Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Bryce Storm

Bryce Storm
BRCA030118
August 2003

While hiking along the rim of the gorgeous Bryce Canyon, As I came along the ridge, the clouds that had been gathering the last couple of days joined together and came streaming, ominously over the horizon.  I was able to find this lone pine, which looked like it had been through a few storms itself, straggling along the red rock.  However, this seemed to be more conducive to a monochrome image, as it conveyed the approaching storm better.  The major let-down of this image, I think, is in the post-processing.  It was shot on Fuji Velvia film, and then scanned, which is never a perfect way of doing things.  A better scanner probably would have made the image clearer, and reduced some of the artificial effects that I can see, but no use crying over spilled milk.  It is still a nice image from a beautiful location.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Velvia 50
Lens: Sigma 20mm f/2.8
Focal length: 20 mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 
Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Monday, January 30, 2012

Gadling's 10 Maps for the Wall

Just a fun little post for Monday, this is a gallery from the travel blog Gadling that has some interesting, artsy maps.  And since I am a huge cartophile myself, I wanted to pass it along to you all.  Enjoy, and here are a few of my favorites. 


Emerging Texture

Emerging Texture
FLOW08D-12
August 19, 2008

This image comes from the University of Illinois Arboretum, a beautiful pink flower just budding out into the world.  I like the emergence of the image, though I decided to do some post-processing manipulation, playing around with textures from Flickr user Playingwithbrushes (many thanks to her for allowing me to use her backdrops).  I don't usually go for that kind of look, but the rough edge is something that is very nice, and can add the right kind of quality to the right photo.  Let me know what you think, and enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens: Nikon 105 mm f/2.8 macro
Focal length: 105 mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 
Post-processing: Texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS

Friday, January 27, 2012

Ready for the Trail

Ready for the Trail
NCAR10D-183
April 3, 2010

I'm getting impatient for spring to arrive, and want to get out on the trail again.  This isn't the most artistic image, from my first spring in NC when I went off-trail in Pisgah National Forest for a couple days near Easter, using the smallest reasonable pack I had at my disposal.  I've since gone back to my normal bag, an REI Valhalla, knowing that with the equipment I bring (especially for photography), such a small backpack isn't really feasible.  I'm anxious to be out on the trail with this weather, with my girlfriend and wonderful hiking partner Sarah, to show her some of the fun of backpacking in the wilderness.  Even on the East Coast :)  Enjoy.

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens: Nikon 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 105 mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 
Post-processing: Small toning and curves adjustment in PS

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Frontier Teton House

The Frontier Teton House
GRTE050113
September, 2005

Grand Teton National Park is littered with the ruins of old cabins and homesteads that were established in the 19th century by Americans moving west.  The park has left them as is, letting nature have her way with them for the most part (though there are a couple that are still inhabited and were grandfathered into the park when it was established).  They are interesting representations of how life used to be out here, and this image I feel encapsulates that rugged, western feel of the area.  I've been thinking about camping a lot recently, and missing those sharp peaks and wilderness.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Velvia 50
Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5
Focal length: 105t mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 
Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, toning and curves adjustment in PS4 (the border edge is a bit much, but I couldn't find the original file in time to remove it, so you get a soft dropped shadow courtesy of late nights with PS4)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Photographs of Phamous Photographers Holding Photographs

I saw this over at Wired Magazine,a great little collection of photographs of photographers holding photographs.  Some of these are iconic images, such as Marilyn Monroe in bed, the towers exploding on 9-11, and Ali standing over Liston.  My three favorites, however, have to be Steve McCurry's portrait of a young girl in Afghanistan in 1984, the funeral procession for a murdered silverback gorilla, and the infamous line of tanks confronting a protester in the 1989 Tienanmen Square uprising in China.  These three are beautiful, haunting pictures that resonate with me especially strongly, and to see these images in the hands of their creators puts a personal perspective on each, seeing the artists who live behind the lens.
McCurry







McCurry's image of the girl has consistently been thought of as National Geographic's most recognizable and outstanding image, his portraits are wonderful creations that are as beautiful as they are honest.  












Stirton









The gorilla funeral is so sad, not only as it is a reminder of how few of these animals are left in the world (and highlighting the plight they face against poachers and land encroachment), but it shows how much empathy these animals can inspire in others, and how closely related we are.  
Widener
















The tanks in Tienanmen Square need no real introduction, it is one of the most famous images of individuals standing up for their rights against oppression and demanding rights, even at the sacrifice of their own lives.











Enjoy the entire gallery at Wired.  


Spring Blossoms

Spring Blossoms
NCAR10D-236
April 10, 2010

Today's image comes because I am impatient for spring.  The winter here has been nothing short of disappointing.  It has been cool, but not cold, with no snow to speak of.  It is just a succession of chilly days with brown, decrepit leafless trees.  It can be quite a bummer.  I am looking forward to spring, when some semblance of life takes shape again.  This was taken at the Sarah Duke Gardens on the Duke University campus.  The Asian section of the garden has a lovely arrangement of small shrines by the water's edge, and on the far side the flowers were blooming.  I loved this image, as simple as it was, using the flowers as a veil over the stone shrine to frame the image and add some addiitonal complexity and mystery to the image, as that better conveyed my feelings on how the shrine and garden should be portrayed.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 100 mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5   ISO 400
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4 (the border edge is a bit much, but I couldn't find the original file in time to remove it, so you get a soft dropped shadow courtesy of late nights with PS4)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Watching the World Pass By

Watching the World Pass By
ALAK08D-376
July 31, 2008

The train ride to Denali National Park is quite a scenic ride, one that is not to be missed if you have the chance and the money.  You pass through the taiga forests of Alaska as you wind up towards the park, and it is a dedicated stop (meaning if you're without a car, like me, the train drops you right at the entrance of the park and you're able to walk in).  Along the long, 8-hour trip, there is plenty of time to wander, and I saw this young adventurer eagerly awaiting the arrival to Denali as much as I did, passing time watching the evergreens roll by.  Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. 
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 40mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5   ISO 400
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Creeping Denali Fog

Creeping Denali Fog
ALAK08D-404
August 1, 2008

Hiking up the Mt. Healy Overlook Trail at Denali National Park, you go through some vast changes.  You begin in the forest that hangs around the entrance to the park, but soon (climbing 1,700 feet in 2.25 miles) you're emerging into the alpine/tundra environment, and you can turn back to view the valley from which you've climbed.  But on this morning, the sun was barely up, and the fog was still enshrouding the lower forest of Denali.  It made an eerie scene, watching the wind gently blow the fog through the gap and into the valley, waiting for the sun to chase it all away.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 24mm
Exposure: 1/200   f/5   ISO 200
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Autumn Tundra Landscape

The Autumn Tundra Landscape
ALAK08D-626
August 29, 2008

Autumn has left us already, and while it has been a mild one, winter is here.  Continuing on the theme of this week from Alaska, this is a scene from the Point Hope area, far in the north of the state.  Here the tundra is everywhere, and there is virtually no forests or trees to speak of.  Instead, the wide, spongy ground sports tufts of grasses, berry bushes, and thistles stretches far as the eye can see, and in the fall, as it all turns a golden orange, the whole place blazes with color.  It is peaceful, though empty, and the wind comes down from the Arctic and reminds you of how remote Alaska can be.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro
Focal length: 105mm
Exposure: 1/250   f/8   ISO 400
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Ariel River Snake

Ariel River Snake
ALAK08D-756
September 3, 2008

As we cruised over the Aleutian islands, you realize how empty this landscape is, these multitude of islands where no one lives, and the landscape evolves over time without the overt influence of humans.  It looks like how the Earth must have seemed ages ago, when the landscape was fresh and there weren't 7 billion individuals tromping over the land.  This winding, chaotic snake is a great remembrance of that time, and how meandering nature can be.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 422mm
Exposure: 1/3200   f/3.8   ISO 400
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Monday, January 16, 2012

Vastness of the Tundra

Vastness of the Tundra
ALAK08D-480
August 2, 2008

Denali National Park is full of wonderful places to visit, and yet it has a sameness that is familiar.  The tundra stretches out until it slams against the Alaska Range, culminating in the majesty of Denali/Mt. McKinley (which is hidden behind those clouds at the moment of capture).  This image hints at that vastness, that unending space of tundra and vegetation that is indicative of Denali, made even more remarkable by the trees ringing the foreground.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 40mm
Exposure: 1/80   f/8   ISO 400
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Friday, January 13, 2012

Things Bears Love

Something a bit lighter to help ease the superstitions of this Friday the 13th.  I have been trying to think of ways that I can incorporate more travel into this blog, more of the "wandering" that is in the title.  And I'm still working on that.  So if you have suggestions, let them fly.  I've thought about doing segments on destinations I have visited, or want to visit, offering my opinions on the matter with some photos and ideas.  That might work.  We'll see.

Anyhow, today is about safety in the backcountry.  I am a big lover of all things outdoors, from kayaking to snowshoeing to backpacking.  But, one thing that you should always be aware of are bears.  They can be cute and cuddly, but also downright deadly.  And, as this helpful infographic demonstrates from http://www.thingsbearslove.com/, there are some things bears love more than others.  So be careful, watch out for the fabric stores and those girl scouts!  Enjoy!

The Sentinel of Priest Rock

The Sentinel of Priest Rock
ALAK08D-94
July 24, 2008

This small monolith is on the outer reaches of the bay in Unalaska, next door to Dutch Harbor, and marks the entry point to the harbor.  In previous eras, this rock marked the sign that sailors had reached their home again, and it was always a welcome sight.  I love the way the stone stands, in this image it seems in defiance of the incoming clouds and storm, remaining a beacon for those wayward travelers.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 22mm
Exposure: 1/125   f/16   ISO 100
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Mossy Rocks

Mossy Rocks
ALAK08D-38
July 23, 2008

There are those pictures you come back to when you've had time away, revisiting the collection that gets shuffled away on the hard drive, and a certain picture strikes you like it didn't before.  That is how I feel about this image.  I took it, loving the matted pattern of the moss on these rocks in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  But looking at it at first glance it was flat and boring.  Upon reflection, coming back to it this week as I perused the Alaska images, while it was still flat, I loved the soft green tones that ran throughout the frame, from the light grassy notes to the dark forest or moss greens.  It was peaceful, a still life from the sea, the conglomeration of rocks and their hairy coverings.  So I decided to send it up here for everyone to see.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 48mm
Exposure: 1/40   f/5   ISO 200
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

To GPS, or not to GPS?


Kevin McNeal asks an important question on his blog on PhotoCascadia: do photographers have an obligation to disclose (or not to disclose) locations where photographs are taken?  He takes the line that no, exact coordinates need not be provided, for two reasons: 1) These out-of-the-way locations, their exotic nature and obscureness, helps maintain the value of such images, in a very competitive nature photography marketplace, and as such they are assets to be protected; and 2) there is a need to protect such places against hordes of snap-happy folks who could trample delicate ecosystems.

I wanted to share this with the general audience, for I generally agree.  Not that I am a professional photographer (indeed, I do not make any income from my images as of yet), so the financial argument doesn't resonate with me as much as my desire to protect these landscapes.  I would not intentionally try to hide a general location of an image, and those that are posted here on A Wandering Lens do have a Google location posted with them to give viewers an approximate idea of where I was in the world when the shutter clicked.

While it is not to hide these places, for obviously I want to share them with others, but exposing some of these landscapes to potential masses could be very damaging.  I am a fervent believer in leave no trace backcountry exploration, but recognize that merely my passing through an area changes things: my boots might squash plants or insects, animals move based on my presence, I compact the ground as I walk.  And multiply that by hundreds, or thousands, in areas that are not accustomed to such traffic (this is different than the trails of Yosemite or Yellowstone, that are graded for such high-intensity use), and there is a chance for long-standing damage.

But even beyond that, the photographs that I post, and the ones that I have seen throughout the years, are meant to be inspirational.  Maybe I cannot get to the same exact location that I see in a Galen Rowell print, or on McNeal's blog.  But their images inspire me to get out there, explore on my own, and perhaps try to find something different and new.  I still feel that discovering that unique place, that great angle, that perfect time of day, on your own translates into a greater sense of achievement and personal creation, and that is what drives so much of my photography: it is the exploration of new places as much as it is the images I create.  So, I hope you follow by reading, enjoying, reacting, and then exploring on your own to find new places to share with others.  Good shooting.



The Goose Touches Down

The Goose Touches Down
ALAK08D-788
September 5, 2008

Akutan island is a tiny place along the Aleutian chain.  It's main source of income is the cannery which processes food year-round, but aside from that it is a small, quiet place, far off the beaten track of tourists.  There are no roads out there, Akutan is accessible only by air or sea.  And the only airplane that services Akutan is a seaplane called the Goose. 

Riding in a seaplane is a unique experience, and one that is very hard to come by in this day and age.  Taking off from an airport in Dutch Harbor, everything seems normal, as you glide about a thousand feet off the ground, winding through the small islands that dot the seascape between the two.  Finally you bank steeply, coming straight for the water, and in an instant you are transferred from the air to the sea, rocking like a little boat as the plane taxis over to the landing dock.  It is indescribable.  This image was taken as the plane made its return journey to pick me up after several days of berry harvesting and working with the local community members.  And seeing this plane touch down from outside is no less majestic or awe-inspiring.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 135mm
Exposure: 1/125  f/8  ISO 800
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Polychrome Tundra

Polychrome Tundra
ALAK08D-500
August 2, 2008

The tundra of Alaska is a strange place.  Hiking along the landscape is akin to hiking on a lumpy, wet mattress.  It feels odd.  But it is beautiful, and the lack of trees amongst most of Denali National Park allows you to go off-trail (indeed, most of the backcountry has no trails defined at all) and hike to your heart's content.  Then flag down a bus for your way back to the station. 
The Polychrome is a small valley in Denali, and has these beautiful hues for the backdrop while hiking.  You head through the tundra on your way, and it is quiet, no cars or people to speak of.  While out there, in a 6-hour dayhike I saw zero humans, two bears (mom and cub), and some deer.  It was perfect. Enjoy.
 
Technical notes:
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens:Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 10mm
Exposure: 1/80  f/16  ISO 100
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Monday, January 9, 2012

Salmonberry Globes

Salmonberry Globes
ALAK08D-622
August 29, 2008

The work for my MS was on wild Alaskan berries, their chemistry and health-promoting properties.  So, I was lucky enough to head out to some of the wilds of Alaska, some crazy places that are way off the beaten track.  Or any track, in some cases; a few of them were accessible only by plane or boat.  But this is one of the species we were after: the salmonberry (also known as cloudberry, Rubus spectabilis) is related to the raspberry that we know down in the lower 48, but less sweet.  They were juicy berries, and this image, captured during the fall harvest, is a good example of their cream-colored flesh.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens:Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro
Focal length: 105 mm
Exposure: 1/200 f/3.8 ISO 400
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Friday, January 6, 2012

The Royal Observatory

The Royal Observatory
GUAT07D-340_pan
July 8, 2007

While venturing through the sights of Guatemala, my main objective for going there was to see the Mayan ruins.  And they didn't disappoint.  My one hiccup was that they were very touristy.  Now, this is to be expected, as the ruins at places like Tikal are restored and in fantastic shape, and they should be appreciated by all so they can be maintained.  However, there is that part of me, as in most adventurers, who enjoys moving off the beaten track, seeing things out of the way.  And that was what brought us to Yaxha. 
 
This smaller site, located right on the river, is in various stages of decay and repair.  The 90-minute jeep ride through the jungle to reach the site gave you an idea of how isolated, how off the beaten track it was.  And the site did not disappoint.  Ruins fading into the jungle, crumbled by centuries of disuse and steady rain and humidity.  The royal astronomical observatory, which I climbed to take this photo, was in good shape, as were a few other pyramids.  Best of all, these places were without any other visitors; besides us two and our guide, only two archaeologists were at the site, giving it a lonesome, first-discovery feel.  It was fantastic.  I hope you like the panorama I stitched together of the royal palace sitting near the river, with clouds stretching far to the horizon.  Enjoy.


Technical notes:
Camera: Sony DSC-55
Lens: n/a
Focal length: 6.3mm
Exposure: 1/500 f/7.1 ISO 200
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Thursday, January 5, 2012

RIP: Eve Arnold


Eve Arnold has died.  A photojournalist with Magnum since 1951 (actually, she was the first female admitted to the collective), she shot images throughout the world, with an eye for females, poverty, politics, and birth.  She created an immense collection of images, including formal and informal portraits of Marilyn Monroe.  Some of her work can be seen here at Magnum, and more on her life, as always, can be found here at Wikipedia.  She was 99 years old.

The Verdant Semuc Champey

The Verdant Semuc Champey
GUAT07D-190
July 3, 2007

I've been thinking a lot about Central America of late, as you can tell from my posts.  I was going to give it up for a time, but there is a plan to head back to the region later this year, for the first real vacation I've had in a couple years, and with a special traveling companion.  We're thinking of Costa Rica at the moment, it's relatively close, warm, with lots of outdoors adventures to partake.  So, if you're reading this and have ideas of what to do, let me know!
Today's image is a companion to the Semuc Champey valley scene I showed a couple weeks ago.  Moving down from El Mirador, we traversed the steep slopes down to the aqua pools, and came upon these beautiful swimming and bathing holes.  I was lucky to nab this shot of the relatively clear and calm water before bathers took over.  I like the colors in this image, it gives an idea of how green and lush the valley, and the jungle in general, look, and the water being so vibrantly aqua-green itself (no Photoshop color tweaking needed). Enjoy.


Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 18mm
Exposure: 1/3 f/22 ISO 200
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Lonely Atitlan Paddler

Lonely Atitlan Paddler
GUAT07D-86
June 28, 2007

In the northern reaches of Guatemala, high in the mountains, lies Lake Atitlan.  This is a common stop for backpackers and visitors to the region, as there are numerous towns dotted along the coast, which then rises high into the jungle to climb ancient volcanoes.  This one morning, before the sun rose above the mountains, rode a single paddler across the water, everything in shades of blue. It was a peaceful morning, and I feel that this image reflects that atmosphere, the lone man setting off on the water in the cool of the morning.  Enjoy.


Technical notes:
Camera: NIkon D80
Lens:Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6
Focal length: 100mm
Exposure: 1/15 f/8 ISO 200
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Sunrise Over the Ruins

Sunrise Over the Ruins
GUAT07D-234_pan
July 7, 2007

A beautiful and famous landscape, sunrise over the Mayan city of Tikal.  This scene was not only found in Star Wars IV: A New Hope (the home of the secret rebel base), but is the site of one of the greatest cities of the Mayan empire.  I chose this image because it is a good reflection of a new year, full of optimism (so far), and also because the nay-sayers have the Mayans predicting 2012 as the end of the world.  Highly doubtful, I think it is misinterpreted, but oh well.  Enjoy.


Technical notes:
Camera: Sony DSC-55
Lens: n/a
Focal length: 6.3 mm
Exposure: 1/13 f/2.8 ISO 200
Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4