Looking For A Photograph

I was up early…drank a quick cup of coffee and hit the road in my Subaru Forester.  I had a couple of my cameras with me…my Fujifilm GFX50S II and my Fujifilm X-T4 with a Voigtlander NOKTON 35mm F1.2 lens.  I was out looking for a photograph.  Does it really work that way?  Can a photographer actually “look for a photograph”…or does one just stumble across one?  That is a really good question.  Many photographers think they are so good, that virtually any click of the shutter produces a truly gem of a photo.  I really hate to disagree with that train of thought, but that is rarely ever the case.  Years of practice, good technique, and a trained eye to visualize a composition are certainly important tools to have, but are no guarantee of success!  Sometimes you can put yourself at the right place at the right time…and you are able to make magic happen with the camera!  I know one thing for sure…when I “stumble across” a cool photographic composition or opportunity, it is because I was out “Looking For A Photograph!”

I made my first stop of the day just outside the small mining town of Superior, Arizona.  Picketpost Mountain loomed to the west.  Although it was beautiful, the clear blue sky resulted in a bland and quite boring backdrop.  I turned around and looked east towards Apache Leap…and there was a scene with some character…something I could work with.  I decided to give my manual-focusing Voigtlander NOKTON 35mm a go with my Fujifilm X-T4.  The view spoke to me…a Saguaro Forest with Apache Leap looming in the background.  I focused and snapped the image.  I “chimped” the image on the back of the camera…what I saw didn’t impress me in the least.  That being said…once returning home and editing on my iMac, I was pleasantly surprised with a pretty decent photo.  Therefore, looking for a photograph allowed me to stumble across a compelling composition!

Saguaro Forest below Apache Leap

I hit the road again heading south past the small town of Kearney to the old mining town of Hayden, Arizona.  I wasn’t sure what I would find in Hayden…now hold on…that really isn’t true.  I knew I was looking for photos of buildings in disrepair…translation…falling apart!  This town has certainly seen better days.  The Hayden United Methodist Church proved to be a worthy subject.

Hayden United Methodist Church

The abandoned church is located in the heart of downtown Hayden, near the police station.  Although it is sad to see a place of worship in this condition, it was interesting to photograph.  Soon I found myself back on the highway heading south, past the town of Mammoth, and on towards Oracle, before making a sharp turn…heading back north towards Florence, Arizona.  Nothing really piqued my interest on the drive north.  Just before entering Florence, I turned east onto the Florence-Kelvin Highway.  After more than 20 miles of driving, I stumbled upon a wonderful desert scene.  A large field of granite boulders surrounded by a few very large saguaro cacti, backed by rugged mountains came into view.  Excited…I pulled over to the shoulder to produce one of my favorite images of the day!

Outside

Whenever you head out for a day of photography…always go out with the intention of “Looking for a photograph”, because you never know what you may stumble across!

Where Was I When I Took This Shot?

You grab the mail out of your mailbox and see that your developed film has returned from the lab!  You are overcome with excitement as you sit down at your desk and open the package.  Holding the negatives up to a light you are thrilled at the potential of some…and disappointed at the possibility of others.  After scanning in your images, you realize that there are a few that you can’t remember the location for.  What the heck?

As your mind goes blank…you wonder what to do.  This isn’t the time to freak out…calm down and think!  First…examine your photo carefully, looking for any possible clues that can point you in the right direction.  Are there any buildings, signs, or anything for the matter that places the image at a particular spot.  

The photo with no location…

Alright…in my case…first of all…I see three signs.  I see signs for Stag Beer, Busch Beer, and a sign with an arrow pointing to the left.  When I zoomed into the image I saw a sign denoting a conservation area or something similar…but I couldn’t read it.  I could see the sign for a county road with the designation of “U”…well that narrows my search down to Missouri….one of the few states that use such a naming scheme!  Additionally, I noted signs for a railroad crossing on Road U.   I also took note of the grain elevators just down the road.  Although I gathered some good clues…I still didn’t know the location of the photo.  I had to dig deeper.  I went back to my developed negatives…looking at photos adjacent to this one…placing it in a relative timeline…hunting for more clues that could lead me in the right direction.

The first image I came across was a really bad photo…but it showed the name of a business…”Baders Garage”!  Wow…I knew this could be the big break that I needed!

Baders Garage

I typed “Baders Garage” into Google and was soon met with a location…St. Mary, Missouri!  Checking out “street view” on Google Maps led me to Baders Garage…excellent!  I knew there was a good chance of finding the location of my photo!  Sure enough…I found it!  My photo with the beer signs was also taken in St. Mary, Missouri!

I learned a very important lesson!  If you want to remember where you took a shot…take some notes!  It won’t take you very long to jot down a few notes about your photos as you go…at some point, you will be glad that you did!  Good luck on your photo adventures!

My Favorite Photos of 2019

I’ve been posting photographs to Flickr since about 2007.  It continues to be a wonderful tool to archive or “back up” my best photos.  However, it isn’t a substitute for a good backup program of my primary computer back at the house.  I’ve also been doing something else since 2007.  Each month I look at all my Flickr posts I made for the month and select my favorite three images from those posts.  So at the end of each year, I have a folder on Flickr with 36 of my favorite images!  I’ve been doing this for each of the past 13 years.  Are these images truly my best photos of each year?  For the most part they are…however, obviously some months have more really good photos than others.  I plan to present my favorite “Flickr” photos of 2019…plus give a little light to some of those that didn’t make the cut.  Sit back and enjoy!

Wrinks Market; Lebanon, Missouri USA; Bronica RF645, Zenzanon-RF 65mm F4, Fujifilm Reala 100

Three Bicycles; Mission Beach, California USA; Bronica RF645, Zenzanon-RF 65mm F4, Rollei Retro 400S

Farm Road Through Cotton Field; San Tan Valley, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF16mmF1.4 R WR

Post-Apocalyptic Beach View of Morro Rock; Cayucos, California USA; Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II, Super Takumar 55mm F1.8, Kodak Tri-X 400

Snow-Capped Superstition Mountains; Pinal County, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X-Pro1, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

Reflections at Herbert Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; Voigtlander Perkeo I, Vaskar 80mm F4.5, Ilford PanF 50

The Time After; Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

Standing Alone; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X100F

The Flow; Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

The Moon; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED IF [SDM]

Historic Coronado Motor Hotel, Yuma, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X100F

Sunrise, Yuma, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X100F

Wild Beauty; Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

A New Day; San Tan Valley, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR

The Crop; San Tan Valley, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR

California Sea Lion “Zalophus Californianus”; La Jolla, California USA; Fujifilm X-Pro1; XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

Pelagic Cormorant “Phaliacrocorax pelagicus”; Fujifilm X-Pro1, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

Flowers, Balboa Park, San Diego, California USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; Irix 150mm F2.8 Dragonfly Macro

Headlights; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; Irix 150mm F2.8 Dragonfly Macro

Sunrise (July 27, 2019); San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; Irix 150mm F2.8 Dragonfly Macro

4th of July Morning; San Tan Valley, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X100F

Uplifted; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL II

Mount Whitney; Alabama Hills, west of Lone Pine, California USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL II

Seyler Peak, Big Smoky Valley, Nevada USA; Fujifilm X-Pro1, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

Early Morning Glow; south of Majors Place, Nevada USA; Fujifilm X100F

Point Reyes Cypress Tree Tunnel; Point Reyes National Seashore, California USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

Colorful New Day; south of Crescent City, California USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; sum PENTAX-DA* F2.8 ED [IF] SDM

Throne of the Forest; Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF18-55mm F2.8 R LM OIS

The Present; Inverness, California USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

General Store; Eureka, Nevada USA; Zeiss Ikon ZM; Zeiss Planar 50mm F2 T* ZM; Ferrania P30

River Reflections; Eleven Point River, Missouri USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

Engulfed in Red; Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF18-55mmF2.8 R LM OIS

After The After; Salem, Illinois USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF16mmF1.4 R WR

Stage Stop Motel & RV Park; north of Ely, Nevada USA; Zeiss Ikon ZM, Zeiss Planar 50mm F2 T* ZM; Ferrania P30

Mail Pouch Tobacco…Treat Yourself To The Best; St. Elmo, Illinois USA; Bronica RF645; Zenzanon-RF 65mm F4; Bergger Pancro400

Coal; Washington, Missouri USA; Asahi Pentax S3; Auto-Takumar 58mm F1.8; Bergger Pancro400

I hope you enjoyed my 36 favorite images posted to Flickr in 2019. As I mentioned earlier, some months have more good images than others. Sometimes some really good photos…or at least ones that I really like slip through the cracks and don’t make it to my “Flickr Favorites”. Here are those images:

Desert Mysteries; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Fujifilm X100F

Offset; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-DA FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR

Communication; San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County, Arizona USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; Irix 150mm F2.8 Dragonfly Macro

Morro Rock; Morro Bay, California USA; Fujifilm X-Pro1; XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

Great Basin; Steptoe Valley, Nevada USA; Fujifilm X-Pro1; XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

Lost In Time; Ione, Nevada USA; Zeiss Ikon ZM; Zeiss Planar 50mm F2 T* ZM; Ferrania P30

Mysteries of the Ocean; Crescent City, California USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF14mmF2.8 R

Beach to Infinity; Point Reyes National Seashore, California USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM

Man versus Nature; Point Reyes National Seashore, California USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM

Into The Great Wide Open; Point Reyes National Seashore, California USA; Pentax K-1 Mark II; smc PENTAX-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM

Danger - Stay Back; San Diego, Calfiornia USA; Zeiss Ikon ZM; Zeiss 50mm F2 T* ZM; CineStill BwXX

Manning and Manning - Poultry, Butter, and Eggs; Morrisonville, Illinois USA; Fujifilm X100F

Wind Turbines; near Majors Place, Nevada USA; Zeiss Ikon ZM; Zeiss Planar 50mm F2 T* ZM; Ferrania P30

Crown Candy (B&W); St. Louis, Missouri USA; Fujifilm X100F

Lost to Time; Farina, Illinois USA; Fujifilm X-Pro1; XF16mmF1.4 R WR

This Morning; Washington, Missouri USA; Fujifilm X-Pro2; XF16mmF1.4 R WR

I really hope you have enjoyed viewing my favorite images of 2019! I feel 2019 was a successful year of photography for me. Continuing to study the photography of those much better than myself, reading photography blogs, watching photography YouTube videos, and more experience and practice benefit me daily. I feel my photography journey is just beginning…there is always so much more to learn! I wish everybody well in 2020…it should be a banner year!

Double Exposure or Something Else?

I recently posted an image to Flickr in which I appear to be in two locations simultaneously.  Was I traveling with a twin or was there some kind of trickery afoot?  As you have probably guessed, I do not have a twin…I was actually at two locations in the same photograph!  Was time travel involved…perhaps…perhaps not?  Was my future self hiding behind the giant redwood tree to avoid detection by my other self?  Obviously not…I do not have the ability to travel in time!  A rational explanation exists.  Was the photo the result of a double exposure or something else?  I will go into detail on the steps required to create this photograph.

Time Traveller; Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California USA

One last thing…you are probably asking yourself this question…Was this simply a double exposure image?  The answer to that is no.  The following steps detail the steps needed to create this image:

Equipment

Fujifilm X-Pro2

XF16mmF1.4 R WR

Feisol Travel Tripod CT-3441S Rapid

Ball Head CB-40D

Adobe Lightroom v6.14

Adobe Photoshop CS6

Nik Software (Silver Efex Pro 2, Analog Efex Pro 2)

1. Utilizing my tripod, I set up my camera and composed the image.  I decided to use my wide angle XF16mmF1.4 R WR lens to capture the full width of the monstrous redwood tree and the surrounding forest.
2. I captured two separate photographs…one standing next to the tree and a second shot with me hiding on the opposite side of the tree.
3. Both images were brought into Adobe Photoshop CS6.  Each of the two images were placed on separate layers.
4. Adjusting the opacity of the top layer to 50%, I used the eraser tool to remove the portion of the overlying image (layer)…exposing the second “me”!  The opacity was adjusted back to 100%.  
5. The image was saved as a .psd image.
6. Adobe Lightroom v6.14 was utilized to perform the necessary cropping and editing to produce the final image.  In addition to Adobe Lightroom, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 was used to convert the image to a monochrome tone and a border was added using Nik Analog Efex Pro 2.
7. The image was next brought into Adobe Photoshop CS6 and saved in its final form as both a .jpg and .psd image.

Photography Tips #1 - How To Photograph the Redwoods!

I was recently lucky enough to visit northern California and photograph the majestic Coastal Redwoods!  If any of you have had the chance to visit this area, you know that producing decent photos of the redwoods can be quite challenging.  Here are a few tips that I put together:

Five images stitched together to create a 6x17 format panorama.  This was shot using the 35mm F1.4 XF lens on my Fujifilm X-T1.

1.  It is best to avoid wide angle lenses, except for specific close proximity compositions.  A wide angle lens tends to transform the huge and awe inspiring trunks of the redwoods into skinny straw-like figures.  That is unlikely to be the effect most photographers are trying to achieve.  

2.  Use a normal (35mm APS-C) or telephoto lens.  A normal lens will allow you to retain the width, breadth, and enormity of the tree trucks (see panoramic image above).  Careful composition can produce wonderful results!  A telephoto lens will allow you to compress the depth of the forest, making it appear to look more dense than it really is.

3.  Don't try to photograph the entire redwood tree!  It is not only a fruitless effort, but even if you succeed, you will almost always lose a sense of scale...or the tree will appear to be leaning away from you!

As you can see here...a normal lens (35mm APS-C) does a fine job of retaining the scale of the trees.

4.  Scale back your camera's exposure compensation dial (-1, -2, -3, etc.) to account somewhat for high contrast conditions when shadows and sunlit trees are combined in you composition!  Sometimes the light meter in your camera overcompensates for the darks areas at the expense of the bright areas...resulting in loss of detail in those portions of your photo.  Play around with your settings to find something that looks good.

5.  Set your aperture to F16, use a tripod, and use your camera's timer function.  Since each of your exposures are likely to last several seconds, stability is your friend!

6.  Don't ignore smaller, more intimate compositions in lieu of always capturing the bigger scene! Also, don't be scared to break out the macro lens!

7.  Don't hesitate trying some black and white photography.  Concentrate more on composition, textures, contrast, and lighting to produce some truly wonderful results!

Bring forth you inner Ansel Adams!  Black and white photography can be fun...producing compositions that you would typically ignore.

8.  As an alternate to digital photography, go old school with analog.  Whether it be 35mm, medium format, panoramic, or large format...go for it!

This composition utilizes trees on opposite sides of the image to frame the "tree of interest" in the center of the photograph.

Once again...the normal lens is your friend as shown in this photo.

My list of tips are merely the tip of the iceberg!  As you get out there and shoot...you will find other "tips" that help you as a photographer express your vision through your photography!

Planning Underway For Photography Vacation To Newfoundland!

The time continues to move closer to my 2016 photography-oriented vacation trip!  For the most part, I started this annual photography ritual back in 2007, with my trip to the National Parks of the West Coast, USA.  This was my first trip with a DSLR, my good old friend the Pentax K10D.  My photographic odyssey took me to Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Lassen, Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Olympic units of the NPS system!  It proved to be a learning experience in regards to photographic technique...primarily lighting and composition.  A quick outline of my annual trips follows:

1. [2007] - National Parks and Monuments of the West Coast, USA
2. [2008] - Australia (Northern Territory, New South Wales) and New Zealand (North Island)
3. [2009] - Australia (South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania)
4. [2010] - Australia (Western Australia)
5. [2011] - Canada (National Parks of the Canadian Rockies)
6. [2012] - Australia (Queensland and New South Wales)
7. [2013] - Hawaii (Big Island)
8. [2014] - California (Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP, and Yosemite NP)
9. [2015] - Hawaii (Maui)

So where will 2016 take me you ask?  This year I'll be off to Newfoundland-Labrador, Canada!  I'll actually be spending all my time on Newfoundland...Labrador will have to wait for another time.  I'm still trying to figure out what photographic equipment to bring with me.  I am weighing the possibility of buying a new Fujifilm X-Pro2 for the trip.  If not, I might opt for a couple of new weather-resistant lenses from Fuji:  XF16mmF1.4 R WR and/or XF35mmF2 R WR.

At any rate...I'll be opting for my Fujifilm gear:  Fujifilm X-Pro1, Fujifilm X-T1, and the Fujifilm X100S plus an assortment of lenses.  My biggest decision will be trying to decide on what analog gear to bring.  Should I go only with medium format...or both medium format and 35mm?  That is certainly the question!  The possible film cameras I'll be bringing include the following:

• Bronica RF645
• Fujfilm GF670 Pro
• Voigtlander Perkeo I
• Zeiss Ikon ZM
• Leica M6

Luckily I don't have to make the decision right this very moment...but it will have to be made soon!  Whatever gear I end up taking, the trip to Newfoundland promises to be an experience of a lifetime!  I'll post further details of the trip as it approaches...and provide details and photos of my experiences!

Maui...A Photographer's Paradise!

I'm currently enjoying my second trip to Hawaii.  My first visit was in 2013 when I visited the Big Island of Hawai'i.  This year I set my sights on Maui!  This island is a true tropical paradise in my opinion.  Vegetation ranges from the tropical on the windward side of the island (north) to near desert conditions on the leeward side (south).  The rainforest hugging the northern side of the dormant volcano Haleakala receives upwards of 350 inches of rain each year!  This is in sharp contrast to the dry side of the island...that receives only 12-15 inches per year.  The climate also changes dramatically as one travels to the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet amsl.  At the top of Haleakala you my find yourself above the clouds and experiencing temperatures that are 30-40 degrees cooler than nearby coast regions.

What camera(s) should a serious photographer take on a trip to such a diverse location?  Ultimately, this is up to the preference of the photographer, however, this is what I brought:

• Fujifilm X-Pro1
• Fujifilm X-T1
• Fujifilm X100S
• Zeiss Ikon ZM

For my Fujfilm mirrorless cameras I brought the following lenses:

• XF14mm F2.8 R
• XF35mm F1.4 R
• XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

The Zeiss Ikon ZM was equipped with the Zeiss Biogon 35mm F2 T*.  I also brought along a wide selection of film:  Kodak Tri-X, Kodak Ektar, Kodak Portra 160, and Cinestill B&W.

Haleakala National Park, Maui              Fujifilm X-T1, XF14mm F2.8 R, ISO 200, f/8, 1/400 second 

I traveled to Maui with the goal of shooting a minimum of one roll of film each day during my 16 days in paradise.  It wasn't long before I realized that was a completely unrealistic goal.  I found that the Zeiss Ikon ZM rangefinder wasn't always the camera best suited for the dramatic landscape shots that I was always compelled to take.  Well, in reality, it wasn't just the landscape shots, but also the surfing action shots as well.  Although I likely captured some some pics using the wide-angle Zeiss Biogon 35mm lens...it just didn't have the reach or flexibility of my X-system!  Needless to say, most of my photos were taken with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and Fujifilm X-T1.  

south of Lahaina, Maui              Fujifilm X-T1, XF55-200mm, ISO 400, f/4.8, 1/4000 second

In short...visit the Hawaiian islands...especially Maui!  The opportunity for photography is limited only by the time you have, willingness to travel, equipment, and knowledge.  But don't let that stop you...get out there and have some fun!

NOTE:  I MAY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THIS POST IN THE FUTURE...SO CHECK BACK!

When is the time "right" for photography?

When is the time "right" for photography?  That is quite an open-ended question.  Actually, the time is "right" whenever you are inclined or feel moved to take that shot.  However, sometimes the "right" time equals the "best" time!  If you find yourself at your favorite national park on a cold, windy, rainy, and dreary day...don't despair!  I've found that some of my best photos originate on just these kinds of days!  Take for example this photo.  I was at Glacier National Park, Montana...the weather was not necessarily the best for hiking...but it proved to be excellent for photography.  Often extreme weather conditions can add another dimension to an already beautiful scene!  

Glacier National Park, Montana              Bronica RF645; Zenzanon-RF 65mm F4; Kodak Ektar 100

Landscape Carved By Glaciation

I captured this image at Glacier National Park, MT during the 4th of July holiday. Since I added analog photography to my repertoire about 1 1/2 years ago...I've been using "The Darkroom" from Californian for nearly all my film development needs. Usually I can drop my film off at the post office on a Monday, have scanned pics posted by Thursday, and my negatives back in my possession by Friday or Saturday. Overall, a quick and streamlined process. During this most recent service from "The Darkroom", I paid to have images scanned at medium quality/size. I really like the results. The ~18 MP images are quite sharp with lots of detail. At any rate...enjoy the photo!

Why place my portfolio on Squarespace.com?

For the past several months I have been exploring my options...trying to find a service to host my photography portfolio.  Prior to Squarespace, my images have resided on Flickr, Zenfolio, and Smugmug.  A few key components were lacking from each of those...blogs, shop, and web templates.  I hope I have a permanent home for my portfolio.