints that are available and working with some new panelling which should up the presentation values. If you get a chance to stop by, please say “Hi!”.

I would also like to thank Mrs. Waldron’s Second Period class at Andersen Middle School for letting me be a guest career speaker yesterday. It seems there are a few middle-schoolers that want to be photographers, which is great! I look forward to seeing some new faces in a few years in the photography world.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/18, 1/50 sec.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Fall’s Final Curtain CallPosted by drfl on November 11th, 2009

This is an image of the same tree from Autumnal Brillance, close to sunset with the sun low in the sky. The leaves were completely gone in a matter of days after this photograph was captured.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/16, 1/60 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Fall’s Final Curtain Call – A maple tree bursts forth into glorious autumn colors.

Photo Friday: Autumnal BrillancePosted by drfl on November 6th, 2009

Although autumn was fleeting in Nebraska and Iowa this year, there were some hold outs after the snowfall. This maple tree turned brillant warm oranges and reds two weeks after the storm and managed to hang on to a majority of its leaves during some pretty gusty times. I couldn’t help but stop and capture the vibrant colors with the setting sun filtering through the leaves.

Technical Details: Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/14, 1/80 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: Autumnal Brillance – A Maple Tree Bursts into Vibrant Oranges and Reds