ross_geredien

<p>I feel this way about all of the super telephoto lenses that Canon makes. It prohibits many talented photographers from reaching their full potential. When Canon came out with their L Series II lenses (400-600), the prices almost doubled. Go figure. Used, older equipment is almost impossible to find because no one wants to buy the new stuff.</p>

<p>Bastian,<br>

I'm very envious of your trip. I used to live in the park, and you will be there at one of the best times. Foliage is usually peaking during the last week of August/first week of Sept. Wildilfe activity will be very high, with everything feeding and feasting before the snows set in. Expect a gamut of conditions. You can have Indian Summer, or blizzard-like conditions any time after Sept. 1, especially above 3,000 ft. <br>

For McKinley, you will want to be getting up by 5 AM each morning at Wonder lake. Better to get up in the dark than to miss the alpenglow. I had it at about 5:30 one morning, and the water was like glass. Reflection Pond is the place to be then, or Wonder Lake itself, on the shore along the road, looking out across the Mtn. There is a great spot at the far northern end of the Lake where the road crosses the outlet of the lake, but getting there is tough in the AM before the buses are coming through. You can catch a bus going by there later in the day for PM light, but getting back to the campground you will have the same issue if you stay beyond 7 or 8 PM. Most people shoot from Reflection Pond, which is along the road about 1 or 2 miles beyond the campground. It is adjacent to the lake, but above it and to the east, but right next to the road (west side). This is where many published photos have been taken. <br>

In the morning, you can walk about 0.5 mile to the southern end of the lake and bushwack along the eastern shore to look back at the mountain in hopes of morning alpenglow. I was very successful here in 1998 getting shots of the mountain with the lake in the foreground.<br>

Other favorite areas to shoot the mountain from include Thorofare pass, Highway pass, and Stony Overlook and surrounding high areas. A trek in the Stony area is highly recommended: the tundra is short here, and the scenery some of the best in the park. It is also great for Grizzlies, Wolverine, and all the other tundra specialties, including birds like White-tailed Ptarmigan. My favorite area is just south of the road, you can hike up Stony Creek and then up and over the hills to the right for views of the Mtn, or you can leave Stony Overlook, which is up on the pass, and then trek up and along the ridgeline to the south.<br>

Savage river is very scenic in itself, with its braids. Great tundra foliage shots can be had here looking to the south at the Alaska Range, or down at the river from up on Mt. Margaret. The Dall sheep can be found on Mt. Margaret above the river as well, and you can get quite close to them with care, but always use caution and abide by park rules regarding approaching wildlife. <br>

Weather will dictate your subject matter, so pay special attention to the clouds and the light. You will be want for sleep, but keep at it, and stay up through the long twilight b/c a trip like this only happens so often. Pay special attention to misty or drizzly conditions in the PM where there is even a hint of possible breaks in the clouds b/c these can be the most spectacular conditions: rainbows abound when it rains up there, and they can happen at any time. I've seen more doubles there than anywhere. Combine this with red alpenglow on the clouds or on Mt. Brooks or Denali itself, and you've got a winner. Best of luck to you! It is going to be unforgettably awesome.</p>

<p>Art Wolfe for nature.<br>

Steve McCurry for Photojournalism.</p>

<p>This is both an extraordinarily easy and difficult question at the same time. The real dilemma here is to choose between a selfish project or a selfless one, or in other words, something I long to do for my own self or something that I feel would be of great service. An opportunity like this should not be taken lightly.<br>

At first impulse, it's a no-brainer for me: Denali. I used to be a naturalist there, and it's where I first cut my teeth as a serious nature photographer, turning semi-pro in 1998. When I left twelve years ago, I vowed I would someday return on my own terms, fully prepared to absorb all that it had to reveal to me and my creative potential. Living inexpensively, one could conceivable spend an entire season, late April through September there on $10,000.<br>

But then it suddenly becomes more complex when I think of all the places in Alaska that I want to photograph: the Pribilof Islands, Katmai, Glacier Bay.<br>

It becomes even more complex when I think of what I could do with this opportunity to help environmental and human rights causes. I'm very active in Mountaintop Removal mining issues, but this is a topic that has already received considerable photojournalism coverage. Someone earlier mentioned the Congo: this is an area of extreme human conflict that should receive a lot more attention, and it is an area in which I have had great interest as well. <br>

Ultimately, it may not be that easy, because if I were to embark on such an expedition, it could and probably would be life-changing. I would seriously have to be ready for it, because I don't think I'd be able to go back to my day job after something like this. <br>

Ultimately, it makes me think that if I'm not already doing these things, and I really want to do them, why am I wasting my time? Why am I not doing them already, or planning a way to do them as soon as possible? Perhaps these are the questions we should be asking.....</p>

My office has a Coolscan LS-2000 with SCSI connection. Apparently it was made

for Windows NT or earlier, but does anyone know how to get this operational on

Windows XP?

Thanks,

Ross

West Virginia has a decent site, but I found they exaggerrated the conditions, probably to get tourists to come out despite such a poor year. Nonetheless, it's got some decent detail:

 

http://www.wvforestry.com/fall_foliage.cfm?menucall=fallfoliage

Very timely question! I'm also in the market for a new scanner and have been comparing these models. Time is definitely a factor for me, as I'd like to scan most if not all of my marketable images. I am also wondering if it is worth investing in the extended warranty? I have heard a lot about using VueScan software as well.

How do these Nikon Scanners compare in performace to the Pacific Image scanners? Does 4000 dpi make a significant difference from 3600? Do any pros out there use Pacific Image scanners?

Take it from a Mainer who's photographed a lot of fall color. If you wait too long, you will miss it. Northern NE Mountains including the Whites, northern Maine, and northern VT generally peak around Sept. 30th. For this reason, first weak in Oct. is the best bet to hit good color throughout much of the interior, including Acadia. Columbus Day Weekend is generally too late, and you will find yourself having to go south to get good color, thus missing the peak around the most scenic areas.

Howdy, Neal

 

Late May is excellent for Wildlife. If you stay all the way through to the 28th, you will also catch some exciting green-up activity. Starting about the 20th-21st, look for moose and caribou calves dropping, grizzlies attempting to predate on these young, and some dramatic interactions. It is one of the best times of year through until about June 10th.

 

Ross Geredien

former Denali Naturalist

I own the 300mm IS and live in Maine, where we have great lakes for loons as in Minnesota. I would have to agree, if you're in good loon country, you can get quite close to them. The 300 f/4 IS is a great lens for such hand-held photography.

Howdy, Gary

 

I live locally, and I usually limit my photographic subjects around here to lighthouses and one covered bridge in the area. There are some small state parks, but granduer and beauty is lacking. nature subjects within one hour of Portland are of the micro/macro type usually.

 

I too have not had good luck at R. C. NWR. However, the place for birds in Maine is Scarboro Marsh, about fifteen minutes south of Portland. Most species of wading birds are seen there in the greatest concentrations in the state. Take Rt. 9 east from Rt. 1 in Scarboro. In one mile, you go right by the marsh, with two places to park, one at Maine Audubon's canoe rental, and the other at the small generating station a little further down the road. Good birding is to be had all around this area, including Biddeford Pool. Photography is not the best. I have had good luck with Sunsets at Scarboro. You might get lucky.

 

If you can travel, the White Mountains and the western Maine mountains are great in spring. I have several favorite spots up there.

 

Best, and good shooting.

At 420mm, I got eliptical elongations at about 3- 4 sec.

 

Multiply by four for 100mm?

 

Ross

Take it from a former park ranger,

 

The Everglades Park Road/Homestead Entrance is no place to try poaching an overnight, not anywhere between the gate and Flamingo.

 

Big Cypress is the only place you can do this, and it's legal. There are several dirt roads that go off into the interior of Big Cypress that are very secluded and offer nice scenic photo opps. To get the good stuff in Everglades, get up early and drive, or pay the camping fee. I used to do it all the time.

 

 

Ross

I camped there in the second week of April, which was a little too early for the big migration fall-outs. I've since heard that they can be really big starting around the 15th. Weather dependent of course.

 

The campground is adequate, except that it's dry. No water to wash, and it's sandy. Keep all of your gear covered especially if it's windy.

 

Watch out for Naval Hueys. The campground is fifty feet from a Helo Pad, and when I was there, our "boys" landed a Double propeller helicopter when the campground was full. My site along with three others were blown across the campground and nearly sent into the Gulf. Three boy-scout tents were broken. NPS did little to warn us or help us afterwards.

 

Pelican photography was excellent. Cormorants are out on the pier. Scenic coral reef shots abound. Also good aerial shots of Frigatebirds. 400mm f 5.6 autofocus recommended.

All other exposure compensation tips aside (a subject you could spend hours discussing) my experience freezing motion has been that 1/500 sec. will just about freeze most movement in a bird subject, like a moving head, or wings. To be safe, 1/750 or 1/1000 are optimal, if you can get it. I'm assuming that your lens is securely mounted.

 

For more sedentary subjects, you might want to try anything. With good technique, sometimes you can get really lucky as long as you keep the lens stable. I've occasionally gotten sharp shots as slow as 1/15 sec. even without image stabilization. 1/60 to 1/125 sec. are fairly safe, however, again assuming no lens movement.

I am pretty well-qualified to answer this question: I was a park-road driver in Denali for three years.

 

There are about four weeks that are THE peak weeks for action.

 

They are the last week of May, the first week of June Calving and hence-forth large carnivore/prey interaction, spring leaf-out, wildflower bloom, and nice light/dynamic weather are all happening at this time.

 

The other two weeks is from about Aug. 22nd, to Sept. 5th plus or minus two days either side. Here the wildlife is still close to the road, shifting their movement patterns, fattening up for winter, i.e. Grizzly hyperphagia, caribou migration, and preparation for moose rut. Peak foliage happens between Aug. 25th and Sep. 4th-5th. Weather can be extraordinarily beautiful: rainbows, early snowfall, jaw-dropping beauty. Go. It will haunt you for the rest of your life. The next time someone mentions Denali, you'll get a glazed-over look in your eyes, you'll start to drool, and you'll stare into space......Denali.....Denali....

 

SPECIAL NOTE: About a year ago, Galen Rowell did a commentary on Outdoor Photographer about a trip in late Sept. He said the wildlife was very few and far between. He blamed it on the road traffic. It's not surprising that the wildlife were all far from the road, but his reasoning was off. Road traffic is low in late Sept. Most wildlife by that time have moved away from the road corridor, part of their natural seasonal patterns. Activity declines significantly along the road after Sept. 10th with the exception of the moose rut between miles six and twelve.

The last two comments are correct about meter readings. Meter readings in low light are not very accurate at all, and exposure compensation is also irrelevant and unnecessary in low light. As for how long to expose in moonlit snow, I don't have a good answer.

 

Ross

I am hoping to find some Bald Eagle to shoot here in Maine. I need

to find a place near water where it's possible to get relatively

close. I'm shooting with an effective focal length of 420mm. Can

anyone recommed a location and time of year to shoot? I have heard

that Moosehorn NWR is good, but I'd like to know more about specifics

about it.

 

Thanks.

 

Ross

 

www.sebago.net/rg

I'm not sure if this is too far south for you, but the cliffs at La Jolla have an epic reputation according to Artie Morris for California Brown Pelicans and various gulls, like Heerman's. Check out Art's website at www.birdsasart.com, and you'll see his famous pelican shot taken there at La Jolla.

 

Ross

Brian,

 

I think I've got THE spot for you. I used to be a Park Ranger in the Everglades. Try the 10,000 Island Boat Tour that leaves the NPS visitor center in Everglades City, Florida. Everglades City is about three miles south of the Tamiami Trail, US Route 41, in the Northwest Corner of Everglades National Park. It's about one hour west of Shark Valley, and about 25 miles east of Naples. The boat trips leave about every two hours. they start around mid-morning, 9 or 9:30 and go until four, with an occasional sunset trip. Take one of the SMALL open boats to get optimum dolphin shots. If the same captains are still there, Art and Harold were pretty good. They will try to get the dolphins (Atlantic bottlenose) in the boat wake, and in the right light, you can get some great jumping shots of them. It's not easy getting quality shots, but you might be able to coax him to angle the boat so that the light is right. Late afternoon trips were the best for dolphins.

 

Good luck.

 

Ross

Sankha,

 

Vingetting has been something I have had to deal with various wide-angle lenses over the last several years. As you know, vingetting occurs on wide-angle lenses because the physical casing of any filters or lenses themselves comes into the unusually wide field of view. I currently use the Canon USM 24-85mm lens, and vingetting occurs when I use a polarizer at 24mm because the field of view is wide enough that you start to see the black ring of the filter.

You can deal with this in two effective ways that I know of. One is to convert to a Koken filter system, which uses filter inserts. There is no "ring" around the filter and so there is no black object obscuring the field of view on a wide-angle lens. As a filter system, they are an economical way to go, but one thing I am not certain of is how well these filters work with autofocus.

The route I like to take is using step-up rings. For example, my lens has a 57mm filter size. I can buy a 57mm-62mm step-up ring that costs about $12.95, and then use a 62mm polarizing filter on the lens. The step-up ring enables you to use a larger filter on a smaller lens diameter. This also can help to save money if you have multiple lenses, as you can often use the same filter on more than one lens this way. These rings come in various combos, like 57-62, 57-67, 57-72, etc.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Ross

I kind of like my straps. They help reduce the strain on my back. My mini trekker probably weighs about 16 lbs altogether, and it's not very good at distributing the weight because of it's small size, so every little bit helps.

 

Ross

Brian,

 

The Colorado Trail might be a good artery to start with. The southern terminus is in Durango, only about 2 1/2 miles from the US 550. You can get a trail map from the USFS in Durango, and a map of the San Juan Wilderness area. There's a couple mountain and backpacking shops in town. The San Juan's are where it's at for Southwest Colorado backcountry photography. A place I intend to hit myself.

 

The view from the top of the Abajo range is quite nice. You can see the LaPlatas, the La Sals, the Sleeping Ute, amoung other pluton formations as well as looking down into the Colorado basin including the Maze, where the Green and Colorado come together. Quite a diversity of formations, colors, textures, all form one mountain top. The Abajos are west of Cortez. It's been a while, but they are on most maps. Good place for mule deer.

 

Ross

My answer would be similar. My personal preference is fall and winter for low-angle light, the possibility of nice, soft snowfall on the pink and red rocks, and my favorite sweet golden cottonwoods in the canyons with nice potential for reflections. The latter is possible toward late October and the first half of November.

 

All of the above are correct about May. The weather is usually very dynamic, relatively mild, and no crowds. Spring is beautiful in the desert.

 

Ross

I would agree that Art Morris's website is a good resource to consult on this one. I own the 300mm f/4 IS, and thus far I am finding it a great lens. It works very well with the 1.4x teleconverter, giving full autofocus at f/5.6. My take is that this lens is better for birds and wildlife, whereas the 100-400mm zoom is a more versatile lens for shooting a variety of nature subjects. Sharpness is supposed to be comparable.

 

Ross Geredien