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

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

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

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)

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'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.  

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.  

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)