With the current price of fuel I can hardly afford unnecessary road trips.  After the previous photo safari produced so little in the way of wildflowers, I’m hesitant to go exploring again.  There are a few bluebonnets but they are sparse and spindly.  Bluebonnets usually predict the quality of other wildflowers, Indian paintbrush, black-eyed susan, Indian blanket, winecups, etc.  Unless we get a lot of rain soon there will be little to photograph along our highways, byways and meadows in coming months. 

I have a few wildflower pictures scrolling across the homepage.  They are from previous years and even from places other than the Texas Hill Country.  I enjoy my Big Bend Bluebonnets and the Lake Buchanan Lighthouse but would much rather be photographing huge fields of well saturated local bluebonnets to scroll across a computer screen.   It’s not just the photographers being disappointed.  The lack of wildflowers in the area is a bust for tourism, photographers and the local business people.  The weekend is due to be a large infusion of money into the Texas Hill Country and the Highland Lakes Area especially.  Even the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival is likely to suffer.   Maybe the nice weather will attract crowds to the local air show.

We had some rain this week.  Hopefully, a little more will give us something to look forward to as the wildflowers change from blue to red to yellow.  Perhaps the cactus and yucca will produce some photogenic blossoms.  I hope we don’t have to wait all the way into June for sunflowers.  Keep your fingers crossed.

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I spent this past Friday with my friend and colleague who just happens to be the designer of my website. It was a cold, dank day. Despite the weather we persisted in our planned photo safari. The wind restricted access to our primary subject, wildflowers, so we searched out and photographed structures, animals and flowing water. The flowing water was Bob’s idea. He has a new Nikon D80 and wanted to experiment with slow shutter speeds. Overall, the day was a success and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Experimenting with slow shutter speeds and avoiding the motion created by the wind had me thinking of my background — motor sports photography. It is all about stopping or controlling motion. Also, Bob had asked me about photographing an indoor action event. I thought I would post a few tips on photographing action.

You need two things to get good action photos: some basic action-shooting skills, and some knowledge of the activity you’re photographing. The skills include panning, peak action, follow-focusing, prefocusing and developing a sense of timing. The knowledge helps you anticipate those perfect peak moments that make for great action photos. It does take some practice to perfect the techniques, so once you read about how to do it, go out and practice, and practice some more. Soon you’ll become proficient, and you’ll have some great action photos to show for it.

Start with a fast shutter speed – a fast shutter speed and NONE of the shutter lag usually associated with digital photography. In action photography, there is no place for shutter lag. Neither “prosumer” nor “point-and-shoot” cameras offer the shutter response required for fast action.

When I switched to digital photography my first camera was a Panasonic DMC-LC40. It is a wonderful little 4 MP point-and-shoot with 33~100 (35mm equivalent) Leica lens. I took some excellent action shots of my grandson on his dirt bike but there was a lot of luck involved. It never took a picture of what I was seeing when I pushed the shutter release.

When I returned to professional photography, I bought an 8 MP Panasonic DMC-FZ30, a powerful prosumer digital camera with 12X optical zoom, Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 35~420mm f2.8-f3.7 lens with Macro Focus and Optical Image Stabilizer. It sucked for action photography. The first motorcycle race that I covered was a near disaster. It was good old American flat track. The bikes reach speeds in excess of 80mph. The shutter lag would not allow me to follow focus. The electronic view finder would go black, I’d lose the action, and the camera would record a sharp image of blank dirt track. Prefocus was hit and miss at those speeds. I reverted to what I knew from my past – full manual.

A DSLR is really the only choice. There is no evident shutter lag and the DSLR offers an auto focusing system that is much more sophisticated. It allows tracking a moving target. The “follow focus” capability is discussed in the post about my Nikon D80 . The larger size of the DSLR processor also allows shooting at higher ISO speeds without creating the grainy effect of “digital noise.”

Second is a lens that can get you close to the action without endangering your life. My most treasured photographic possession during my photojournalism days was a zoom-Nikkor 80~200 f4.5. This was before auto focus. Its only auto function was indexing. I still have that lens but mostly as a keepsake.

Today’s lenses offer much more. My AF-S Nikkor 18~135 3.5-5.6G, a “kit lens” that came packaged with my Nikon D80, is equivalent to the old 80~200 in length. The D80 “crop factor” of 1.5 pushes the 135mm to an effective 202mm. It is a bit slow, however.

The AF-S Nikkor 300mm f4 is my latest addition. It cost more than my D80 and the “kit lens” combined. Doubling as a wildlife lens justified the expense. I added a 1.4 teleconverter that gives the lens an effective reach of 630mm at f5.6. At 300mm, this lens is fast and is great for compressing a group of racers in a corner. Compressing emphasizes the bar-to-bar action of a group of racers.

A better choice may be the AF-S Nikkor 80~200 f2.8. A bit more expensive than the 300 f4 but it is much faster and experience has shown that it has enough reach for most situations. It also is the choice of most photographers shooting indoor sports/action. This is what I would recommend for my friend who is shooting poorly lighted indoor action.I’m writing this in Nikonese because that it what I know. Canon, as well as others offers the same choices.

I started writing this from scratch but googled the internet for help. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I will link to one of the most comprehensive articles I have ever seen on the subject. www.steephill.tv/photography/action-photography-tips.html

An all-inclusive article on action photography is overwhelming. Therefore, I am deferring to the referenced article. It is dated August 2003. Equipment and terminology may have changed but the techniques are as relevant as ever.

As this is posted, a few of my action shots are displayed on the Home page. Some are good examples of the techniques referenced in the article. The images will be displayed for only a short period. They may be recalled if requested. I have left this post open for comments. A subject this significant deserves some discussion. Here’s hoping you will join in.

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Spring is bursting out all over. It is a very special time of year for photographers. How can you screw up something as beautiful as a flower? Hmmmm…. maybe you can.

I took this photo of an Amaryllis and was not happy. It was surrounded by distractions. I was so smitten by the beautiful presentation with all those raindrops that I missed a few faded flowers. My wife is very good at seeing those details “before” they show up in a photograph. I’m learning, but am much better at manipulating the distractions with a Photo Shop tool. A lot of the purple delphinium was added by cloning it over the distractions. My wife was unable to detect the photoshopping. That’s good enough for me.

This rose is just naturally beautiful. The raindrop was there. The rose itself was nearly perfect and my Nikon 300mm f4 AFS produced a bokeh that made everything “pop.”

What would spring be without the birds and the bees … and a butterfly? Adding a moving target may make Spring photography a bit more difficult. But, it is hard to think of a more perfect time of year to find photographic subject matter. I probably should add that WIND becomes a factor. It has been ferocious here in Texas. A tripod is recommended for getting closeups of flowers but is of little use in windy conditions. The answer is patience. It may be less frustrating if you will just make yourself leave the camera indoors and work in your garden until the wind settles. Playing in your flowers may be helpful later when you go to compose that masterpiece. Also, you might find early (really early) morning the best time to beat the wind. That would also be the time of the best lighting. Evening light is great too but the wind is likely to be more wicked in the evening.

That’s my offering for the day. I’m waiting for the wind to settle and for my wife to help compose my masterpiece.

l8r

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I have just added links to some invaluable information, information that has taken several years of internet browsing to accumulate.  It runs the gamut from general to very specific in nature.  If you are shopping for a camera or trying to decide between a point-and-shoot and that $5000 dSLR, nearly all are covered in the DigitalPhotographyReveiw link.  The art of High Dynamic Range photography is expertly addressed in Trey Ratcliff’s “Stuck in Customs” website.  Click on the HDR Tutorial link and be amazed at the imaginative work of Trey Ratcliff. 

For general information on photography or some casual reviews of equipment, my first stop is always Ken Rockwell’s site. Luminous Landscape is another site for some great articles on a variety of subjects.  The Luminous Landscape link is also home to some extraordinarily beautiful landscape photography.  And, of course, you can access my work directly by clicking on My Flickr Photos or My Imagekind Homepage.

There are many others but rather than overload you with details, I will save a few for another time.  From one avid photographer to another I hope you will find these links as valuable as I have and will pass them on to others. 

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My friend Celeste has one of the coolest domain names around — RoadLessTraveled. I know, it’s a poem. But, she got there first.
Today’s adventure reminded me of that poem. I followed a road yesterday that I’ve always wondered about. I got lost in a maze of country roads that finally dumped me back onto State Highway 71. I wasn’t sure that I could retrace my steps but had seen a place that I was sure would make a great photo … if the light was right. By my calculation that had to be really early in the morning. I was on the road before sunrise. As a matter of fact, I found my focal point before sunrise. I was right. This old ranch building is fantastic with the morning sun reflecting off its weathered exterior. The old windmill was nice too. It still pumps water into a tank. I used the tank to capture the windmill reflection in the picture on the right. I was disappointed that the cattle that surrounded the building yesterday were gone. They did, however, leave evidence of their visit in the yard.
It was a fun morning, serving more than one purpose. I’m still breaking in that new diesel engine. The economical 14.7 MPG was from my light foot and some very slow going along a bumpy dirt road.

Wildlife was abundant. Deer were thicker’n fleas on a dog’s back. I saw turkey as well. One old Tom was even strutting for the ladies but I wasn’t close enough for a decent picture. A jack rabbit nearly commited suicide under my new diesel truck. He was just quick enough to escape before I got a picture or assisted in his suicide.
There were far fewer surprises than I had hoped for. I did accomplish the primary mission but really expected more. I finished off the excursion by snapping a few quick pics of the neighbor’s peach tree. Kim, the blooms are fantastic. I’m looking forward to stealing your peaches. Here’s hoping the blooms are still here for your visit.
Now, I have a long list of tasks. Jane is working and I am in charge. I’m in charge of mowing the lawn and getting my office cleaned up before Dillon gets here for Easter.
As usual, click the thumbnail image to see a larger version.

l8r

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North Carolina — The Outer Bank

We’re home. We had a happy holiday with our family and a wonderful journey home. I know that I’m switching my emphasis again but can’t resist the temptation to write about (and post pictures) of that journey.

I spent a lot of time during the holidays researching the North Carolina Outer Bank and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Our daughter has friends in Nags Head but that had little to do with our decision to stay there. Nags Head is the gateway to some of the most beautiful seascapes and beaches I have ever seen. And, it is all a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Abundant Wildlife!!!

Our timing, however, was not perfect. We came into Nags Head with a chilling cold front that brought freezing temps and gale force winds. We barely had enough warm clothing to brave the weather. I managed by wearing sweat pants under my jeans. Jane managed by staying in the truck.

This picture is from the balcony of our hotel in Nags Head. I noticed it from our window the morning after our arrival. Even though it is very cliche, I ventured out into the morning chill for a quick pic.

Our first stop on the Outer Bank had been Kitty Hawk, the famed location of aviations first powered flight. Actually, the flight took place at Kill Devil Hill which is a few miles south of Kitty Hawk. We spent a couple of hours in the museum and drove around the Wright Brothers Monument on Kill Devil Hill. It was just too cold to enjoy the outdoors so we found our hotel and checked in early.

We prepared for the outing with a substantial breakfast, compliments of the hotel, and loaded the truck for an adventure to the southern environs of Hatteras Island. I’ve always been drawn to lighthouses and the Outer Banks is well-known for its shipwrecks and lighthouses. There are five lighthouses along this coast and a shipwreck museum at the tip of Hatteras Island. Plus, abundant migratory birds and waterfowl at Pea Island National Wildlife Reserve. Here, a flock of snow geese is silhouetted against the evening sky as they join others in their roosting area.

Our plan was to stay two days in Nags Head and leave the Outer Banks via ferry after exploring Ocracoke Island and its lighthouse. We were bummed to find that the only way to explore Ocracoke was via four-wheel drive. Many of the highway bridges were under repair. Only residents were taking the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke.

We traveled south anyway, visiting the lighthouse at Bodie Island and catching some beautiful late-day light on the Pea Island wildlife. The beaches and sand dunes were most photogenic in this light. I managed to con Jane into taking a walk along the beach. I needed a focal point for my seascape. That’s Jane in the red jacket.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is probably the most photographed and well-known of all lighthouses. It also made national news in 1999 when it was moved 1600 feet from its original location to a more stable position. Most images that I have seen are from the original location. The new location isn’t bad. I took fifty pictures while Jane was staying warm in the museum. The one to the right is my selection for sharing. I probably should have spent more time waiting for better lighting.

On the return trip, the evening light provided enough warmth (or courage) to brave the elements in pursuit of wildlife pictures. There were birds I had never seen and may never see again. I learned a lot about ducks. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing but did manage to identify redheads, widgeons, coots, snow geese, canvas back and tundra swans. I’m sure there were many others. These are tundra swans — one immature and two adults. They were flying very slowly into a stiff north wind. The evening light gave them a warm, golden appearance.

I have no idea what these waders are. I’ll try later to identify them. It doesn’t really matter. It was those beautiful blue and gold colors that I was seeing. There is nothing in this world like warm evening light. I only wish we had had longer — and that it had been a little warmer.

I think I’ve written and displayed too much for one outing. I may post more later. It really was a great adventure, filled with many exciting scenes. We’ll do it again.

As always, clicking on a thumbnail will produce a larger image.

l8r

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Fast Focusing, No Shutter Lag.

The new camera arrived Friday. I’ve been studying the documentation. It’s a bit intimidating. I’m overwhelmed.

I started to get a little more comfortable this afternoon. I was watching the evening light come and go. And, ducks were active. Most of my work with a camera is action; even the nature and wildlife stuff I do. I decided to put the D80 to the test. The ducks make an excellent test subject.

My problem with the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 was in focusing on fast action and with “digital noise” when the ISO (equivalent of film speed) was cranked up to 400 or above. The FZ30 is an excellent camera. I will continue to use it for many projects. It just is not quite a professional tool. The larger sensor and more sophisticated processor of the digital SLR cameras eliminates much of the digital noise issue. And, the interchangeable lenses with built-in focusing motors makes focusing and staying focused on a moving target much faster and more accurate.

I set the ISO to 400, mounted my 18-135mm “kit lens” and trudged down to the lake. I watched a gull drifting lazily overhead. I pointed and my D80 instantaneously locked on. I followed the bird and the focus adjusted as it flew away. It tracked perfectly but this was a slow-moving object. Just then, here came a flock of ducks, flying right over me. I pointed, pushed the shutter release to the half-way point, and the D80 locked on. It continued to follow as the ducks banked hard and set their wings to land. The light went wonderful and I completed releasing the shutter. Wow! Just like Henri Cartier-Bresson, I realized my “decisive moment.” I KNEW it was good — even with a high ISO setting and fairly short lens. I love this camera. I felt flushed from excitement. I just stood there in awe of my new tool. This is what I’ve been missing. With the FZ30, I would see the action coming, focus on the spot that I expected to be “the decisive moment” and hope for the best. I had to wait for the action to come into focus. If I tried focusing on the subject too soon, it could easily become blurred while I waited for the right moment, especially if it was coming directly at me.

Next test … here comes a single duck, right at me. Again, I pointed and pressed the shutter release to focus on the fast-flying duck. The D80 locked on and kept that bird so sharp that I could see its eyes. The light was beautiful and the duck banked and set his wings. Bingo! — another Cartier-Bresson moment.

Click on the images to see a larger, more detailed version.

Even though these are not the best photos that I expect to see from this outfit, the camera performed marvelously. This test is a success.

I can hardly wait to spend some more money … faster, longer, sharper. It’s all about the lens. But, that may not happen soon. I showed Jane the $179 Tamrac Backpack that I need to haul my growing inventory. She nixed it. I wonder what she will say when I ask about a $1600 lens? This may take some negotiating. She already has a new trailer. Hmmmm…

l8r

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To allow more time for my creative side (taking pictures), Imagekind™ has agreed to provide the arts and crafts side of my business.  For most of the money, Imagekind™ will handle the marketing, display, sales, shipping and handling of my images.  They do beautiful work with equipment that I could not afford to maintain in my home office.  At Imagekind™ you can choose the size of your print, the quality of the paper (or canvas), custom matting and framing desires, and select shipping and payment methods.

My gallery of images on Imagekind™ will change aperiodically.  Look through the images at your leisure.  When you see that special image, choose the “buy print” option and follow the Imagekind™ directions to have your choice printed with or without matting and framing and delivered to your door.

Imagekind Gallery NaturalNature
Copyright (C) 2008
A collection of images from the natural beauty around us.

Ghost Ranch Cabin in Storm Light

Beautiful stormy light on the cliffs behind an old movie set cabin on Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.

Desert Storm

Storm over the Painted Desert. Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Parks

Western Skies

Beautiful sunset over Chuska Mountains, Arizona. Taken from the North Rim of Canyon de Chelly.

Morning Light - Canyon de Chelly

The rugged, red cliffs of Canyon de Chelly National Monument in early morning light. This majestic canyon is located on the lands of the Navajo Nation near Chinle, Arizona

Cliff Dwellings - Canyon de Chelly

Calling these dwellings "ruins" may be offensive to the Navajo. They are home to spirits of the "Ancients," who have inhabited the canyon for nearly a thousand years.

Morning in Monument Valley

Lifeless tree frames Monument Valley in early morning light

Monument Valley Rainbow

A large butte under a rainbow in Monument Valley after a late afternoon storm.

Sunrise in Monument Valley

Monument Valley Sunrise behind a silhouetted Navajo Hogan.

Tribute to Ansel Adams

The Mittens and Merrick Butte stand out majestically against late day storm clouds. It made me think of Ansel Adams.

Desolation - Monument Valley

A dead branch in the foreground emphasizes the desolation of Monument Valley.

Desert Rain - Monument Valley

Afternoon rain storms in Monument Valley are common in September.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cold, blustery morning light and dark clouds over the Cape Hatteras National Seashore -- Nags Head, North Carolina

Solitude

Walking alone under cold, dark skies of Cape Hatteras National Seashore -- North Carolina Outer Banks

Alarmed Fawn

Beautifully backlit fawn is alert to a stranger pointing a large black instrument at him.

Bonding

White tail buck, still in velvet antlers, touches noses with his young offspring.

Mountain Lion

Puma, Cougar or Mountain Lion, it still is a very beautiful "big cat."

Cactus Rose

A group of yellow blossoms on a prickly pear jump out from a black background.

Cactus Flower

Yellow cactus blooms on a black background

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