The Limiting Factor

We all get "the bug" from time to time -- and I admit, I do as well. "The Bug" being GAS; gear acquisition syndrome. Over the years, I have read about this on various websites. Canon or Nikon releases a new camera body or lens into the wild, and shortly thereafter you see craigslist or eBay flooded with yesterdays' gear. There is nothing bad about this -- for those of us that never buy new gear, this is a perfect time to buy. I just scored a D700...

2013 Calendars available for pre-order

After several years, I decided to sit down and put together a calendar. It took quite a bit of work to put this thing together, and found out I actually like doing that stuff. Also put together a calendar for my buddy - which took a while as well. The calendars should be available in a week, hopefully. I did realize that I need to get out this winter to get more winter scenes. Working at REI has its benefits :). Here is a preview of the calendar....

The new camera and thoughts on switching brands

Having used an older (2002) digital camera for years and then film -- it was a real interesting experience using the D700 this first time. It is the newest camera I have owned (2008). Since about 2004 I have shot with Canon exclusively, and the transition to Nikon was complete with the sale of my 1Ds and the purchase of the F5. Canon has some really nice lenses, and the ability to use some "alternative" glass on the Canon bodies was super appealing...

Transition back to digital

Haven't posted anything here in quite a while, which there a few reasons for that. Being busy with work hindered my shooting schedule. It is always a good thing to busy with work (most of the time), but not such a good thing when it cuts into my shooting time. Since selling my 1Ds in May and picking up an F5 in late May, I have shot maybe 5 rolls of film. From June until mid October, 5 rolls of film was enough. My film experiment taught me a few...

The Analog Experience

It has been a while since I have posted on here. Crazy how things change so quickly - and how fast the seasons change. Here is it in the middle of the summer, and fall is knocking on the door. Late May, I sold my Canon 1Ds and compact flash cards and picked up a Nikon F5. I was considering an F100, but since it lacks mirror lock up and doesn't have the same weather sealing as my 1Ds had, I decided to go with the F5. After all, it wasn't considered...

Last bushwhack with digital

Several weeks ago, a few buddies and myself headed out to the Gorge. For the last few years, there have been several waterfalls on my list that I have wanted to shoot. There still are many falls on my list - which I hope to knock off this year. It took some work/research to get these directions - as they are kinda hard to get. I now understand why. These falls are located on the Ruckel Ridge Trail. This trail is no joke. Pretty much uphill for 3...

Been a while since I entered anything here - this is due to being busy, and thus not being able to go out shooting. There was over a month between shoots, which got me thinking. During the next 3-4 months, I will most likely be pretty busy with work - so that means not a whole ton of shooting; but you never know. This got the thinking about selling the camera, as it doesn't gain value. Yes, I think about resale value on most everything:). Then it...

Grand Staircase-Escalante

We spent most of our time here, the majestic area known as The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. There are TONS of things here to shoot; from slot canyons to arches. This is a shot of Sunset Arch. I don't think it gets a whole lot of love. Hiking in the desert at night with rattlesnakes is kind of a crazy thing - but I guess people who live here would think of hiking with bears is crazy as well... ...

Southwest Trip

About a month ago, a buddy and I took a quick 2700 mile trip to Utah. We left on a Monday and came back early Saturday morning. It was a fun trip, and some really special about the Southwest. The irony is that I spent many summers (ok, like 3 or 4 - but that is a lot when you are a kid lol) in Arizona - mostly in Flagstaff. Flag is about 2 1/2 hours from the slot canyons (Antelope, Canyon X, etc), 2 hours from the Grand Canyon, and 4 1/2 hours from...

One of 5 finalists

So I got a call from Terry Richard, a reporter with The Oregonian (newspaper). I entered their annual amateur photo contest. It seems I am one of 5 finalist. The grand prize is a trip to Amsterdam, and the next prizes are gift cards to local photography shops! Pretty stoked. I will know more in several weeks, when they choose their winner. I have posted this photo before, but here it is. ...

Can't believe it is March already

In a matter of weeks, the Columbia River Gorge (along with most places) will come back alive with new blooms. The Gorge is prime in May, but is still good any time of year. This year has been crazy weather wise. It is supposed to snow tonight, and snow in The Gorge - which I may head out tomorrow to see if there is snow there. I have been going through waterfall images lately. Many waterfalls are on my list this year. Here is one from Lower Lewis...

Flickr (and a new photo)

Here's the deal. I had a Flickr "Pro" account. I think it cost $29 a year. That isn't a ton of money, I agree. Equals like 2.50 a month or so - but let's break this down a bit. What does the Pro account give you? Where does the money go, as far as improvements to the site? Are they better alternatives? These questions led me to make my decision NOT to give flickr anymore money. Now I may seem like a mad, bitter person. Perhaps, perhaps not. But...

processing block

Time to admit that I am tired of looking at the photos from my last trip. I shot more during the mid day harsh lighting last weekend, than I have in the last 3 years combined. This has happened to me before - sick and tired of images from an outing. Sometimes it takes a while before I am able to process them. Weird, I know. Oh well. So that being said, I switched paths and went back through my first attempt to shoot the tunnel. Ironically, it has...

Now linked to my website - and a new image

Zenfolio has streamlined the ability to import (or even create) a blog right on the homepage. This is a very welcomed addition. Managing more than one blog would be quite a task, although it would be all "control +C and Control+V"; copy and paste:). I do have a tumblr blog started, and will probably start one there as well - just for more exposure. After all, photography is 80% marketing - ok 90%. There are people out there with far better marketing...

Northwest Territories

Growing up, I spent a lot of time in Flagstaff, Arizona. That is where I first started to have an appreciation for photography. I have always enjoyed history and geology, and in another life I would be a geologist (or a pro photographer!). The vastness of Arizona (the whole Southwest in general) has a spell on me. On this trip, that feeling came back to me. Eastern Oregon really is a special place, that not many people get to experience. Something...

Road Trip 2/16 - 2/20

Just got back from a road trip to one of the most remote places in Oregon, and possibly the whole Northwest region of the US. A guy we ran into while out in the Alvord Desert told us that according to a google search, the Alvord is the darkest place in the US - as far as light pollution (or lack thereof) goes. In any case, it was dark. The stars were amazing, although we didn't get any star trails. Kinda wish we did, as the moon is at 1/4 (crescent)...

New Website

I sold my printer (Canon Pixma Pro 9000 II) due to me not using it that much - plus the fact that if/when I start selling, people aren't wanting to buy "home prints", even though that printer is legit. I also wouldn't want to do that. So I finally bit the bullet and got the zenfolio website. It is a bit confusing at first, but I am figuring it out. The site may change from time to time, as far as layout and such - I haven't dialed it in 100%....

HDR - a fine line

So perhaps you may know, I am NOT a fan of HDR at all. It probably has to do with the way over-cooking of it. That is most likely due to the mis use of it when it first came out. I also don't like it due to people using it, and not disclosing it is an HDR, even though it is obviously HDR. Now I admit that I have the Nik software, and have the HDR software. I haven't used the HDR software. With this said, I saw on 500px a nice shot of Punchbowl Falls....

I realized that I have been ignoring my blog lately. I apologize. I am a numbers guy. I like looking stats and such. Apparently this blog is over 10K views since I started this back in October. That is mind blowing, as one wouldn't think that as I don't have any comments - but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. I keep this blog to show my work and perhaps give a story, or an adventure summary (if you will) behind the images posted. So with this said, I promise to pick my "blogging game" up. I have many, MANY images that want to share....

A pair from Kiwanda

On Monday, I headed to Cape Kiwanda, located on the Central Oregon Coast. I like Kiwanda, however I have shot it many times. The reason I went back was due to shooting a sea tunnel located here. Several weeks a year, the sun lines up with the tunnel and if the tide is low enough, you can get a glow. While I didn't venture out in the tunnel ( I wanted to - but had several buddies' with me and would've gotten in their shot), I did get some good stuff. I...

Pearl of the Pacific

This was taken about 3 weeks or so ago. I was much closer than the "well" than the image makes it appear. I was a good 4 feet from this beast, but the 17mm lens makes it seem further. I kind of like this image. This is a 2 shot blend, as I didn't have a grad filter. I think blending works better IF you can get the exposures correct. I just dislike handholding a filter in front of the lens, ESPECIALLY when shooting at the beach. Once that salt water...

A New Beach found

Well, I obviously didn't find this one, but it is new to me. On Thursday, a few buddies and I headed out to find this not very well known gem. When you think Oregon Coast, you think Cannon Beach, Astoria, Bandon, Cape Kiwanda, Florence, etc, etc. This beach is called Short Beach. It is probably one of my favorite beaches i have been to. There is so much potential. The irony is that while there are un-numbered amount of compositions, when I pulled...

Elowah Storm

This was taken last fall at Elowah Falls, located in the Columbia River Gorge. It was a nasty day out when this was taken, and RAINED the whole time I was shooting this. Not a fun shoot at all, but seems I have good luck in nasty weather. This is a 25 second exposure, that is how dark it was out when this was taken. ISO 50 and f/16 allowed for the long shutter speed, and no filters were used. ...

Spring vs Winter, Part Duece

We just moved into a larger apartment (nicer and cheaper!), and when I was packing stuff up (okay, just tossing stuff into boxes), I found a few more back-up DVDs of images I removed from my Aperture Library. On one of the disks were images from Ruckel Creek. So now I can do a better comparison of the same waterfall, and from almost the same spot, to give a better contrast of seasons. This shot is from "Mossy Grotto", along Ruckel Creek in the Columbia...

Winter vs Springtime

I have been meaning to put this up for a while, so I figured today is as good as any. Over the past month or so, I have been asked several times about when to visit Oregon - ie; best time of year. Well I will go in depth a bit about what I would do. Every season has its pros and cons. Also, not everyone likes the same seasons, outdoor activities or even subjects to shoot. I have photographer buddies that do not like to shoot waterfalls as much as...

getting back into film?

So a good buddy of mine told me yesterday that round trip tickets from PDX to Las Vegas are $120 (plus any bag fees), and that he wants to go on a South West trip! I have been to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend (and Grand Canyon but as a kid several times), but never to Zion, Arches, Death Valley, etc. What does this have to do with getting back into film you may ask (or maybe not :). Well, while the job situation is looking better, I still am...

Winters' Return

Up here in the Pacific Northwest, we haven't had much of a winter - until now. The past few days we have had snow, rain, wind, etc. I was talking with some buddies and I let them know that the Gorge was supposed to get 1-4" of snow, which could make for some interesting conditions. We decided upon Spirit Falls, as I really like this falls and had seen a shot from here before, cloaked in snow. It was a miserable shoot, I won't lie. The hike down...

Regards

The image was taken on the same trip as my last entry I posted. I just worked this one. This is a two image blend, and then worked in Silver Effects Pro. This is kind of a bitter sweet image. I was informed that this area (the access to it) is now officially off limits. In order to access this public beach (area), one has to cross over onto private property. Now I have been here before, and the only no trespassing signs were posted on a "trail"...

Pacific Brew

Just trying out new things in photoshop. Getting out of my comfort zone, so to speak. They always say the ones that succeed, do so out of their comfort zone - but I think they talk about pro athletes or something, lol. In any case, it is a good way to learn. You never know what you will learn. So this is a two shot blend. I very rarely blend, and had NEVER even bracketed exposures before in my camera, or even used exposure compensation. I did on...

Silver Falls in her Fall Glory

**This is a repost from October - seems the links and such were broken...** My buddy and I headed down south to SilverFalls State Park. I haven't shot here much - ever! Maybe it is due to it being a tourist trap, or perhaps the ease of accessibility (all the trails are paved); but since he hadn't been there ever and I really haven't spent any time here in a few years, we decided to shoot it. It is autumn after all and was raining pretty...

Pacific Trespassing & Prints

Here is another shot I took from Thors Well. I didn't get soaked, but i did brace my self for impact... Also, here is some info on prints and pricing. I have been really searching online for options to make a website. I looked at bigblackbag.com, but they are outrageously expensive - and for what they offer, not that great of a deal. Zenfolio is a DEAL compared to that. Intuit has web hosting, but their templates are kinda cheezy. They look...

Pacific Light

Last week, my buddy Paul contacted me, wanting to know if I wanted to go shoot at Tom Dick and Harry mountain near Mt. Hood. Unfortunately I had to work on Friday morning, but he also said he would be down for a coastal shoot. My buddy Scott just got back from the east coast and wanted to go shoot somewhere, so I told him our plans. He said Jeremy wanted to go as well, so we all met up in Newport at the Rogue Brewery Friday night. Saturday...

Mt. Rainier dedication

As many have either read online or have seen on the news, a park ranger was needlessly killed in Mt. Rainier National Park. Margaret Anderson was just doing her job, when she encountered that psycho. I realize that many people are killed in the line of duty, but this hit home. This past summer, I was very fortunate to spend 11 days at this amazing National Park. Every Park Ranger I encountered was so super nice, even when my buddy Paul and I were...