nathan_cohen

Babette--

 

You are one smart lady, and you certainly had a good excuse not to snap away::-)

This is --at least-- a 10 day journey for a photographer. Not only did you underestimate the drive times, but the scouting and set up times. Believe me; I like to get in there and move onto the next shot, but AZ and southern Utah just can't be done quickly.

Matt has a very interesting suggestion! I would be very pleasantly surprised if the effect differed from that of a continuous exposure of the same total duration. I have done this as an 'intermittent exposure' technique--but with much longer snaps.Any A/B comparions:-)?

I've already discussed my feelings on this:-)

 

I suggest that the only way to get past this is to mentally discipline yourself into two modes: 1) you are observant and open to shots; 2) you have blinders on and don't allow yourself to scan for them.

 

I always carry a K-1000 in the 'boot', but there are plenty of times where I just don't look. I often WANT to look, but won't stray:-)

 

When you CAN look, then have at least a cheap camera stowed away--and loaded:-)

Cotton Rules. Try 3 seconds stopped down, with ND filter or polarizer.

Guy,

 

The difference is that when you fall off a mountain,the rocks don't eat half of your corpse.

 

This is a sad , horrible, and preventable tragedy IMO.

We now have several days of Martian photos from Spirit, and I must admit I am very disappointed. First, the 'terrain' is extremely boring, and the rock field tells nothing, based upon the images, of the nature of the area (alluvial?). The images are of some interest, but do not convey any more, and actually a lot less, than captured from 1976-1980 with the Viking landers. There is little science to be had to date from these images, and as well, entertainment, we must accept that we have seen the facsimile to this before, in fact before many PN'ers were born!

 

Nontheless, expeditions to Mars have potential value, and it is far too early to comment about the scientific value derived. There may well be some cool pix ahead, and here's hoping!

 

Photographically, a Martian sunset/sunrise would be nice to have, but I doubt it can be done (well), given the long exposure times needed with that imaging system. Of course, I would crave a dynamic landscape! If a Martian wanders through...well, we'd not even require a release!

It is important to realize that several of the methods we actively use today--and are being used on Spirit-- were first used in a big way 28 years ago--on Mars pix. This was Project Viking; part of its legacy is our pleasure today (these cameras were created at MITRE and the processing was done at JPL's imaging processing Lab (IPL)).

 

Those images, as these, were/are scanned and take forever to gather. There is no 'color' per se, but intensity sensors filtered at various color frequencies--hence the need for the aforementioned filters.

 

You can DO color photography this way from B&W film and layering--but I wouldn't recommend it!

Frankly, it is best to blow a roll of film and experiment.

 

My best results come about when my hand is fully lit and fills the field of view. It need not be in focus. In fact, a gray card is a continuous surface with no detail nor variation. You can achieve the same by blurring.

 

If you use the spot metering then spot on the hand, at any distance, preferably arms length.

 

Of course, the best reason to do this is that strangers (seeing you) will either think your nuts or camera-cool:-)

Yes, these are grain issues, not scanner problems.

Fly to Phoenix and then head north 90 min to Sedona/Oak Creek.

 

I have been to Monterey/south many times and have found it spotty. J. Pfeiffer Burns State Park is way south of Big Sur and SOUTH of another park also called Burns State Park. The waterfall is nice, but not worth a special trip. There is basically one accessible vantage point.

 

The Dec. earthquake was about 100 miles south, although I suspect road damage is minimal, if at all. There have ben some very recent major rainstorms and flash floods on that part of the CA coast BTW.

 

Here a pix of the aforementioned falls, which is better in the spring when the wildflowers are out (mid March).<div></div>

RE: 'Fresh Meal'

 

"Taste like chicken!"

Mark--

 

You are exploring the classic conflict of photography for the aesthetic of nature vs the observation of nature. It would be fatuous to assume that one is more valid than the other. We are, thus,in agreement.

 

I interpreted the question to be: 'do you regret passing up an OPPORTUNITY' to take a nature photograph? In that context, we can see that both or either observing or aesthetically capturing, pose opportunities: now; are there times you (or I or they) just blew if off, and why?

 

When I have blown such opportunities it was based on the assumption there would be plenty more exactly the same or as rewarding. In my expanding age, I no longer feel that way. Carpe diem:-)

Bottom line: feel out the line of:'to measure is to disturb'. That decides whether you do it 'by choice'.

 

To answer your question (including this caveat), the answer is--yes. When I was young and foolish!:-) Time flies and each moment is unique. Only the young think that we live forever and it is a right to be easily bored:-) IMO, the great appeal of nature photography is that we capture unique moments:-)

KL,

 

Thanks for being especially helpful. Frankly I am a sucker for a scenic:-)

 

I spent a lot of time in NM several years ago and ghost towns depress me for some reason. Kind of reminds me of our own ephemeral nature. My problem; I know others get a kick out of them and I'm glad they do:-)

Again, I am most grateful for the location expertise of the seasoned PN'ers who have graciously made there suggestions.

 

I have never given Zion its due but I can see it's an option I will seriously consider. Bryce is great--but I've done it:-); next trip there will be a hiking trip with my son someday:-) Zion didn't work for me last year--spent 3 hours in the park and then bailed to Bryce--where I was able to get in-park lodging.

 

 

BTW I did fly the GC many years ago, and I think that's a great suggestion--save for the fact that I then discovered I get airsick in small planes:-)!

 

Now: if we consider Zion, let me open it up for the Grand Canyon. Is it that much farther(travel-wise) than Zion from Vegas? Are we talking South Rim or North Rim?

 

If YOU had to make a trip to Vegas, AND could tack on a full weekend (let's drop the 100 miles), would YOU to to GC? Zion? What about (again) Vermilion? Thanks again for your time friends!

Thanks Douglas,

 

Seen enough of dams. What's the one in Page? That was worth a few minutes,but my interests lie elswehere:-)

 

In general, my shots are of landscapes, but I never pass up a good wildlife shot.:-)

Thanks too all for many great suggestions! It hadn't occured to me that Zion was reasonably close. Now: Zion in March--is it worth it? How far are the Vermilion Cliffs? BTW, Also, thanks for the other suggestions. Much to see!

Am looking for good suggestions by PN'ers for photospots within about

100 miles of Las Vegas. Looking sometime in March. Please: keep me

away from the Lost Wages tackiness by having another place(s) for me

to venture during my meeting off-times:-) Grand Canyon much too far

BTW.

 

Many thanks:-)

Now Bob--

 

Don't succumb to fossilizing:-) Rent a pair of parabolics and enjoy! Even stiff knees can get a lot out of the mountain these days. HOPE TO CATCH YOU ON THE SLOPES AMIGO:-)

 

And when the kids get old enough, let THEM drive YOU to the slopes:--)

 

There's a very long, easy slope from the top of Wildcat that is great for scenics. Forget the name. I hope to catch it in the next few weeks. Will bring a K-1000 with a 30-80 lens. Cheers.

I concur with Dana on Wildcat. MWH is pretty spotty, but on a clear day, with the snowy range, is wonderful. Glen Ellis Falls is spectacular when frozen, but quite dangerous to hike into without crampons.

 

BTW, I really hate North Conway and can't recommend anything there. Maybe MacDonald's, or the Banana Republic Mini golf.... Lincoln is MUCH nicer, although tacky in its own gross way.

 

Winter photos---shots of heavily coated pines from Cannon, against a blue sky, are on my list. Of course, the Old Man is no more;he used to look great in Winter. I have a nice shot of him sugar coated, in my portfolio.

 

Swift or Pemi rivers, with snow coated rocks work well with a red sunset. Rare.

 

Frankly, I've haven't found a lot to like (photographically) in WMNF in winter, but I, too, am open to suggestions. Stay warm.

Travel hassles of the last 2 years have paired my kit to a minimum. I use a manual camera (Pentax KX) with a Sigma 28-300 lens and maybe one or two extra wide angles. A couple of filters. A Gitzo tripod. Velvia. Cable release. On about 25% of my trips, my flashes and remotes. That's it. I can't recall a scenic for which I longed for the rest of my kit--or my Olympus E-10.

 

Don't use your equipment as a crutch. You know what you need:-)

Jack is right.

 

My gray card withers in storage.

Yes. I've seen it, oh a dozen times; mostly because when I was younger I looked for it.

 

Amateur astronomers like looking for the Flash a lot, and you can find various shots in Sky and Telescope; Dennis DiCicco comes to mind.

 

I never found it made for much of an interesting slide although fun to watch.

 

The best way to do it is to find a large piece of water with a western view (read: ocean) which is calm, and also a steady and clear air mass. No clouds on horizon. The flash will last about 1/2 to 2 seconds. Most of the green will come from the water reflection. The flash is reasonably bright and you can probably capture on slow film with a moderate (say, f/8) aperture. At least 200 mm lens, IMO, but some people have done a nice job with a wide angle.

Many thanks for the helpful comments and experience. I had a short but very fruitful visit. I love this place and hope to return soon!<div></div>