POTD: Maroon Bells

Maroon Bells

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Camera: Phase One P45, Schneider 72L Lens, Cambo Technical Camera
Settings: f/11, 1 sec, ISO 100
When: Unknown

I’m back after a short break, I hope you enjoy today’s image of the day.  Located outside of Aspen, Colorado these majestic mountains received their name for their maroon-colored bell shape. Maroon Lake in the foreground mirrors the foothills making it one of the most picturesque and photographed mountains in the country.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Peaceful

Peaceful

Location: Beaver Lake, NW Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P30, Mamiya 645D, 300mm
Settings: f/16, ISO 100, multiple exposures stitched and overlaid
When: September 2009

A few days ago I posted an image from this location called “Moonglow”.  A beautiful moonrise captured just as the moon was floating through the “Band of Venus” whichis a band of pink that rises through the sky just after sunset.

Following that photograph, I repositioned the camera slightly using a much longer focal length to compress the scene.  By shooting two tall exposures over one another I was able to stitch them into this vertical panorama of the scene.  I also photographed the moon with a much faster shutter speed to reveal the detail on its surface.

Vertical panoramic images are much more difficult to compose but no other format can fit a huge statement onto such a small amount of wall space.  An image only 2′ wide is more than six feet tall.  Standing in front of a print that large you feel as though you could step right into the scene.  One theme you will find with most of my photographs is realism.  My primary goal is to capture stunning scenery as closely as possible to what it would be like had the viewer been standing next to me.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Falling Waters

Falling Waters

Location: Ozark National Forest, NW Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P65+, Cambo RS, Schneider 35XL
Settings: f/16, ISO 100, 4 sec, 2 shots stitched
When: October 2009

Falling Water Falls is a popular swimming hole in NW Arkansas.  From this point until Falling Water Creek empties into Richland Creek is a wonderful area to explore and photograph.  There are countless pools, cascades and waterfalls along this short stretch of paradise.

October 2009 was an incredible time in NW Arkansas.  Spring rains in this area create literally thousands of waterfalls in the Ozark Mountains.  We also have fantastic fall colors from all of the hardwoods.  It is very rare for us to have good water and color at the same time.  It happens once every 10-15 years and has not happened since 2009 so every fall photographers in this part of the country hope “this year” will be that year.

This image of Falling Water Falls was taken just as the fall colors were starting  to change.  A week later I visited again and there was so much water this entire area was filled with a raging torrent.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Moonglow

Moonglow

Location: Beaver Lake, NW Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P30, Mamiya 645D, 75-150mm
Settings: f/16, ISO 100, 1/125 & 1/2 sec
When: September 2009

I found this scene quite by accident one evening as the moon was rising over the Earth’s Shadow a day or two before the full moon.  I didn’t have my camera at the time because we were boating with friends.   I returned the next three months until conditions were right to photograph the full moon over this small island with narrow causeway to the mainland.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake

Location: Rogers, Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P45, Cambo RS, Schneider 35XL
Settings: f/11, ISO 100, 5 Sec, 2 exposures stitched
When: August 2010

An afternoon storm has cleared leaving a serene and colorful evening.  The air was clean and crisp which is rare for Arkansas in August.  Beaver Lake is a reservoir in NW Arkansas providing drinking water and flood control of the White River.

With a wide angle lens I was able to record the beautiful gradient of colors framed by the dark blue clouds.  In the distance the thunderhead is just about exhausted and if you look closely you’ll see a crescent moon peeking through the clouds to add a bit more interest.

This scene was preceded by yesterdays image of a spectacular sunset call “Evening Jewel”.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Evening Jewel

Evening Jewel

Location: Beaver Lake, Rogers, Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P45, Cambo RS, Schneider 72L
Settings: f/11, ISO 100, 1/25
When: August, 2010

In late summer, the Canadian Geese near my home go into their moult which lasts about two weeks.  During that time of renewing feathers they cannot fly and congregate on the waters of Beaver Lake.

In “Evening Jewell” the geese provided foreground interest for a clearing storm at sunset. The warm light of sunset caught both the clouds and virga for a spectacular display of jewel tones.

Photographically this image is a lesson in magical light.  You want to seek out times of transition.  This can be from night to day or vise versa, approaching and clearing storms, etc.  If you can combine these transitions like this clearing storm at sunset it can be even better.  As a photographer, you never know when the magic will happen so it’s a numbers game.  The more you are in front of interesting scenery at these times of transition the better your chances of capturing something incredible.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Forgotten

Forgotten

Location: Somewhere in Missouri
Camera: Phase One P65+, Cambo RS, Rodenstock HR32
Settings: f/16, ISO 50, 2.5 sec
When: Winter 2011

The job of a nature photographer is combining subject, light and weather into a 2-dimensional scene the expresses a mood or tells a story.  While I enjoy photographing scenes that tell a happy story or brighten spirits, some of my most rewarding images are those that evoke an emotion in the viewer.  “Forgotten” is a special image that folks in my part of the country really relate to.

Almost every person native to the midwest either lived or had a relative who lived on a small farm. A simple lifestyle of hard work, home cooked meals and family was predominate not that many years ago.  Unfortunately, this style of living has almost disappeared from the fabric of this area but not the good memories.

Faith and I flew past this location on our way home from a failed outing scouting a prairie in southwest Missouri.  The fantastic oak tree caught my eye and I turned the jeep around to investigate.  After scouting a half-dozen compositions I waited an hour or so for the light to become golden then exposed two 3×4 images by shifting the back 15mm from side to side creating this panoramic view of a lifestyle long “Forgotten”.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Little Hawksbill Crag

Little Hawksbill Crag

Location: Calico Rock, Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P30+, Mamiya 645D, 35mm
Settings: f/11, ISO 100, 1/100 sec
When: November, 2008

The White River is truly an Arkansas original with headwaters in the Boston Mountains. Most of the White is contained within the state as well as its confluence with the Mississippi River.  The White River is a working river which has been dammed into several lakes to provide water, power and flood control for communities nearby.

The White River National Wildlife Refuge located in South Arkansas is home to large populations of mallard duck and snow geese during the winter months.  The refuge also has a large population of black bear and some of the most dramatic swampland scenery in the state.

“Little Hawksbill Crag” was photographed on City Rock Bluff near Calico Rock during the last of the autumn colors.  I return to this beautiful spot as often as I can and have a summertime sunset image releasing soon.

All my images are available as limited edition artwork. Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.

POTD: Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows

Location: Upper Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona
Camera: Phase One P30+, Mamiya 645D, 55-110mm

As you have probably noticed, I enjoy photographing in slot canyons and have several in my portfolio.  This shadowy image was photographed in Upper Antelope Canyon.

While the lower canyon is anything but flat, the upper canyon is completely flat with all the sculptured sandstone above you.  My camera was literally pointing straight up.  The upper canyon is also extremely busy.  During a 20 second exposure, you may have 10 or 20 people squeeze past you in the narrow canyon walkways.  I reshot this image nearly a dozen times before I got an exposure without someone bumping into my tripod.

The deep shadowed figure is known as monument valley because it resembles a butte in the desert.  To me it looked like “Batman” so I used a longer focal length to highlight it in my composition and lowered the exposure to leave it almost black.

All images of the day are available as limited edition artwork.  Click here for more information or to purchase a print.

POTD: Au Naturelle

Au Naturelle

Location: White Mountains, California
Camera: Phase One P30+, Mamiya 645D, 28mm
Settings: f/8, ISO 50, 1/80
When: September 2009

Bristlecone pines are nearly 5000 years old and the oldest trees on the planet.  They grow high in the White Mountains at elevations over 10,000 feet.  Strong westerly winds turn these slow growing trees into contortions making them all different.

Recent fires had raged through central California destroying large swathes of land and raced through this ancient forest.  Fortunately the strong winds and sparse groundcover sent the fire through so fast most of the trees were damaged but not killed.  On this tree the bark got so hot it popped off into small pieces of coal at the base.  The raw wood with attractive patterns was left exposed to the elements (and my camera).

As I looked through the viewfinder composing my image I suddenly noticed the shape of a nude female. Nature is full of surprises and I have to tell you I was both amazed and amused as I finished photographing “Au Naturelle”.

This image is one of only a few I sell as “Collector’s Editions”.  This portfolio is artwork so unique the edition size is extremely limited to protect the investment value for collectors.  As each edition is sold the price doubles for the next.

Click here for more information or to purchase a fine art print.