anish

<p>I would recommend at least looking into Feisol CF legs. I bought mine (3-section) about 3 years ago without the benefit of much test data or field reviews, and have been pleasantly surprised by it's performance. Being CF it is very light. It stands tall (brings my eye-piece up to about 5'6" without center column), was affordable - around $200, and is SOLID. This will leave you around $300 for a decent head. <br>

Anish </p>

<p>Why don't we all quit obessing over gear and focus on taking pictures? Noli, your shooting style is your shooting style. Take whatever lenses you normally like to use and you'll be fine (along with a sturdy tripod, of course). Instead of worrying about whether or not your gear is sufficient, spend time researching the places you're visiting. What locations do you want to see and photograph? Study topo maps to get an idea of the direction of light at sunrise and sunset at those locations. If you want, study images taken by pros you admire who photograph these locations to get ideas/inspiration. Research weather patterns to see if storm cycles or other interesting phenomenon are common for the places/times you plan to visit. Try to previsualize some images of some of the subjects you hope to photograph - this is an excellent exercise. What you want is to come away with memorable, personal photographs, not just record shots. This is less about gear, and more about how involved you become with the place and the process. For a couple years, I only backpacked with a 24mm and 50mm primes. I never felt limited, because lenses are only tools. What's really taking the pictures is YOU. Your vision, your love for the place and your connection to the place will have the greatest impact on your images, not your gear.</p>

<p>Anish </p>

<p>i never really cared for the eye control, so in my film days i used an elan7. performed flawlessly for me for a few years before i switched to digital. if you're shooting film, i wouldn't hesitate to recommend getting one. they come pretty cheap these days.</p>

<p>anish</p>

For landscape photography at sunrise and sunset, a 3 stop split ND (I find both the hard and soft edge to be very useful) is good to have. Of the 2, I use the hard edge more. There is often too much contrast during those times for a 2-stop filter to handle, and a 1-stop will not help you much at all. Your other option is to take separate exposures for the highlights and shadows and combine in PS. When it's difficult to hide the grad transition, I find that combining in PS is actually sometimes the best option.

 

Anish

I use the tamron 28-75 to complement my 10-22. it is as sharp, if not sharper, than the 10-22 and was only $400. i highly recommend it.

 

Anish

laurent,

a little ice over the pools is exactly what i'm hoping for! according to the ranger, though, the flow in winter is similar to the flow in fall. so while there should still be water movement, there may be a little freezing up along the edges of the pools. there's a fair chance that parts of the final ramp will be slick, but i remember that ramp being fairly wide, and not all of it was wet. hopefully, there are enough dry areas for us to get up. and hopefully, i can capture some worthwhile images!

 

anish

thanks for the reply, Steven. I do recall the slick areas before the subway. i will have canyoneering boots, neoprene socks and probably a drysuit, so i'll be well protected against getting wet/cold. the boots did great at getting up the wet slopes, but if they ice over, it might be a different story. given that the elevation is fairly low, i'm hoping it won't freeze over. thanks again.

 

anish

Hello All,

I'm planning on visiting Zion National Park over Christmas, and I'm wondering if anyone has had experience hiking to

the Subway in winter. I would be hiking only the lower section from the bottom up. I've done this hike in the fall, and

am dying to see what photographic opportunities will reveal themselves in winter. Considering it is a pretty wet hike

as it is, I'm wondering if any parts of the route in particular get iced over in winter, or if there are any other hazards I

should be aware of. I'm in pretty good shape, and am comfortable off trail. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Anish

Hello All,

I just received my Epson 1400 from B&H, and I was surprised to see how small

the ink cartridges are. I've been using an Epson 960 (makes 8.5x11 prints) for

a few years, and its cartridges look a lot bigger than the 1400 cartridges, and

they didn't last very long. They say these Claria cartridges are high

capacity, but are they? Can anyone comment on approximately how many 13" x 19"

prints I might be able to get out of a set of these cartridges? I use epson

heavy weight matter paper. Thanks for any input.

 

Anish

I haven't travelled to many other ranges, but I assure you that there is enough beauty in the Sierra to keep any photographer happily shooting for his or her entire life. It's difficult to single out any particular locations as there are wonderful opportunities to be found almost anywhere. Living in So. Cal, I most frequently visit the east side of the range, where I've travelled quite a bit along the stretch between Lone Pine and Yosemmite. There are great places to photograph all along this stretch. Many are easily accessible, such as the Alabama Hills, the areas surrounding the various Bishop Creek trailheads, Lake Crowley and Mono Lake and the numerous aspen groves along 395 between Bishop and Yosemite, just to name a few. And if you like to hike, the opportunities are literally unlimited. Rather than give too many specifics, I would just encourage you to grab your camera, head out there, and just explore. For some ideas, I have a couple of Sierra Nevada portfolios in my gallery here:

www.photo.net/photos/anish

 

Enjoy...

Anish

I agree with all of the above. i got my 24mm on ebay, and it has a small scratch on the front glass. i couldn't find its effect on my pictures even if i tried. don't even worry about, your lens is fine...

 

Anish

Do you like shooting close-ups? Do you like taking medium telephoto shots? then yes!

not to sound rude, but who is anyone else to tell you what lenses you should use? A location does not determine the equipment to be used, nor do other photographers. your own photographic style does. my only advice is - let the place inspire you and exercise your own vision...

 

Anish

In case you're not already decided, another advantage of 3 section over 4 is the simple fact that you have 3 less joints to fiddle with when setting up for a shot. I tend to run around and move quickly when shooting, and I find 3 sections to be just quick enough to work with so as to not slow me down too much. Regarding brands, I would at least throw Feisol carbon fiber into the mix. I bought one of their 3 section models after doing much research, and have been extremely pleased with it. It was affordable, and performs solidly. good luck...

 

Anish

i agree with the above post. an ND filter will only allow you to slow down the shutter speed, but the overexposure problem is a function of metering. i've had problems in similar situations, but what i do now is make sure i separately meter all parts of the scene. water, foliage, rocks, sky... etc. then, knowing the exposure latidude of your film or sensor, make the appropriate exposure decision. relying on matrix metering for such shots is a gamble, so i would not do that. careful metering is the only way to correctly expose in such situations. a filter, unfortunately, is not the solution. I am assuming, of course, that you are not shooting in direct, overhead sunlight as you will have a very tough time getting a proper exposure, let alone a good looking photo, in such light.

If you're not absolutely set on winter photography and would consider other options, Death Valley is an excellent choice. Great weather this time of year, and awesome scenery. Literally endless photographic opportunities. I've gone at least 10 times, and I always look forward to going back for more!

 

Anish

Check www.noaa.gov for the best forecasts. There is a storm moving into the sierra this weekend. Looks like 3+ feet will be falling in the high sierra, with snow levels down to 5500 feet. the snow will continue into next week as well, so depending where you go next weekend, you could very well find yourself in a winter wonderland. Yosemite Valley, being at 4000 ft, will probably only see rain, so if you're looking for winter scenes, that won't be your best bet. Entering Sequoia from the west (via either fFresno or Visalia) will give you plenty of "winter" as the sierra west of the crest gets the bulk of the snow. However, for photography, i would second the recommendation above to head to the Eastern Sierra (that's where I'll be that weekend). There likely won't be any snow in the Owens Valley itself, but a drive up any of the roads heading to the various trailheads will have you in snow in no time. And the Eastern Sierra mountain scenery is unmatched. And if you really want to feel like you're in the thick of winter, keep driving north on 395 towards Mammoth, and as you pass 7000' or so in elevation, it'll likely be nothing but snow all around. it's truly beautiful up there. I highly recommend the Eastern Sierra. Your drive from San Diego to Lone Pine (the beginning of the "High Sierra" region) will be 5+ hours, so plan accordingly. I would recommend leaving Saturday morning instead of Friday evening as the Vegas goers will have the 15 in a jam! Enjoy your trip. I shall enjoy mine!!!

 

Anish

Thanks Mark. I'll check these places out.

 

Anish

Does anyone know of a reliable E6 processing lab in the Inland Empire? I live

in Rancho Cucamonga, but anywhere in the vicinity would be fine. I've been

using A&I mailers for years, but they've raised their prices to about $9/roll

(not including postage), and it no longer makes sense to use them. I'd be

glad to pay up to $10 per roll, but quality processing is a must. I've used

Claremont Camera, and on several occasions, they've been sloppy cutting and

mounting my slides. Any other places? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Anish

I recently returned from 5 days in DV. I absolutely love the place, and make it a point to go at least twice each winter. The furnace creek campground is the best place to stay in terms of amenities and central location. Some good suggestions for photography locations have alreade been given. I'd second the suggestion not to miss the dunes at stovepipe wells, zabriskie point and the salt flats. the dunes are best in the morning. bring a headlamp and plan to start hiking out well before sunrise if you want to make it past all the footprints and still have time to find a composition or 2. Zabriskie is nice as you can pretty much drive up to it. so many possibilities there.

another great place to wander and shoot is the golden canyon/gower gulch area. it is VERY beautiful.

equipmentwise, take everything you have! there are lots of opportunities that don't involve long hikes, so the weight of the equipment shouldn't be a issue. for the dunes, definitely bring a telephoto, as isolating patterns and shapes is a joy. a wide angle is a must for the salt flat. split NDs are always good at sunrise/sunset. a polarizer or warming filter is good to have at the salt flats as they will reflect a lot of blue if the sky is clear (unless that's the look you want).

but don't be limited to the popular locations. feel free to wander the valley floor as there is so much to see once you leave the road and begin walking!

my death valley photographs are here if you want to have a look:

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=433621

 

enjoy your trip!

 

-Anish

when i first got into split ND's, i went cheap and bought a hitech 2 stop soft and 3 stop hard. i can tell you from my experience, and others have confirmed, that the hitechs leave a magenta color cast over the dark portion of the filters. if you care at all about color accuracy, i would spend more and get the singh ray's. i now have a set of 4 singh ray's, 2 stop hard and soft, and 3 stop hard and soft. i've heard the Lee's are good in terms of optical quality, but i move quickly in the field, and i would say i've dropped almost every piece of equipment i own at least once. plastic will not shatter, and that's key for me. for my type of shooting, primarily landscapes shot at sunrise and sunset, the 3 stop hard is by far the most frequently used. however, i just returned from an 11 day trip to zion and death valley and i used all 4 of my filters heavily. so for you, you may not want to buy a set of 4 to start, but think carefully about the type of shots you want to capture and what kinds of exposure situations you tend to face, then choose the right filter/s accordingly.

 

Anish

i've got a 2005 XTerra Off Road, and it has done the job for me. i also do a lot of wanndering around the eastern sierra and DV. Aside from being a suprememly capable off road vehicle, the back seats fold flat (on the newer models - 2005 onwards), so i can sleep. it is not very long in the back, but i'm sure you're not expecting too much comfort sleeping in a truck. I also use this as my daily commuter, and the street ride a just fine. what led me towards the XTerra over other SUV's is that it is a no frills vehicle, strictly performance with no fluff, which keeps the price well below that of other SUV's in the category. i would at least take a test drive...

Hello All,

I will be in Zion for 6 days around New Years time, and we are planning on

renting dry suits for a dayhike into the Narrows. Question is: Given the

depth on the canyon, and the low angle of the winter sun, will I get enough

light down there to be able to capture that warm glow we always see in so many

photos? Either way, we are going in, as for me photography will always come

second to "being" there. But I'm just wondering if I should lug all my photo

gear with me. I'd rather walk light if I won't be taking many shots, but if

there's a chance for capturing something special, then I have no problem

carrying the weight. Any thoughts welcome. Thanks!

 

Anish

I don't see the need for anyone's ego to get bruised over this, but to say that this location is a waste of time without light on the mountain is to say essentially that only one style of shot is possible there, and that is obviously untrue. making the most of less that ideal conditions is what great photographers do. not to say any of us here are great, but can we not strive to be? if there is no light on the mountain, emphasize the foreground, or the sky if interesting clouds are present. if fall foliage is not there, get down from the bridge and emphasize the river... to give up because the conditions we hoped for are not there will only hinder us from becoming better at our art, if that is indeed our aim...

 

Anish

i almost hate to answer the question since i don't want you to limit yourself to certain heavily photographed spots. there are many famous spots where you can probably grab a nice shot, but zion's beauty is something you really need to explore to appreciate. rather than specifics, i could recommend general areas where you can easily find nice compositions.

 

my favorite area is the eastside along rt 9. once past the tunnel, you enter a gorgeous region of slickrock formations. drive slowly, allow your jaw to drop, and step out of the car whenever something catches your fancy. there are endless compositions waiting to be photographed. depending on where exactly you are, morning and evening light are both good. in winter, with the low sun, you should have a long window at both ends of the day to work with.

 

the river itself is also lovely. there is a trail that follows the river through the canyon. grab some food and water and start walking. keep your eyes open and compositions will reveal themselves to you.

 

the hike up to emerald pools is also very scenic. i have yet to go in winter (i will be there in a couple weeks, though!), but provided the trail is ice free, you'll find many beautiful sights along the way.

 

The canyon runs north-south, so in general, the west walls of the canyon will catch morning light, while the east walls will catch evening light. if you're looking to include the great zion walls in your compositions, that's the only thing you really need to keep in mind.

 

whether you photograph there or not, the view from the bridge at sunset looking out towards the watchman is truly memorable. there is usually a long line of tripods along the bridge, so if you want to know what everyone else is shooting, it will be pretty obvious (although in winter, it should be fairly empty).

 

this probably wasn't very helpful if you're just looking to swoop in and grab some quick shots, but if you want to experience zion, and allow her beauty to inspire your vision, you won't need to know what the hot spots are. you'll find you own...

 

Anish

you'll be fine with your boy. i've been there many times in winter and the coldest it gets is the lower 30s, but usually doesn't dip much below 40. just keep him in a warm bag and he'll be just fine. each time i'm there, i see lots of little kids (many younger than 5) running around the campground, having a great time. the key is to make sure he has enough warm clothing and warm sleeping bag.

i can confirm that you can only camp in campgrounds, or off certain dirt roads, but only 2+ miles away from the paved roads. it is much simpler to just go with the campgrounds. furnace creek is nice, but fills up in winter. try for a reservation, otherwise, sunset has overflow space.

photographic opportunities are endless. the dunes are great, but don't limit yourself. i seldom go to the dunes, as they are always crowded, dotted with footprints, and, well, maybe a bit cliche. it is rare to see a shot of the dunes that doesn't look like a million other shots. anyway, the badlands around zabriskie point are awesome, the valley floor has many interesting features, the salt flats are a must... just wander and keep your eyes open. there is more to see and photograph than you could possible imagine. i will actually be there for 5 days starting next weekend. 6 days in zion after that. i can't wait!!!

 

Anish