Chimney Tops Trail, Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park
Chimney Tops Trail, Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park
Oconaluftee Valley Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park
Oconaluftee Overlook Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park
Last light at Bear Lake - Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park
Last Light at Bear Lake
Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park
Last light at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/11~ 24mm ~ 1.6 sec ~ iso100>
Alluvial Fan - Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park
Alluvial Fan
Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park
Alluvial Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/22~ 48mm ~ 1 sec ~ iso100>
Sunset - Never Summer Mountains
Sunset ~ Never Summer Mountains
Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park
Sunset in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/22~ 43mm ~ 1 sec ~ iso100>
Tundra in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park
Tundra ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/11~ 70mm ~ 1/125 sec ~ iso100>
Pending Storm ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Pending storm on the tundra near Rock Cut in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/22 ~ 70mm ~ 5 sec ~ iso100>
Flowing Stream in Moraine Park
Moraine Park ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Just after sunrise, the flowing stream reflects the blue sky in the Moraine Park section of Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/11 ~ 12mm ~ 1/320sec ~ iso400>
Flowing Stream in Moraine Park
Moraine Park ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Just before sunrise, the flowing stream reflects the warm colors in the Moraine Park section of Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII/f22/24mm/0.6sec/iso100>
Flowing Stream at Sprague Lake
Flowing Stream at Sprague Lake~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Rushing with a purpose, this stream feeds into Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
<Canon 5DMKIII/f22/24mm/0.6sec/iso100>
Tundra Sunflower ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Typically lifeless, the alpine tundra bursts with life as this group of Tundra Sunflowers emerge. This image was captured at the Ute Trail on the alpine tundra area of Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO
<Canon 5DMKIII/f2.8/200mm/1/160thsec/iso160>
Ute Trail at dusk ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
A brewing thunderstorm in the distance begins to snuff out the late afternoon light. This image was captured at the Ute Trail on the alpine tundra area of Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO
<Canon 5DMKIII/f11/24mm/1/4thsec/iso100>
Moraine Park Sunrise ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Moraine Park Sunrise ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Just before sunrise, the sky turns many hues from the light diffracted in the atmosphere. This image was captured in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO
<Canon 5DMKIII/f20/48mm/20sec/iso100>
Sunrise at Never Summer Mountains ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Just as the sun rises, it creates color from diffracted light on the horizon. On this morning, a shadow from the mountains behind me created this unique effect simulating crepuscular rays.
<Canon 5DMKIII/f11/70mm/0.4sec/iso100>
Bear Lake ~ Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park, CO
Canon 5DMKIII ~ f/5.6 @ 34mm ~ 1.3sec ~ ISO 50
Located in Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park, Bear Lake is one of the most iconic places in the park. During this trip, we only made it to Bear Lake for one visit due to the Fern Lake fire.
I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to shoot this particular morning. As I approached the shoreline, nature made up my mind. Overnight, fog has settled just above the water on the lake. With a slight breeze and temperatures well below freezing, the fog settled as frost on the trees across the lake. As I have read, it is very rare to get a perfect reflection at Bear Lake. Usually, there is a slight breeze which distorts the reflection. Temperatures were well below freezing with a ‘real feel’ temperature of one degree. My fingers were numb by the end of the session, but, the results were well worth it. A number of elements came together that morning…one I soon won’t forget.
Photo tip: Dress warm for cold mornings!! ;-)
Good light,
Bill
Follow me on Twitter: @vt_photography
Mallard, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/5.6 ~ 400mm ~ 1/160sec ~ ISO50
This month's photo of a Mallard in the park is pretty simple. This was an afternoon we were travelling through the park looking for image opportunities. We came across a small pond and noticed many ducks splashing about. So I didn't disturb them, I put on my 2x extender and my 70-200mm f/2 lens and began shooting. I knew I wanted to get an image different than I've seen or had done before. After studying the interactions, I began to noticed the ripples in the water reflecting the clear blue sky. I waited for the right moment to click the shutter and you see the result. The ripples lead your eye right to the duck, the focal point of the image.
Photo tip: Use leading lines and patterns to draw a viewer's eye to the subject.
Good light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Zabriskie Point, Death Valley NP, California
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/8 ~ 70mm ~ 1/100sec ~ ISO 100
This has to be one of the most iconic areas in all of Death Valley Nat'l Park! Photographers come to this area of the park in droves to photograph Zabriskie Point. In fact, this morning, I was literally shoulder to shoulder with about 40 other photographers. I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to interpret this area. I definitely knew I wanted 'Manly Beacon' (point to the right), but other than that, I left it to my own interpretation that morning. I began with several different compositions, some telephoto, and some wide angle. So I decided on a compromise of 70mm focal length. This allowed me to compress the scene somewhat, while anchoring the composition with the repeating layers of the rocks in the foreground. The light, as usual, was very fleeting. The early morning sun lit up the valley floor and created this spectacular scene.
Photo tip: Experiment with different focal lengths so you have different options for your final image. Most of the photography today is digital, so it won't cost you any extra to shoot away. :-)
Good Light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Salt Flats, Death Valley Nat'l Park, CA
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/8 ~ 34mm ~ 1/125sec ~ iso100
Death Valley Nat'l Park is such a vast and diverse park. I know what you may be thinking...Death Valley Nat'l Park?? How much could you possibly see in a place with 'Death Valley' in the name? Well, a lot. In fact, it remains one of my favorite National Parks I've ever photographed. There are so many unique and interesting areas of the park to see and photograph. One, in particular, is the salt flats as seen in the photo above.
Located in the heart of the park, these salt flats are the result of evaporation when the basin floods. It leaves very distinct patterns on the flats. I was fascinated with this area and visited it four times during my trip there. I knew I wanted to get a low angle image of the flats to accentuate its patterns. I zoomed out to 34mm to capture as much as I could in the foreground. This angle anchors the composition and leads your eye right through the image, eventually landing on the sunset bathed hills in the background. I took a lot of images of this area. This is one of my favorites.
Photo tip: Positioning a unique pattern/structure in the foreground will give your image depth.
Good Light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Sand Dunes, Death Valley Nat'l Park, CA
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/11 ~ 115mm ~ 1/125sec ~ iso100
Located in the heart of Death Valley Nat'l Park lies the Mesquite Flat Dunes. Despite being very arid, only 1% of Death Valley's total area contains sand dunes. I was excited to shoot the dunes because, prior to my visit, I didn't have any sand dune images in my portfolio. These were relatively easy to access, but, did require an early rise due to travel distance to get to them. I knew I wanted to photograph the dunes in early morning light. There were so many compositions to choose from...everywhere you looked was another potential image. It was very overwhelming. However, I came across this composition and liked the colors and leading lines. The early morning light gave the dunes a warm glow and revealed the intricate textures in the sand. This combination of elements led to a scene I couldn't resist shooting and makes a great calendar photo in the warm summer months.
Photo tip: Shooting when the sun is at a low angle will add depth and texture to your image.
Good Light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
The Racetrack, Death Valley Nat'l Park, CA
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/8 ~ 25mm ~ 1/100sec ~ iso50
The story of this photograph itself isn't anything dramatic, it was all the preparation and execution to get to and from this remote part of Death Valley Nat'l Park. Ever since we knew we were coming to Death Valley, I wanted to visit this part of the park. However, it's fairly remote. Like 28 mile, one way, on an unpaved road remote. The stories of this road are legend...running out of gas, flat tires, engines blown, etc. So, you can imagine the trepidation when considering doing this.
We decided if we were going to do this, we mine as well do it right. So, we rented a jeep. A nice red one with big tires so there's no chance of us getting a flat. We headed out and began the journey leaving enough time for us to return before last light on the horizon. And a bumpy road it was. It was a bone shaking, teeth chattering ride the whole way! When we got to the first part of the Racetrack, we began exploring the Grandstand (which was featured in a previous blog entry). After the Grandstand, we travelled further down the road to actually find the moving rocks. We found the area, but, decided to head back to the Grandstand because the light wasn't quite golden yet. So, as we continued towards the Grandstand, we look off to our right and made out two figures walking out onto the dry lake bed. We had to do a double take because we couldn't believe what we were seeing. There were two men hiking out to the Grandstand. Naked. Well, they really were wearing hiking shoes and a backpack. You get the picture. We went to the parking lot, still in a little bit of shock and asked another couple who was there...."Are they??"..."Yep", they said. Ok, then.
After we photographed the Grandstand a little more, we then headed back down the road to the Racetrack. We hiked a short way out and began seeing all the moving rocks we so anxiously wanted to see. It was truly amazing. Nobody really knows how these rocks move and there were hundreds of them. I wasn't sure which way to point my camera.
From a compositional perspective, I knew I wanted to emphasize the trail of the rocks in this landscape. I experimented with several different compositions and this one turned out to be my favorite. The late afternoon golden light enhanced the textures in this image. You will often hear to take landscape photos early in the day or late at night. This is a good example of that. If this photo was taken in the middle of the day, the image would have been flat and lifeless.
Each Nat'l Park vacation, I pick one photo to enlarge and frame on my wall. This is the one I choose from the trip and is also July's Calendar Photo.
Photo tip: Shoot just after sunrise and just before sunset. Although you may have to rise early and/or possibly have a late dinner, it will be well worth it!
Good Light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Artist's Palette Area, Death Valley Nat'l Park, CA
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/16 ~ 153mm ~ 1/30 ~ iso100
We had spent the majority of the day exploring the park and returned to West Side Rd at sunset to photograph the salt flats located there. The light wasn't great as there was a heavy cloud bank on the western horizon. Most photographer's would most likely pack it in when they see the light isn't right. I, to this day, decide to stay out past sunset no matter what the weather/conditions. This particular day, that theory proved right. A small opening in the clouds at sunset illuminated Artist's Palette in all it's glory and lasted less than a minutes time. The hillside glows when minerals in the soil reflect the sun's rays. This photo is a result where preparation met opportunity.
Photo tip: Be aware of atmospheric conditions and don't pack it in just because the conditions aren't perfect. Be prepared for quickly changing conditions that could last for only seconds.
Good light,
Bill
follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Alluvial Fan Falls, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO
Canon 5D MKII ~ f/11 ~ 3.2sec ~ iso50 ~ 55mm
This particular evening, the sunset spot I picked to shoot was completely cloud covered. I needed to find an alternative. With the heavy cloud cover, I immediately thought of finding a stream or waterfall to shoot. I remembered an earlier spot we had passed a few times, but, didn't explore. It was the Alluvial Fan section of the park.
It was so cold and drizzling that evening we almost had the entire area to ourselves with the exception of two other couples who stayed for about 5 min, compared to our 1.5hrs. These falls are quite impressive with many different spills whithin them. The technique of long water exposure is one I'm very comfortable with and usually turn out well. The challenge here was to find the best set of individual spills and isolate them in the photograph. I found one and it turned out to be a great photograph!
Photo tip: For long exposure shots, a tripod is a MUST along with overcast/dark atmospheric conditions. The less camera shake the better, and, use a cable release or the camera's timer. Most times exsposures don't have to be long. Vary your shutter speed to get different effects. And, most importantly, have fun.
Good light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO
Canon 5DMKII ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/800sec ~iso100 ~ 400mm
We were travelling back from an early morning shoot on the west side of Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park via Trail Ridge Road. We had constantly been on the lookout for Bighorn Sheep, but, the chances of seeing them are very rare. Well, as we turned around one of bends, we saw one of the sheep. Parked on the road, I quickly jumped out of the car to get a shot of the sheep. They were easily spooked and ran off a little way down. We doubled back the car and parked safely in a pullout. We then discovered there were about 8 more sheep in the herd! As other tourists realized what we had discovered they all began to pull over...we started a sheep jam!
The herd of sheep began to relax and allow for many photo opportunities. Challenging with this shoot was that I was already dealing with mid-morning light, creating some harsh shadows. So I knew I had to get the sun over my shoulder. After I positioned myself, I began to get the photos I was after. This particular sheep perched itself up on the rocks overlooking all that was happening. The negative space and majestic pose by the sheep make this a great calendar photo for April.
Photo tip: The photo above is an example of 'negative space'. Negative space defines and emphasizes the main subject of a photo, drawing your eye to it. It provides "breathing room", giving your eyes somewhere to rest and preventing your image from appearing too cluttered with "stuff". All of this adds up to a more engaging composition.
Good Light,
Bill
Follow me on Twitter: @vt_photography
The Grandstand, Death Valley National Park
Canon 5dMKII ~ f/8 ~ 70mm ~ 1/160sec ~ ISO 50
Located deep inside Death Valley National Park lies the Racetrack Playa and this rock formation known as The Grandstand. This rock formation rises suddenly from the floor of the playa. It was difficult to convey just what this rock formation looked like especially in broad daylight. The Grandstand just blended in the background with the Cottonwood Mountains behind it. Again, I knew I needed another perspective and silhouetting it was the answer. I had to wait for the sun to drop behind the mountains behind me so the Grandstand could fall in shadow. I again exposed for the background and let the front fall into a silhouette. I also needed to be above the rocks of the playa's edge, so, I stood on the front bumper of our rental jeep! The photo conveys the size of the Grandstand compared to its surroundings. I also chose this as a calendar photo because of the colors. With the soft, golden, late afternoon light against the blue sky was just the right combination for a great photo!
Photo tip: Using complementary colors can add interest to a photo. In the above example, blue and gold are complementary colors. For more info...http://www.photographyicon.com/complementary/
Good light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Elk Silhouette, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, Colorado
On this particular late afternoon, we again were scouting a place for sunset. The Fern Lake Fire in the park blocked us off from the Bear Lake Road section of the park and we had already travelled Trail Ridge Road several times. This led us to the Horseshoe Park section. Approaching the area, there were a large number of cars watching this bull elk with about 8 females in his harem. I watched them mingle around for almost an hour and it was then I began to lose all the front sunlight on them. Most everyone left by that point as it was beginning to get dark. However, I knew I had a photo if I could witness some interaction. Then, about 15 minutes later, the bull stood up and made his way over to this female elk (cow). I fired off about 10 frames or so and caught this interaction perfectly. To me, it was one of those rare, tender moments in nature which are often very fleeting. This expression of affection is perfect for the February calendar photo.
Photo tip: For silhouettes...expose for the background, recompose, then fire the shutter. Your camera will expose for the background and render the foreground black. Be sure you have a strong, recognizable feature in the foreground.
Good light,
Bill
Follow me on twitter: @vt_photography
Colorado River Trail, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, Colorado
Happy New Year!! Hello and welcome to the first post of 2013! The 2013 calendar has been released and this is the cover photo. We visited two great National Parks this year: Death Valley Nat'l Park in California and Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park in Colorado. Many of you have asked why no captions were provided for the photos this year. Well, an explanation of each photo will be posted on this blog on a monthly basis. Take some time to read the story behind each photo along with some helpful tips. In addition, take some time out of your day to browse the website. Thank you all for the compliments on my photography. I enjoy capturing these photos as much as you enjoy viewing them.
This photo was taken mid-morning while looking for moose in the area for about 3 hours or so. Turns out we were probably a few weeks late as the moose retreated into the deep woods of the Rockies. We wandered down this trail and came upon this scene and it struck me immediately. I thought this really looked like a cover shot right from the beginning! After composing several compositions, this is the image I chose. It's so peaceful to look at and reminds me of the idyllic Rocky Mountain view. Believe it or not, this is the trailhead for the mighty Colorado river. The same Colorado river which runs through many states in the west including the Grand Canyon!
Photo tip: Use leading lines to guide your viewer into the scene. In this photo, the small stream leads your eye to the bridge and up through the photo.
Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, Colorado
This is one of the first photos I took upon arriving at Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park. After hours of travelling and driving, it's always exciting to begin exploring the park right away. I've spent hours poring over maps, searching forums, and reading articles on the best places to shoot. I'm always anxious to get out and start shooting right away and this trip was no exception. We drove Trail Ridge Road a few times and knew it was getting towards sunset. Clouds had blanketed the area much of our time exploring. However, I knew I had to be on location, ready to shoot, if the clouds broke. I chose this spot along the road. Although I was looking for a slightly better group of trees for the foreground, the light show was happening and I needed to start shooting. This light only lasted for a very brief time and I was firing off the shutter like crazy. This turned out to be the best of the bunch. I like it because the tree represents a strong foreground, you have the repeating lines of the hills, and the snow capped mountains and cloud color can't be beat!
Photo tip: Scout your location ahead of time and be prepared to shoot. Great light is usually fleeting. If you are set up and ready to go, you won't miss it! I use two great tools to prepare ahead of time. 1. A sunrise/sunset calculator: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/predefined.asp and 2. A cloud cover predictor: http://cleardarksky.com/csk/
Good light,
Bill
Yosemite National Park, CA
So, the last photo of this year brings us to Yosemite National Park in California. This is arguably the most photographed pieced of granite in the park. It's so distinct in it's shape and the way it reflects color. I took hundreds of photos of Half Dome this trip and this is one that stands out for me as a photographer. I knew I wanted some cloud cover, the trees to silhouette, and a warm reflection of the setting sun. Perhaps not a jaw dropping like others, but for me, it's a culmination of what I saw planned to shoot.
I hope you enjoyed the blog this year! Curious to see what 2013 brings?? Check back often and thanks for reading!
Good light,
Bill
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Visiting the Grand Canyon during February brought unexpected cold weather and snow to the high plateau. On this particular morning, I was searching for a great photo spot recommended by a photographer. With the snow cover, the path began to obscure and I lost my way. Knowing it was getting close to sunrise, I had to position myself soon to catch the best light. I found this gnarled tree sitting on the edge of the canyon which I found interesting to photograph. Much to my surprise, the cloud cover broke and began to reflect this warm orange tone throughout the canyon. Truly an amazing site! This proves some of the best photographs can be taken off the beaten path. Take the road less traveled, you may be rewarded in a special way.
Good light,
Bill
Glacier National Park, Montana
Apologies for the late post, but, better late than never for this photo. I remember this photo like it was yesterday. All week, we had been experiencing cold, rainy, overcast weather. This the first morning the clouds really broke. After shooting sunrise in the park this morning, we were returning to our motel room. As we were driving, I noticed how great the mountains looked covered in a light dusting of snow and the clouds hovering closely. I got out an took a few photos, which turned out ok. I then decided to walk around a little bit. Across the street, I noticed a faint path leading downhill. As I took the path, I turned around and was struck with this scene. It's situations like this which continue to motivate my photography. Get out, on foot, and discover new angles and possibilities. This photo hangs in my home as a panoramic in a spot I look at every morning!
Good light,
Bill
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is truly amazing as parts of it looks like it's from another planet. After all, it does sit on top of the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano in North America. In this particular photo, I was drawn in by the mezmorizing colors of the hot spring. The different colors represent pigmented bacteria within the spring. While it looks refreshing enough to dive in, you don't want to do that. Temperatures in the aqua colored area are well over 160 degrees. My approach to the photo was straightforward...capture as much of the spring colors as possible while putting a non-traditional spin on the composition. This photo was captured with my 12-24mm wide angle lens allowed me to get a large area in the frame.
Good light,
Bill
Bar Harbor, Maine
We have been to Bar Harbor, Maine numerous times. In this particular shot, we were standing on the dock looking out on the harbor for the fourth time this particular trip. At sunrise, there are so many different photo opportunities I never get tired of this spot. This particular morning was just as spectacular as the others. Although, in the back of mind, I'm always looking for something a little different to shoot. About 30 minutes or so after the sunrise, a fog bank rolled in; very typical of New England weather. As the fog bank rolled in, the two masted ship moored in the distance began to take on a very romantic quality. The color you see here is unedited and natural as the early morning sunlight is filtered through the fog. This is a photo I look at quite frequently as it still remains one of my best photographs.
Good light,
Bill
False Kiva - Canyonlands National Park
Definately the highlight of our trip to Canyonlands National Park was False Kiva. Little known by the general public and photographers, this spot lies hidden within the park. There is no map to False Kiva. It's a closely guarded secret amongst a few. How did I get the directions to it? Nobody will ever know, sorry.
We wanted to build up to this hike as it is technically challenging. However, upon finding the trailhead, we got excited and decided to take on the hike late in the afternoon. It took much longer to get to than anticipated because of the hike, though. We arrived with little time to shoot because we needed to hike out while it was still daylight. This is how the scene looked when we arrived. Amost completely clear skies with the day's last light shining on the canyon rocks. It was difficult to record the entire dynamic range of the photo, but, this was the best exposure. This will always remain one of my memorable images I've ever taken.
Good light,
Bill
Bryce Canyon National Park
This month's photo comes from Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. This park looks like its from another world! The minerals in the soil of this area reflect light at all times of day. This particular photo was taken at sunrise. As the light enters into the depths of these hoodoos, they glow an orange reflecting the light. The challenge with taking a photo like this is to capture the wide range of light tones. As I was taking this photo, many around me were not getting the same results and were visibly frustrated. All they need to do was cover the sun flare in front of their lens and they would have a achieved a nice exposure. Try this technique the next time you are shooting into the sun.
Good light,
Bill
Zion National Park, Utah
This month's photo was taken in Zion National Park, Utah. This was a beautiful, sunny day in Zion as we were walking all the way to the end of the park's developed roads. Beyond that is amazing slot canyons and wilderness.
You'll almost always see silky smooth water photos in my galleries. It's a technique I've come to understand well. In this particular shot, I needed a strong composition and shade. As the sun dipped behind the canyon walls, it opened up an opportunity for a great photo. This photo is taken from a small rock just within a leap from the beach. With a steady tripod and a several second exposure, I recorded this scene.
Good light,
Bill
Arches National Park, Utah
It was one of our last nights on vacation and we weren't entirely sure where to photograph sunset at. The sky was looking fairly un-interesting and we were continuing to scout a location. There are several prominent features which are fairly close together geographically, so we could have wound up at any of them. Something drew me back to Balanced Rock, though. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I began to see the alpenglow on the snow covered La-Salle Mountains in the background. A magical moment for sure, which lasted less than a minute before the colors faded.
Good light,
Bill