Canson booth – PhotoPlus Expo 2011

Tomorrow I am heading to southern France as an invited guest of Canson Infinity for their “Customer Appreciation Days” yearly event. Basically they invite their best customers from around the globe to join them in a week long educational conference where they learn about all of their newest products (mostly fine art papers and canvas’) and how best to use them. As an official evangelist, my role is to talk about why I use Canson papers for my own work, my fine art printing workflow, and my landscape photography in general. I’ll also be taking many photos of the event, and Canson will be using these for promotion and web use.

While I’m taking my full gear bag with me, I’ll be using my Pansonic GH2 with a Lumix 20mm f/1.7 panacake lens for the event photos. I haven’t used this camera much for still photos (using it mostly for video), so this will give me a chance to put the camera to work, and also dive into the new Lightroom 4 beta.

I’m deeply honored for this opportunity, and also really excited about traveling to France for the first time. I’m not sure how much free time I’ll have to shoot some landscapes, but I’ll keep you updated here with photos and updates. I’ll be there for 10 days so hopefully I’ll find time to sneak away into nature!

Fundy Tide, NS

One of my goals on my recent  trip to Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy was to try and make more black and white images, since it has always been a great way for me to study and work on compositional skills. Along the Bay of Fundy,  the large variation in the tide is constantly changing the landscape, and the more time I spent along the shore, the more I became fascinated with the limitless lines, shapes, and forms along the coast. Learning to focus in on areas of contrast, and how they lead the eye is a skill that may take a lifetime to master, but is so vital to creating successful photographs.

In both of these images, I have tried to lead the eye to what I found most interesting in the scene, but they get there in different ways. “Fundy Tide” above primarily uses highlights to bring out the accents in the image – brighter rocks, flowing water, and the beautiful clouds lingering on the horizon. “Rocks and Tide” below uses the shadows and the rich darkness of the large rocks in the foreground to create interest, and help focus the eye on the tiny shells clinging to the rocks. The sky helps to balance the brightness of the water and keep the viewer moving back to the foreground.

Rocks and Tide, NS

In “Trees, Irving Nature Park” below, lines created by trees always excite me visually, and the patterns and repetitions they create are what always draw me into spending as much time as I can in a forest like this- serene, majestic, yet intimate. While I photographed just the vertical trees, this version with the horizontal tree in the foreground helps to anchor the image a bit more in my opinion, and create some tension, especially with the two other horizontal trees moving the eye up towards the middle of the image.

Trees, Irving Nature Park, NB

The photographic possibilities along the Bay of Fundy are not only truly inspiring, but limitless in terms of where your interests lie, whether that is landscapes, wild life, macro and intimate scenes, or the maritime experience of boats, people, fishing, etc,. I will be returning this October during the fall season to explore so many areas that I visited yet did not have the time to photograph.

I have written here in the past about how familiarity is so important to really capturing the character of a place, as well as your emotions and feelings. Every time I visit Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy I learn a little bit more about myself and why I continue to return. The whole point is to share those feelings with others, and of course remind inspired to be creative. I hope this gives you some food for thought and helps you find your way in your own work. Thanks for reading!

Below are a few examples of areas that were inspiring and are on my list to return to in October.

Delap Cove, NS

Pot Rock, NB

Brier Island, NS

Hemlocks and Hardwoods Trail, Kejimkejik National Park, NS

I’ve been traveling in New Brunswick and southern Nova Scotia over the last two weeks on a much needed family vacation, so that’s the main reason for my lack of activity on the blog recently. I typically try and take some time off in August before the busy fall schedule starts, both personally and professionally. It’s been a very busy first half of the year for me so far, and the remainder looks no different. I have no complaints, and can only be grateful for the opportunity to spend my time doing what I love to do – for me that is the essence of humility.

Exposed Rocks, Bay of Fundy, NS

The Bay of Fundy in northeastern Canada is world renowned for it’s amazing tides, up to 40 ft in some places, and this creates some very unique landscapes to photograph. I spent most of my time on the peninsula of Nova Scotia, which is southwest of  Cape Breton Island which I visited and photographed last year. I also had a chance to visit Kejimkujik National Park  which has great canoeing and biking trails, plus offers amazing photographic opportunities.  I was specifically interested in a section of the park that contains a rare stand of old growth hard wood trees, and a rainy day provided great light and mood- perfect for image making.

Tidal Pools, Bay of Fundy, NS

We also visited Bay of Fundy National Park and Fundy Trail in New Brunswick, places I definitely plan to visit again in the future. I enjoyed mountain biking with the family, as well as visiting many of the ports and harbors in the area. Of course my main interest was the amazing seascapes along the coast, so I’ll be uploading more images over the next few days as I get more time to process my raw files. I also plan to create some Lightroom videos showing how I processed the images. Stay tuned…

Parker Cove, Nova Scotia

In addition to photography, I also shot HD video on my recent trip to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia with the intent of combining the video and stills into a short film. I shot video with my hacked Panasonic GH1, the stock 14-140mm lens and a Canon FD 20mm lens. The hack enables much higher bit rates than the factory firmware, which results in much more detailed video, cleaner shadows, and better files for post editing.

DSLR’s cameras that shoot video have opened a whole new world for those who want to explore new creative possibilities, and I really enjoy the challenge and rewards of experimenting and finding new ways to convey a story. I’m learning a great deal each time I work on these projects, and have a bunch more planned for the near future. In addition, my commercial clients are excited about the new possibilities it brings to communicate their message in the digital age. Enjoy this short film, and as always, please feel free to leave feedback and/or leave any questions.

Tech Notes

I shot this film at 1280×720/ 30 fps (Motion JPEG) and the slow motion shots were 60 fps (AVCHD). Both were converted to 24 fps using Apple Compressor. I edited in Final Cut Pro and color graded using Magic Bullet Looks (an incredible plugin). All filming was done on a tripod, and I used a Zoom H4N for field audio.

Now also available on the Beyond the Lens Video Podcast!

Canon 1Ds Mk III, 4 min @f/16, ISO 100, 19mm (17-40mm f/4 L)

Having scouted this beach the day before, I was up at 4am to get to this spot before sunrise. Noticing there was probably not going to be much color given the clouds on the horizon, I decided to work with long exposures and the strong blue color of twilight. It took some time to work out a composition that was pleasing to me given all of the rocks along the shore. I am always looking for simplicity, and I struggled quite a bit to come to terms with the the patterns here. But I just couldn’t get away from the beautiful rhythm these rocks create and how the balance the sky so well moving from left to right. Telling a story is the point of it all, and I was in awe of how these rocks were formed over millions of years and how they are constantly shaped by the forces of the sea.

CREATIVE NOTES:

For this image, I used my 6 stop ND filter to cut down the light significantly and allow me to use a 4 minute exposure. This enhances the blue color as well as create a more surreal effect with the water and rocks – nothing new but I still love the effect! Using an ND filter this strong can be tricky since I can barely see what I’m looking at once it’s on, so I set up the composition and exposure beforehand, then put the filter on and calculate the new exposure based on reducing the light 6 stops. For example, at f/16 the exposure was 4 sec, but once I add the 6 stop filter, the exposure becomes 240 sec, or 4 mintes. Calculating exposures in the field is critical for this type of work, but the calculator in my iphone works great, and there are also iphone apps (Photo Buddy) that will calculate this as well.

So far I am in awe of this place, so much to experience and photograph, it is a paradise for nature lovers and photographers. I have been spending 14 hours plus in the field scouting, hiking, and trying yo get a feel for the area. It is beautiful and the scenery is very enjoyable, but it is hard work nonetheless. Here are a few images from the trip so far, as well as a video I posted on Facebook. More soon…

I’m on the road today to Cape Breton National Park, Nova Scotia for a week of hiking, cycling, and of course landscape photography. I’ve never visited this part of Canada, so I’m really excited about exploring the coastline and mountains in the region. I’m looking to add more images to my collection of seascapes, and will also be working on star trails and time lapse videos.

I’ll try to post updates and photos here on a regular basis, but it will depend on internet access in this rather remote part of Nova Scotia. I’ve driven 12 hours today, and I have another 5 tomorrow before I arrive at the cabin I’m “borrowing”. More to come soon including what gear I packed, and how I process and backup my RAW files remotely.

Unfortunately the August Desktop Wallpaper will be late due to the fact I just plain forgot with all the preparations and packing for this trip.  Sorry for the delay!

Farmland in Columbia County NY preserved by Scenic Hudson

I’ve been on the road quite a bit the last few weeks, and I’m off to the Adirondacks for six days starting tomorrow. When I return I’ll be preparing for a long drive to week in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia for a week, followed by a two week stay in northern Maine. Overall, I’m trying to take advantage of the summer months since I have a very busy art show and workshop schedule in the fall. The fact that my family gets to accompany me on some of these trips is something I am always grateful for.

While in town, I’ve  been working on many photo shoots for Scenic Hudson, as well as the 2011 calendar , the new edition of the Photo Journal, and other marketing projects. Let’s just say I  haven’t had much time for writing as of late, but I am motivated and committed to continue to provide valuable info for you as often as possible. A few of the articles I have in the works include how I stay motivated on and off the trails, a review of my current favorite backpacks, and how zen and nature photography make a powerful combination.

In the meantime, look for new images from the northern Adirondacks in the days ahead!

Hudson Highlands

Fall is probably my favorite season of the year, and I’m sure many others share this preference. In addition to the amazing colors, the air is crisp, the flying insects are all but gone, and I can finally have my morning coffee after 5am! There are lots of places to photograph the autumn foliage in the Hudson Valley, and I thought I would share a few of those here for anyone living in or visiting the Hudson Valley. This is not the definitive list, but just some ideas that can keep any photographer of nature lover busy for the season. Thanks to Thomas DiBuono for the motivation!

1) Palisades Interstate Park-  otherwise known as Harriman State park, a great location only 45 miles north of NYC with lots of variety and color variation. With numerous lakes, trails, creeks, and waterfalls, there is something here for everyone. Favorites include Silvermine Lake, Lake Tiorati, and if you don’t mind a very long but enjoyable hike, Island Pond. This area also tends to change color very late in the season, and I’ve often visited at the end of October or early November with good results.

2) Minnewaska State Park / Mohonk Preserve- another great area with lots of varying terrain, lakes, waterfalls, and the best hiking trails in the region. I especially love Lake Awosting, and the view from Castle Point is one of the best anywhere. You can find these location on the Minnewaska map, but they will require some hiking, so allow extra time. I usually prefer overcast or somewhat rainy days where you can shoot all day without worrying about harsh sunlight. The Peters Kill Trail is a must do hike, with streams and scenic lookouts of the whole region.

3) Little Stony Point- sitting right on the Hudson River with a beach and one of the best views of the dramatic mountains in this area, Little Stony Point is worth a visit in the fall. Both sunrise and sunset can work here, and it all depends on which side of the river has the best color. Try to plan your visit during low tide for more variety and space to move around on the beach. Find a small trail that leads onto the rocky summit in the middle of the park, and you’ll have a nice birds eye view of the river from south to north.

4) Nyack State Park- with a river side trail amongst high cliffs, this park is great during the sunrise as it located on the west side of the river. Good color variety and cliff faces add nice background texture and details. You can also hike up to the cliff tops for a magnificent view of the Hudson. Lots of easy hiking and with the right conditions, the hours will fly by. Hook Mountain State Park is also nearby and has plenty of photographic potential.

5) Black Creek Preserve- You can read all about this park on the Scenic Hudson website, but it is a “must visit” place for me every fall. It has a wonderful “forest” feel while being right on the edge of the Hudson. Varying terrain, small sand beaches, and nice hiking provide everything needed for a good photo shoot. Sunrise is definitely best combined with low tide.

6) Poets Walk Park- picturesque setting with views of the Hudson, Catskill mountains, and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Great, great place to visit anytime of year, and the fall is no exception. Whether alone or with the family, I highly recommend it.

7) Mills Norrie State Park- probably my favorite park in all of the Hudson Valley. Hudson River shoreline, great kayaking, views of the Esopus lighthouse, Catskill mountains, and mile of forested trails with a nice combination of deciduous and  evergreen trees, there is always color here regardless of the season. I usually park at the Staatsburg Mansion, and follow the trails south along the river – never disappointed.

I hope this provides some ideas for those who want to capture more of the valley this fall. Of course, there are many more locations I have not mentioned, as well as those I’m discovering myself. Any of the Scenic Hudson Parks will provide ample opportunities for great photography. My goal was to provide a starting point and expand this list in the future. The most important thing to remember is to just get out with a clear mind and enjoy any setting where nature always provides inspiration.

The secret is to become aware enough, the rest is easy.

Rock and Cloud

“Rock and Cloud” was captured from the summit of Conners Nubble, one of the smaller mountains in Acadia, but also one with fantastic views. Arriving at the top before sunrise took some effort, but thanks to the vast network of carriage trails in the park, I was able to bike part of the way. I drove  from my campsite to the edge of Eagle Lake, then rode my mtn bike for 7 miles to the start of the trail. From there, it was a short but very steep climb to the summit, and what I found exceeded my expectations from the previous day when I had scouted it in the harsh afternoon sunlight.

After waiting almost 10 days for good light in the morning, nature rewarded me with some incredible conditions. While I enjoy wide angles the most, I am always looking for designs within the landscape, and switching to a zoom lens allowed me to extract part of the scene and make a simpler and very different image, “Twilight Color”.

Twilight Color, Eagle Lake

The Bubbles

“The Bubbles” is an image that I struggled with in terms of leading the eye from foreground to background. It wasn’t until I printed it fairly large that it really gave me the feel I was after. While a computer screen is where we all view and make judgements about our images, making a print is the ultimate test and the best way in my opinion to experience a landscape photograph.