The Deepening Jungle

The Deepening Jungle

GUAT07D-197

June 3, 2007

Central America, the depths of Guatemala, highlight today's image.  This is down from the beautiful Semuc Champey area, and the water is still that bright aquamarine water flowing downstream.  But the hillsides, the jagged limestone that protrudes from the thick canopy of greenery, are so rugged, offering a glimpse of how vicious and wild this landscape can be.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: NIkon 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  20 mm

Exposure: 1/80 @ f/3.8  ISO 400

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Sunset on the Kwai

Sunset on the Kwai

THAI0402

June 2004

In a strange way, Kanchanaburi was one of my favorite parts of Thailand.  It had a lot to offer, from the highways up to Erawan National Park, to the history that surrounded the town during WWII.  It was near the site of the forced labor camps of Allied POWs, where they were made to tunnel and lay track for a railroad that was never completed.  Hellfire pass is an area where many soldiers died trying to hack their way through the jungle.  And then there is the river Kwai, which was immortalized in the movie about a bridge.  It was a fantastic place to visit.  This is a night shot, as the sun set over the river, after a long day.  Here you could hear and see bats skimming the surface of the water, using their echolocation to hone in and gobble up the mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects that took to the air at dusk.  Enjoy.

 

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Provia 100F

Lens: Nikon 28-135 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 28 mm

Exposure: 1/80   f/8   ISO 400

Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000; toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Erawan's Hidden Oasis

Erawan's Hidden Oasis

THAI040809

June 29, 204

To the north of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, lies Erawan National Park.  Besides being tucked in a beautiful corner of the country, full of history and natural beauty, the park is famous for the Erawan Falls, a seven-tiered waterfall that flows through the jungle.  The limestone hills that surround the park give the water its noted aqua color, seeming more like an oasis from a novel, some Shangri-la like paradise rising from the warm jungle.  There were also these small fish in the water, that would nibble on your dead skin (like the high-priced salons with fish treatments, only this one was free), it was super tickly.  Enjoy. 

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Provia 100F

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 50 mm

Exposure: 1/60   f/2.8 ISO 100

Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Down on the Bayou

Down on the Bayou

NOLA09D-163

April 21, 2009

It is easy to visit New Orleans without realizing that it is in the heart of swamp country.  That mighty Mississippi river, having wound its way through thousands of miles, spills into a wide delta that is prone to flooding, and gives us a small sampling of an American jungle.  But just outside the vibrant city is the dense brush and forest, and here you see that legendary landscape that we think of when we think of the bayou.  Here, as we floated by, was a  house that was only accessible by boat.  No roads lead out here, just the barest of essentials, and the hard beating it took from humidity and rain and neglect.  But it is this look that best encapsulates the area.  Enjoy.

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 50 mm f/1.4

Focal length: 50 mm

Exposure: 1/100   f/11 ISO 100

Post-processing: Slight texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

A Small Zion Cascade

A Small Zion Cascade

ZION06D-52

December 27, 2006

Waterfalls are such a diverse set of creatures, and yes I mean that they are alive in their own way.  They twist, turn, carve through rock.  They evolve.  This little waterfall is situated along a side canyon in Zion National Park, Utah.  It does not have a name, it is just one of several rocks that the water trickles over on its way down to the Virgin River.  But it is beautiful in its own way, the double cascade and the coolness of the water contrasting against the larger rocks to the side.  Enjoy.

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 90 mm

Exposure: 4.5 sec   f/29 ISO 100

Post-processing: Scanned using a Nikon Coolscan 5000, slight texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

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

The Semuc Champey Valley

The Semuc Champey Valley

GUAT07D-169

June 25, 2007

This valley is famous, tucked in the central portion of Guatemala.  Cutting through the limestone of the mountains, these aqua pools  sparkle and beckon to dip your feet (or body) in and relax.  And after hiking through El Mirador (the lookout surrounding the valley, the vantage point of this image), that is a welcome thought.  The pools are clear and refreshing, with small fishes that tickle as you wade in.  Downstream there are areas where you can jump off waterfalls into pools (watch out for your glasses).  I like this image, as it cuts a nice contrast between the deep green of the jungle, and the small slice of warm hues that encapsulate the aqua pools.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens:Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:n/a

Exposure:n/a

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Flowing Ice

Flowing Ice

CORN07D-18

February 17, 2007

While traveling to various grad schools in the frigid winter of 2007, I got the chance to visit Cornell, which was a striking if strangely built school.  There are two gorges that span the campus, and the second one had this waterfall, completely frozen over.  I thought of the blueness of the ice, which you don't often see in just snowstorms or such, how the ice was draped over the rocks.  It was my first encounter with a frozen waterfall.  And now I know that they are climbed frequently, using crazy ice picks and axes to bite into the frozen water.  Pretty cool sport, I think.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5

Focal length:  90 mm

Exposure: 1/640 @ f/8, ISO 400

Post-processing: Cropped down with contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

Wide Open Rivers

Wide Open Rivers

THOR09D-21

July 10, 2009

Floating down the river this morning, after a long weekend of Thanksgiving eats and treats.  This image comes from North Dakota, another from the badlands area just outside of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  Canoeing down the headwaters of the Missouri river, which flows north through the park before making an abrupt u-turn to head south along the grasslands of the prairie.  But for this stretch, it is cool, winding, very brown, and makes it a perfect way to relax against a summer sky.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/160 @ f/16, ISO 100

Post-processing: Desaturated, cropped down with slight contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

Swirling Vortexes

Swirling Vortexes

ECUA08D-280

January 24, 2008

Still in Ecuador today, we are visiting part of the river system that makes the cloud forests so lush.  This river was torrential, with rain falling even as I hiked past, with lichens, ferns, and mosses dripping from the trees above.  It was such a vibrant scene, the energy and the sound of the river flooding my eyes and my ears as I watched.  It is an incredible place.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6

Focal length:  10 mm

Exposure: 1/2.5 @ f/22 ISO 100

Post-processing: Tone, sharpness adjusted in PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Down that Dark River

Down that Dark River

ECUA08D-169

January 22, 2008

I love rivers.  Always have.  And while many rivers have been tamed in this country (though, luckily, there are some small movements to free rivers from damming in the west), the sight of unbridled water flowing, powerfully coursing through a forest, canyon, or jungle, gets me salivating.  I see scenes like this, and think of reading Heart of Darkness, that high school novel that most people hated, but I loved the descriptions of the water, how the jungle seethed like a living thing as Marlow heads up the Congo in search of Kurtz.  You can see these walls of vegetation on the side of the water, filled with dozens, hundreds of species all vying for nutrients, all trying to eke out an existence, in the most primal, most important battle imaginable.  It is a powerful feeling to be watching this unfold, all to the sound of the beating water.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: NIkon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/6 @ f/22 ISO 200

Post-processing: Tone, sharpness adjusted in PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Cloud Forest Cascade

Cloud Forest Cascade

ECUA08D-216

January 23, 2008

Serendipity does play a large role in photography, but probably even more important is allowing yourself the freedom to experience it.  I think of this photo, which originated in an early-morning run/hike session through the forest in Ecuador before my workshop began and I was forced to be a professional.  At the end of the trail I came across this small waterfall, which was in as idyllic a setting as imaginable.  After standing a few times to take standard shots, I looked down, and thought how much better it would be if I could give the feeling of the water flowing past you, which was how I perceived it while I was hiking.  So I hunkered down in the water, aiming upwards to capture the rocks at the forefront of the waterfall.  I was pleased at the result, and it won a regional award with my camera club back in Champaign.  But I enjoyed even more the feeling of discovery, the combination of my setting off with no expectations, and then visualizing this image how I wanted to capture it.  That doesn't happen often enough, something I need to work on, but on this morning it all came together for me in this image.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/4.0-5.6

Focal length:  10 mm

Exposure: 15 sec @ f/22 ISO 100

Post-processing: Tone, sharpness adjusted in PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Red Mountain Cirque

Red Mountain Cirque

ALAK08D-291

July 29, 2008

Red Mountain lies above Seldovia, following a long and winding road until it reaches this idyllic landscape.  The cirque in the background reminds the glacial origins of this area, how Alaska is still often covered in ice and snow.  But the stream that flows from the mountain is cold, crisp, refreshing.  It is a fabulous place to explore for the day.  The shadows were a bit harsh, due to the high summer lighting, so the left side of the image is a bit off, but the sharpness and colors really pop.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  10 mm

Exposure: 1/20 @ f/22 ISO 100

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Softness of Season's Change

Softness of Season's Change

GRSM11D-58_HDR

October 8, 2011

Hiking through the woods of NC, one thing you come to realize is that there are an astonishing number of waterfalls around.  The area is very lush, much more so than you'd think offhand, and it holds home to an incredible diversity of species, including salamanders and fungi.  And with some late-summer/early-fall rain storms that preceded our trip up to the mountains, the streams were in full bloom.  This small unnamed cascade was spotted coming down from Chimney Tops in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  You just barely get a glimpse of the colors changing, but it is a good contrast against the greenery all around, and the general coolness of the scene.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 50 f/1.4

Focal length:  50 mm

Exposure: var @ f/16 ISO 100

Post-processing: HDR image compiled from 5 images (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2 EV) in PS4.  Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Smoky Autumn Waterfall

Smoky Autumn Waterfall

GRSM11D-16_HDR

October 7, 2011

We came across this scene while driving into the park actually; from the road you could see higher up into this little creek, and the trees were alive with the colors of autumn.  So I pulled a fast turn into the pull-out, rattling my passengers, but that is the risk you take when a photographer is driving through the mountains.  We scouted around, and ended up looking down in the creek a little, looking up past this small cascade and into the fiery brilliance of the forest.  This is an HDR, a little blurry in the trees due to the wind, but still helping pick out some of the tones in the rock and river that otherwise could have been lost.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  10 mm

Exposure: var @ f/13 ISO 400

Post-processing: HDR image compiled from 3 images (0, +1, -1 EV) in PS4, tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Overlooking the Missouri

Overlooking the Missouri

THRO09D-90

July 11, 2009

Today's image comes from North Dakota, in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, despite the name of the post.  Surprisingly enough, the Missouri River has its origins in the western part of North Dakota, flowing north until it makes a hairpin turn and then flows south, assuming its normal course and look.  But here, in the badlands of North Dakota, the river flows amongst the sharp white cliffs that plateau out at the horizon, past scrubland, mule deer, and yucca as it slowly carves out the landscape, deepening the canyons.  While this image was originally in color, it didn't have the right feel to it, and the stronger contrast between the whitish cliffs and the dark land beyond was more conducive to a monochrome.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6

Focal length:  10 mm

Exposure: 1 sec @ f/16, ISO 100

Post-processing: Desaturation, curves adjustment in PS4 & LR1.4

Dawn Breaks Along the Nenana

Dawn Breaks Along the Nenana

ALAK08D-413

August 1, 2008

This early morning hike led me up from the Visitor's Center of Denali National Park along the Mt. Healy Trail.  The few trails which do exist in the park are concentrated near the entrance area. Most of them are mild hikes, wandering through the taiga forest. Mt. Healy Overlook is an exception. This hike runs a seemingly short 2.3 miles one-way... until you realize that during those miles you also climb nearly 1,700 feet in elevation. It can be steep sometimes, as much as a 25% grade at some points. It can be quite a haul, moving up the trail. But the views are well worth it.

From the trail, and the outlook, you can see far into the valley, even to the Nenana river. It is breathtaking, looking over the taiga forest below.  As it was early morning, the sun was coming up over the eastern ridge, and was breaking up the clouds that had plagued us the day before.  It was a breathtaking scene, well worth the trudge up the slopes.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  112 mm

Exposure: 1/10 sec @ f/25, ISO 100

Post-processing: Desaturation, minor curves adjustment in PS4