Embrace Your Conditions: From Another WorldPosted by drfl on October 13th, 2011

As I mentioned yesterday, for the next few blog posts, with the exception of the Photo Fridays, I will be presenting a photograph and then giving a little background on how I was either able to create the photograph or what I did that made the photograph different or better.

For landscape photography I generally want partly to mostly cloudy conditions with some dynamic light. Unfortunately, on my recent trip to extreme Northwestern Nebraska, I had clear skies on a couple of the days. Rural Nebraska, however, has very little light pollution and makes for great night photography. Instead of not shooting, I embraced my conditions and I took the oppotunity of having these clear skies to capture the Milky Way rising from Toadstool Park. It made me feel like I was standing on the moon!

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/4l, 30 sec.
Toadstool Geologic Park, Nebraska

A General UpdatePosted by drfl on October 12th, 2011

I’ve recently returned from two trips that included Western South Dakota and Nebraska that netted a few photographs that I am currently processing. It was nice to actually get out and make new images as opposed to marketing, calling, emailing, etc. Over the next few weeks I will be busy processing these images and putting them up on the blog along with some techniques and stories so stay tuned! Today’s image comes from Keha Paha county in Nebraska which is in the north central section of the state. I was travelling down the highway quickly trying to get to my next photo destination when I saw these two horses standing together in a field of prairie grass. Stopping immediately, I quickly grabbed my camera which was on the seat next to me and got off about 4 photos before the one on the left lost interest and left. It’s always good to be prepared!

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l, f/6.3, 1/4000 sec.
Keha Paha County, Nebraska

Photo Friday (Double Feature): The Mighty Missouri at Sunrise and TranquilityPosted by drfl on September 16th, 2011

Today’s post contains two images, one is from a popular location in Nebraska, one is not. The first image, from the bluffs at the the tri-state overlook in Ponca State Park, the Missouri is seen snaking through the lowlands during a pretty spectacular sunrise. This is what I would consider a recognizable Nebraska photograph. I do, however, strive to photograph new and interesting locations in Nebraska and while this would be considered “interesting”, it may not be considered “new”. About 15-20 miles from this location is Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area where I witnessed another spectacular sunrise. These images were taken on back to back days. To me the second is more memorable morning, I was alone on the shore with no other soul around photographing an area I hadn’t even heard about until I saw the lonely sign the previous day while driving down the highway. It was a place with its own beauty and serenity. From a marketing and business perspective, the first will probably sell better, simply because it is recognizable, but the second has its own meaning to me. Not to say that one shouldn’t seek out the Tri-State Overlook at Ponca State Park, to me that it is a must-see location in Nebraska, but sometimes there is value in blazing your own path.

Technical Details (The Mighty Missouri at Sunrise):
Canon 5D Mark II, 24mm TS/E II, f/9, Singh-Ray 3 Hard-Stop Neutral Grad, 3 vertical images stitched together
Ponca State Park, Nebraska

Technical Details (Tranquility):
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4 @ 17mm, f/16, 4 sec., Singh-Ray 3 Hard-Stop Neutral Grad
Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, Nebraska

Morning Blend: Picture of the DayPosted by drfl on September 12th, 2011

10 years ago the United States and the world was forever changed. 5 years ago Omaha remembered that tragic day with a light display in downtown which I captured from Gene Leahy Mall.

From Omaha’s Morning Blend on Friday – the Picture of the Day.

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