Photo Trek

Photo Trek: 07-24-2008, Pilot Mountain, Stokes County, NC

Prominent

It has been a while since my last trek, and I know that this is very unlike me.  I rarely go for this long doing so few treks.  I am really hoping that many more treks will be unfolding throughout the remainder of summer and into the fall.  Today I had planned to go to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but the gas prices got the best of me, and played a big part in keeping me close to home.  The destination of choice turned out to be Pilot Mountain which is only about 30 minutes North from my house.  While there is really not that much to Pilot Mountain, it does provide a great location to shoot interesting skies.  That was just what I intended to do on this trek.

The majority of my photographs from this park take place from the Little Pinnacle Overlook which is a short hike from the parking area.  From this overlook, you can see the famous knob of the mountain which was used for many years by the Saura Indians as a navigational landmark. As you can tell from the picture, the knob is easily recognizable, and the surrounding area is quite flat.  The overlook provides plenty of great views, but I was ready for something a little bit different on this trek.

As I am apt to do, I did some rock scrambling to get to a slightly different vantage point for several of my photographs.  From the rock outcroppings to the side of the overlook, I was able to get a few views that I had not been able to capture before.  While there was some amount of risk involved, I practiced my normal cautionary discretion as to where to put my feet.

The Lone Pine

The trek was fairly short only taking a few hours.  For the most part, I concentrated on this one subject, but did find time to stop by a pine tree that grows from the side of the mountain on a rock outcropping.  There has always been something special about this tree...I guess it is the way it grows so far apart from the other trees.  Maybe it is the angle of the trunk.  Whatever it is, I am fascinated by it.

Three new photographs have been added to the Four Forty-Six Photography Galleries, and can be found in the Landscapes Room.

 

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In the next couple of weeks, it will be time to do another installment of Tips and Tricks.  I always like to cover topics that are timely and will appeal to the largest audience possible.  I have come up with three possible topics that I could cover this month.  Whether you comment or not, could you please cast your vote and let me know what you would like to see covered here.

1.  This is a topic that was brought up by a reader here, and deals with using the LCD on your digital camera in bright sun.  I'll discuss some things that can be done to help you make use of your screen on those bright days.

2.  Here is another topic that was suggested by a reader looking into the purchase of a new camera.  This is the marketing term, Frames Per Second, or FPS.  I will share a bit about what it is, and whether or not it is of use to you as a marketing tool.

3.  Here is a topic that I have kind of come up with based on several inquiries in the past.  Here I will discuss the nomenclature of different SLR camera lenses, and what all those numbers and letter actually mean.  I will cover what the different lenses do well, and not so well.  This will not be a buying guide, but will hopefully make you a better, more informed shopper when going after that new glass.

4.  The last option is a write-in option.  I would like to get some more ideas for things that I can cover in the future, or possibly this month.  Whether its a basic question, or one more complex.  If I feel comfortable talking about it, the suggestion will be entertained.

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Here we are yet again, the middle of another month here at Photo Trek, and you know what that means...a new Photographer Spotlight.  It is this monthly feature where I introduce you to another photographer that can be found on the internet.  I have talked about amateurs, professionals, and just about everything in between.  It is my pleasure to introduce one of AOL's leading photographers, Vicki DeVico who is very active with the AOL Community Photo Challenge.

Black-Crowned Night Heron    Photo Copyright © Vicki DeVico

Vicki had the opportunity to grow up in the rural areas of Monmouth County, NJ, before much of the population increase in the area.  She recalls the woodlands around her home as being largely uncharted, still with a sense of discovery about them.  This was long before the marked hiking trails that came with the people over the past few decades.  Her time in these woods gave her an appreciation and respect for the wonders of nature.

Nature has not always been the main subject for Vicki's lens, in fact, she started out in much the same manner as many photographers out there.  She used her camera to document and record the events of her life.  She was always the kid with the camera while still in grade school who took pictures of both family and school outings.  This was purely for recording purposes, not for artistic value.  This was not to say that Vicki didn't have an artistic side...she just chose to channel it in other ways.  As a young Mother, she would paint pictures for her children, as well as creating holiday decor using craft materials, in addition to the photographs that she took.

While still using her point and shoot camera, she traveled to Las Vegas.  While this would be a wonderful vacation to pretty much everyone, it held a little bit more of ameaning to Vicki.  It was on this trip that her photographic side began to blossom.  She tried to capture the beauty of what she observed there...especially on a trip to the Valley of Fire State Park.  Unfortunately, the beauty of what she saw did not translate to the photographs that she brought back home afterwards.  She was actually very disappointed in the final results.

It was 2005, when her photographic journey "kicked into high gear".  She bit the bullet and purchased her first SLR camera...a Canon Rebel XT.  From this point on, things changed.  After a lifetime of taking snapshots, Vicki has returned to her roots and with camera in hand, she is exploring once again.  Her favorite places to photograph remain the back roads and parks of her native Monmouth County.  However, she is not restricted to just that area.  She states that her camera accompanies her on all of her travels, and there is just no limit to the subject matter she wants to capture with her camera.

Spiral   Photo Copyright © Vicki DeVico

Vicki is largely self taught in her craft, having only attended some Photoshop workshops, and a few classes in photography.  Unlike most photographers, Vicki actually knew Photoshop before she knew about the "skill" of photography.  In fact, she was in Las Vegas for a Photoshop World Conference (the first of 5 she attended) back in 2005.  After purchasing her Rebel XT, Vicki signed up for a one-hour individual class at one of the local camera stores.  She was introduced to the camera, and given some very valuable information in regards to shooting in manual mode, the use of aperture, shutter speed, and how to achieve certain effects in her photographs.  Despite her spinning head from all the information, Vicki worked on shooting totally in manual mode.  It was difficult and took a while for things to "click", butthey finally did, and she has been snapping the shutter ever since.

Building off of the initial class, Vicki signed up for a digital photography course at Brookdale Community College.  It was here Vicki picked up a few more tid bits of information, such as controlling depth of field, and how colors affect the image.  She was pleasantly surprised to learn that much of what was being taught, she had already exposed herself to in her own self directed education.  Of course, she will always continue to learn and improve as she picks up more and more information.

Currently, Vicki spends a lot of time exploring blogs and websites, and working with tutorials.  In the interview she said something that I have thought for a long time...helping others with photography is one of the most educational things that can be done.  By helping other photographers, she has become better able to understand how to improve her own photography.

Fishing Nets    Photo Copyright © Vicki DeVico

Vicki's favorite subject to photograph remains nature related, but she really enjoys shooting anything that presents itself.  After picking up her first SLR camera, she was seeing "photographs" everywhere.  She adds that while a good landscape is nice, she seems to feel more excited when she can zoom right in on something, or even a piece of something.  She is so passionate about getting up close and personal that she has developed a mantra of sorts..."fill the frame".  It is this very mantra that has led to some of her favorite photographs.

Vicki is lucky to be located close by to so many great places to photograph.  She is an hour from New York City and Philadelphia, and she shoots around the New Jersey shore regularly.  Also close, is the Delaware River which is full of photographic opportunities.  There are many nature preserves, as well as County and State Parks.  She mentions Sandy Hook which is part of the National Park System and happens to be home to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse.  As ifall of this wasn't enough, there are many arboretums as well.

Vicki has been influenced by Michael Kenna who's photographs moved her the first time she saw them.  While he uses "film and cameras [she's] never even touched the likes of, his work is inspiring."  It is the straight simplicity of his work that draws her in...speaks to her as a matter of fact.  The first time she saw one of Kenna's books she told the professor that she wanted to shoot this kind of photograph.  While she says she may never achieve that level in her own photography, she uses that benchmark as a personal goal, and strives to achieve it.

She also mentions Clyde Butcher as another photographic influence.  She loves his work, and would love to be able to attend one of his workshops.  In addition to Butcher's workshops, there are several others out West and a few in Maine that she would like to attend.  She is always up for new experiences.

Swift River Bridge   Photo Copyright © Vicki DeVico

As photographers, we all have our own personal hurdles to overcome.  One of Vicki's hardest lessons to learn was that she had to show her work.  She has had a website for some time now, and has done some photo sharing through AOL and other other online sites.  Her photographs can be viewed at Visions by Vicki, as well as her photo journal by the same name.  She has also begun entering her photography in local juried art shows by the Belmar Arts Council.  She has been accepted at all three that she has entered.  In her last show, which is still running, she found herself winning an award for Best In Category.

In addition, her images have been found hanging on the walls of various Brookdale shows, Monmouth Camera Club shows, and have also been on exhibit in the Twisted Tree Cafe' in Asbury Park, NJ. 

With all of this growth as a photographer, Vicki remains grounded and would like to share a very important lesson that she has learned.  Quite simply, her advice is to "have fun".  Photography is her therapy, exercise, and her sanity.  Above all else, her time with and behind the camera is FUN.

Written by Greg A. Kiser

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Bales in the Brush

After my last Trek to the Blue Ridge Parkway, I had so many new images for the gallery that I had to pick and choose which ones made it to Four Forty-Six Photography.  There are always pictures that don't make it any further than my physical portfolio, and therefore have a very very limited audience.  Bales in the Brush is an example of one of those pictures, up until now.  I have been looking at it for some time and have decided that while it is similar in composition to a photograph that was already chosen to go into the gallery that it had enough merit to warrant a place on display.

This photograph has been added to the Blue Ridge Parkway Room for all to see now.  This brings my totals up to 10 new photographs from this last Trek...not too shabby for a Trek that had no course plotted beforehand.

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Photo Trek: 07-05-2008, The Blue Ridge Parkway

Sun Bleached Bales

It has been way too long since I have been out in the field with my camera.  I have had too many other things on my mind to really be able to focus on photography lately.  However, the time came that I needed to go and become one with my surroundings and put all the other clutter out of my head for a while.  I just needed to decide where to go and what to shoot.  My muse had pretty much deserted me so I didn't have a real strong desire to photograph anything in particular.  The weather has been strange lately to say the least, so I wasn't real sure what any day held for me.  I figured that my best chance to get some inspiration would be the Blue Ridge Parkway.

As my more faithful members will recall, it is this 469 mile stretch of road that played a large part in my becoming a photographer.  There is so much beauty along the Appalachian Mountains, and I felt confident that regardless of the weather I could find something to excite me.  I must say, I was not disappointed at all in what I found along the Parkway on this Trek.

My first stop was an overlook that I have not really paid much attention to since my first Trek to the Parkway in 2005 right after I purchased my Sony DSC F828.  It was March and the fields had just been worked with the hay bales all lined up in a row.  The bales were not nearly as nicely arranged this time, actually they had been left in a corner of the field for a little over a year now.  While not what I would have hoped for, their presence was a great addition to the scene.  The sky was the problem here...with a heavy overcast causing most of the scene to remain in the shadows, I had a difficult time getting the sky and the ground to expose correctly in the same frame.  Hmmmm, what to do, what to do??  Well, I pulled out my handy dandy split ND filters that I covered in my latest Tips and Tricks and attached the soft edge 3-stop filter which allowed me to bring the exposure closer to what I was looking at.

How the Mighty Have Fallen

After working my field with the hay as much as I could, I moved on heading South along the Parkway.  My intention was to make use of the great cloud cover and visit Linville Falls....the upper falls to be specific.  However, the Parkway was closed around US321 and I didn't feel like trying to navigate my way around in an attempt to find an open portion of the Parkway, so I headed back North.  As I traveled along, I almost missed this fallen tree in another field along the Parkway.  It was as if a little voice in my head told me to look over to the side...when I did, I saw a very large tree laying on its side.  There was nothing entirely special about it, but it was eye catching nonetheless.  I pulled off the road and started looking at the tree from different positions.

What I discovered was that it was not the tree in the field that I was looking at, it was just the tree.  With that knowledge, I was able to start to form some compositional choices.  The focal point of what I saw was the twisted trunk where the tree had been ripped from its base.  The strong limbs radiated out from this central point, actually leading the eye directly back to the trunk.  This was my composition, and it turned out quite successful if I do say so myself.

 

Shrouded in Greenery

With waterfalls on my mind, I decided to head up to the Cascades which is located in EB Jeffress Park just North of the intersection with US421.  While this has not been one of my favorite falls over the years, it does provide a nice hike, and some interesting angles to deal with as it is right on the side of a mountain.  I was able to get creative with this waterfall for the first time.  I actually worked from the upper observation platform which I had not done before.  While this was risky with the slick rocks and the slope, I found a nice level place that I could plant my feet for a while.  From this vantage point, I was able to get the beginning of the waterfall as I have never been able to before.  After climbing back over the wall, I headed back down to the lower observation platform to find that the railings that prevented off-trail access had been put back up.

The last two visits to this waterfall have found the railings down, and a makeshift path in place leading to a lower vantage point.  However, after some recent deaths around waterfalls, the railings have been put back up.  Not wanting to venture too far where I shouldn't be, I decided to respect this boundary and work from the actual overlook this time as opposed to going lower.  Thanks to my Manfrotto tripod, I was able to extend the camera far over the side of the rock wall and using my live view feature compose and take the shot.  The results of that have been posted above.

With a steady rain now upon me, I decided it was time to head back to the truck and find my next location in hopes that the rain would subside.  It took a couple of hours, but the rain did slack off enough to enable me to get back out again.  The subject of this part of the Trek was another location where I had been several times before.  Near Daughton Park there is an old farm with a barn and silo.  It is nearly completely caved in, but still stands proud against the wood line behind.

Abandoned Farm

You might recognize this scene from previous pictures I have taken.  There is one big difference from this time though.  You can see in the left half of the frame a rusted shell of a truck.  I have never seen this before, nor have I had the ability to zoom in close enough to really make it part of the composition.  As it turned out, I happened be standing in a place that allowed me to include the truck in the composition.  I can only imagine how much longer this barn will be standing.  At least it has been around long enough for me to photograph it a few times.

With the weather deteriorating, I decided to call it a day and head back home.  With a few more than 50 photographs captured, I am happy to have added nine new pictures to the galleries of Four Forty-Six Photography.  You can find the new photos spread out in the Blue Ridge Parkway Room, the Landscapes Room, the Rustic Room, and the Waterfalls Room.

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Welcome back for another installment of Tips and Tricks, a Photo Trek exclusive where I discuss a photography related topic.  Each month I try to pick out a topic that has recently come up in my email communications.  Over the years I have tackled topics as broad as what makes a good picture, and as detailed as how to effectively use a remote shutter release.  I strive to teach with every entry and share some of what I have learned in my short tenure as a photographer.  This month we will be dealing with a question that was brought up some time ago and deals with the use of an often misunderstood, or even forgotten filter.  I am speaking of a split ND filter, or otherwise knows as a graduated neutral density filter.

I have discussed this filter briefly in a previous Tips and Tricks, but have not really given it its fair shake.  Much like the polarizing filter, the split ND filter is invaluable in landscape photography and is one of the must haves in my book.  It is the use of this filter that allows the photographer to keep a nice and even exposure between the ground and the sky.  I'm sure that we all have taken what we thought was going to be a great picture, but it turned out that the sky was featureless, or the ground was so dark we couldn't make out any features.  There are also times that neither the sky nor the ground are exposed correctly and the picture turns out to be a complete flop.  Through the use of a graduated ND filter, this problem can be rectified to a large extent.

So, what exactly is a graduated ND filter?  Quite simply, it is a filter that has a clear half, and a tinted half that adds density without color to your image.  The tinted half is much like a regular neutral density filter in that it reduces the amount of light that is able to pass by without adding any color to the recorded image.  It is the clear half that provides the key to this filter.  By placing the clear half over the ground, and the dark half over the sky, you are reducing the difference in exposure between the two elements.  The filters come in different strengths for different applications with the most popular being a 2-stop filter which reduces the light by a full 2 stops where the dark half is.  Below you will see an example of how this works.

This is an unedited photograph straight from the camera which was exposed for the ground.  You will notice that the sky is completely blown out in the upper left, and the mountains in the distance are a bit overexposed as well.

This is the same composition, with the same camera settings taken mere seconds later after the addition of a 2-stop soft edge gradual ND filter.  You will notice that the ground is largely unchanged, but the distant mountains as well as the sky are all much more accurately exposed.  This is the better photograph.

While this effect can be duplicated in Photoshop or other similar image editor, it takes time. Also, if the original photograph is badly blown out as in my first example, you won't have the needed information for the software to recreate the detail.  You can bracket your exposure and merge several frames into one later during post processing, but do you really want to spend that kind of time in front of the computer when you can use a simple filter and get it right in the field?

There are two main types of split ND filters, the screw on, and the slot-in filter.  Both have their positives and their negatives.  The more common is the screw on type and I have mentioned these filters many times in previous tutorials.  The benefit here is simplicity.  When you need the filter, you take it out of the case and screw it on the front of the lens.  This is a two piece filter that works a lot like a polarizer with one ring that screws onto the filter mounting threads on the lens, and another ring that houses the actual filter.  With this design, you can rotate the filter to keep the dark section where you want it (usually the sky).

As you can see from the bottom right, the filter is divided in half with a gradual transition between clear and tinted.  This represents a huge compromise you have to make in composition.  As you will recall, it is usually not a good idea to place the horizon in the dead center of the frame, but with this filter, you are limited to just that type of composition.  This is a huge drawback to this type of filter, but I was able to make one work for a couple of years, so it is not insurmountable by any means.

There has to be a better option than having the dividing line smack dab in the middle...right?  Well, there is, but it requires a bit more effort, as well as expense.  This is the slot-in filter.  Basically, this is a sheet of glass, resin, or plastic that is treated with the tint on one half and left clear on the other half.  The dividing line can either be gradual, or a hard edge.  Yes, I know, the dividing line is still in the middle.  How is that going to help my composition?  Well, remember this is just a sheet, not a screw on filter.  There is a holder which mounts to the lens of the camera which holds the filter sheet.

Here you can see the whole contraption attached the end of my 17-40mm f/4L lens.  It is most definitely more cumbersome than the screw on filter, but so much more flexible when it comes to compositions.  What this starts with is the basic filter mount, which in this case is provided by Lee Filter Systems.

You can see the slots where the filters slide into the holder.  They are held in place by friction and are quite secure.  The basic filter holder is equipped to hold three slot filters and one screw on filter.  You can modify this by removing slots, or adding more.  There is a primary ring that is screwed onto the lens as a screw on filter would.  The holder is then clamped onto this ring in a way that allows it to be rotated independent of the mounting ring itself.  The rings are purchased separately and can be had for a multitude of different filter diameters.  They all step up to the same size for the filter holder.  This allows you to keep one size holder, and one size filter for all of your lenses...you just need to invest in the different adaptor rings.

The brass pull is the release that allows you to remove the entire filter holder with filters attached.  This leaves the mounting ring which has threads for a screw on filter if that is what you need for the current shot.  Also visible in this shot is the length to which the slots protrude beyond the lens.  This can potentially cause vignetting (dark corners) with extreme wide angle lenses.  If you have a problem with vignetting, it is simple to remove the last slot from the housing without any ill effects.  I have only seen a problem with my 10-24mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, and only at the widest setting.

With the filters inserted into the housing, you can now control where the division line is in relation to your composition.  Since they are held in by friction, you have total control over where the filter is placed, and since the housing rotates, you can alter the effect from the standard horizontal as well.

 

There are quite a few filter systems out there to choose from.  Cokin is probably the most popular with their Z-Pro and X-Pro line.  The sell the holders as well as the filters.  It is my opinion that the Cokin holder is not of the same quality as the Lee holder, and there have been many negative reviews on the Cokin system when it comes to vignetting on the wide angle lenses.  The Lee holder seemed to do the best in this regard, and offered much more flexibility over the Cokin.  The filters themselves are another area where it pays to do your research.  Cokin uses resin filters which might not be optically perfect (up for debate).  Lee uses glass filters and are generally regarded as very good filters.  However, for my money, Singh-Ray makes the best filters around, and they are custom made per your order.

I am using Singh-Ray Split ND filters and could not be happier.  Lower quality filters have a tendency to introduce a slight color cast to the scene...the Singh-Ray filters do not.  They are available in different strengths, as well as hard or soft edge.  I have found that most situations can be covered with either a 2-stop or 3-stop filter.  For further flexibility, I use both the hard and soft edged versions.  The hard edge is good for anything with a straight horizon like the ocean, while the soft edge is better for horizons with varying terrain like a cityscape, or mountains.  Because of the filter diameter on my lenses (up to 77mm) I was forced to get a large sized slot in filter set.  I have found the 4x6in filters work great with the Lee holder.  The extra length allows me to place the dividing line of the filter anywhere within the frame of the picture, for ultimate control over composition.

 

The actual use of these filters is pretty straightforward once you have them fitted to the lens.  Your first step is to compose the picture in your viewfinder the way you would like it to look.  Check the difference in exposure with your internal light meter to see how much you would like to reduce the exposure of the sky.  After you know this information, you will be able to select the strength of the filter that is needed.  You will then rotate (and slide your slot in filter) to place the dividing line on your horizon.  You will need to pay particular attention to whether you need a hard or soft edge if you have a choice.  Once you are satisfied with the placement of the filter, you will take your meter reading as you would normally.  Your exposure should be much more even between the ground and the sky.

The split ND filter is not just used for evening out the exposure, it can also be used creatively to really saturate the sky during a sunrise or sunset by underexposing without penalizing the ground exposure.  Two different split filters can be used at once as well to amplify the effect or apply it differently across the scene.  Regardless of how you choose to use this filter, keep in mind it takes a bit of getting used to before you become proficient with it.  However, it is very much worth getting familiar with because it can really play a large part in the success of your landscape images.

Written by: Greg A. Kiser

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It is about the close of another month, and that means it is time for another spotlight on one of my own photographs.  If you have been keeping track of Photo Trek this month, you have undoubtedly noticed that I have not been on any Treks lately.  That means there are no new pictures to choose from for this feature, so I will go back to my Alaska Trek from May and select another one of those pictures to highlight.

Mount Redoubt

Often in photography, it is the dichotomy of a scene that really draws a viewer into the image.  The visual interest and tension that is provided from this one compositional technique forces the viewer to really "look" into the photograph, as opposed to just simply looking "at" it.  It is this element of dichotomy that really drew my eyes to this particular scene which was found on the road trip to Homer, AK, from our base in Seward, AK.

Mount Redoubt was photographed from a pretty standard overlook along the highway.  There was no hiking involved to get to this viewpoint.  In fact, there was a very nice gravel turnout on the side of the road where many cars stop on a regular basis.  The view is very broad, and takes in five different active volcanoes in this section of South Central Alaska.  However, it was not so much the distant volcanoes that caught my eye, it was the appearance of the landscape right at the overlook that excited me.  At this point in May, winter had just ended and the vegetation had not quite returned to a green and living state.  There was more brown tones in the landscape than green.

So, why did the still dormant landscape captured my imagination?   Simple...it provided a wonderful complementing element to the blue sky, and the trademark blue/green of the Alaskan waters.  The trick was to make everything work together to form a cohesive composition.  The overlook itself was typical of an overlook in that it was situated in a clearing.  A straight on shot would just provide water, volcano, and sky.  This was not what I wanted.  However, on both sides of the overlook there were plateaus which showcased the warm earth tones I needed so bad.  I found the perfect location to set up on the far left of the overlook.  There were actually several different composition that worked here.

Lens choice was a big issue with the scene in front of me.  Too wide of a focal length would shrink the volcano in the distant background, and too long of one would not allow me to capture the warm foreground that I so desperately wanted in the photograph.  With all of that in mind, I pulled out my 24-70mm f/2.8L which I thought would give me the perfect range of options for how I wanted to capture the scene.  As I framed some different compositions, I could tell that my choice was right on the money.  Everything appeared like I wanted.  The only thing left to do was to find the right compositions and let the shutter go.

The time of day was not the best for photography with the sun pretty high in the sky.  It was not the ideal time for the use of a polarizer, but I wanted to remove the surface reflections from the water to really amplify the blue/green color.  As it turned out, the sky also benefited a little bit from this filter as well.  I really like the way that the colors turned out in this photograph.  There is a very good balance in colors, tones, and depth.

Back to dichotomy as a compositional technique.  It actually plays out in several ways in this picture.  The first and most obvious is the fact that Mt Redoubt in the distance is covered in snow, while the foreground landscape has all melted, and there are signs that life will be returning soon.  Dichotomy also plays out in the distances used.  There is detail to be viewed both near and far which makes the eyes travel through the photograph, and back again.  There is even detail in the distant sky with the single line of clouds.  The best use of dichotomy in this image is likely the use of color temperature.  There are extreme cool temperatures with the blues and warmer temperatures with the browns and greens.  This dichotomy illustrates the transition in seasons, and gives the viewer a visual clue to the mood of the image.

So what is the mood of the image?  How do I view it?  Well, this is more a visual piece than one where I am really trying to tell a story.  Sometimes the beauty of a scene is the story.  Every time I look at this picture, I feel relaxed...almost immediately.  There is a harmony to this picture where everything works together as one.  There is no uncertainty here, nothing left to the imagination.  It is what it is.  It is a picture that I can look at for hours, minutes, or seconds, and I still get the same feeling the next time I look at it.  That is the beauty of this image...it is always fresh.

You can view Mount Redoubt and the other Alaska photographs in my Travel Room.  Remember, if you would like to learn more about one of my pictures just send me an email.

Written by Greg A. Kiser

radar446 at 2:02:11 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 11 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

Vicki of Visions by Vicki has written an interesting article with some very good links dealing with photo competitions.  Sure, we all enjoy the possibility of winning in these competitions, but it seems that more and more those that are judging have very little clue of what it is they are looking for.  I ran into that very thing last year at the Dixie Classic Fair which you might recall I have entered for three years straight.  Last year was a terrible experience for me and convinced me not to participate in a contest like this ever again.  it just isn't worth it at all.

When I got home after viewing the exhibits I felt I needed to sit down and write a letter to the mayor, the fair director, and the exhibit coordinator.  This was last October...I have still not heard anything back from any of them.  Apparently they just don't care, and I suspect that this is the case more often than not.

Here is the letter to share some of my observations of one of the largest fairs in the Southeast.

Dear Mr. Sparks,

 

I am writing in reference to the 2007 Dixie Classic Fair, in particular, the judging of the exhibits.  Along with my wife, I have had the opportunity to visit the fair yearly for the past three years to view the exhibits.  This has always been a very fun experience for us.  I have also taken part in these exhibits in the photography categories and have had a great time being a part of this NC tradition.  However, this year has been quite different, and has left both of us very confused and disgusted.

 

What we saw in the judging has both of us very concerned, as it appears that the awards were handed out with the care and thought of a shotgun blast.  I know that judging is a subjective thing, and not everyone will agree on what is the best of the best.  Taking opinion out of the issue, there were still some glaring inequities in the judging based on the rules.  There were two separate occasions that I recall seeing a Judge’s Choice award given to the recipient of an honorable mention ribbon.  It is my understanding that the Judge’s Choice should be given to a first place entry.  In another area, the Judge’s Choice ribbon was awarded to an identification sign and was not attached to any of the entries.  It was impossible to tell who won that award.  One additional example was in the professional cake decorating category where a box top won first place.  Where the icing had started to separate near the corners, you could see the unmistakable glossy white of a gift box top.  While the decorating was very nice, I think it is unfair to award a first place ribbon to an entry that wasn’t even a cake.

 

There are areas where I feel that there might be some issues with the judge’s opinions as well.  For instance, in the amateur photography category, Favorite NC Scene, the first and second place winner’s entries had nothing to do with North Carolina.  One picture was of a girl holding a gourd of some sort, and the other was a painting of a shoreline in the woods.  Either of these could represent any area in the US, and showed nothing of NC.  There were other entries that were just as good or better that showed specific NC scenes that I feel should have been given consideration over the winners.  I also had the opportunity to view the models that the kids had submitted.  There was one A-10 that I thought was marvelous that had won nothing at all.  Having built models years ago, I know the talent and skill it takes to build to this quality, so I was surprised to see no award or recognition for this piece.  There were many drawings and paintings that held to this same pattern.  The more I looked the more disgusted I became at who won and who didn’t.

 

One particular drawing in particular stands out in my mind.  It was a composite of several different pictures that were all joined together to make a larger picture.  The amount of talent involved to previsualize this and execute it is immeasurable.  To me it was the best in its category, but yet didn’t even receive an honorable mention.

 

Again, I know that judging is subjective, and I don’t know what the judges were looking for, but it really seems that they mostly missed the mark this year.  This is not to say that there weren’t some deserving winners.  There were two paintings that I thought were wonderful and they had won Judge’s Choice in fine arts…along with the required blue ribbon I might add.  What can I say, I own several broken watches, and even they are right twice a day.

 

I wish I could be pleased at being awarded a ribbon in the professional black & white photography category, but after seeing the travesty that was the judging this year, that ribbon holds no importance to me.  In fact, I have no way of knowing if I actually deserve the ribbon or not.  Maybe the ribbon just happened to land on my picture by accident.  In all good conscience, I can not accept the third place award that has been awarded to me, and would like for the ribbon and prize money to go to the photograph that is next in line behind mine.

 

I know that judging is not an easy task by any stretch, but I feel that this year they took their duties entirely too lightly.  I know that this letter will not change anything, but I really felt I owed it to all those who contributed to the exhibits to voice my opinions.  The only thing I can do beyond this is to say that there will be two less people involved in the 2008 Dixie Classic Fair.

 

I have discussed only a few examples that I have seen this year, but there are quite a few others.  If you care to speak to me about this any further, you are welcome to contact me either at home (336)xxx-xxxx, or on my cell (336)681-0220.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Greg A. Kiser

 

radar446 at 11:57:57 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 9 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

It is not news that the economy is really taking a hit currently.  This is affecting everyone to varying degrees.  I have been thinking about the prices that I have listed for my photographs in the Gallery Store for quite some time now.  The prices I set are are a fine balance and it can be difficult to come up with the right formula at times.  I understand that the economy is suffering and that there is not much in the way of extra spending money to be found in most households.  Realizing that, I see a need to drop my prices a bit to ease the financial burden of purchasing my prints.  However, I also know that it is costing me quite a bit more to produce the images than it did before.  Gas is obviously more expensive now than when I started in 2005.  My equipment investment has gone up tremendously over the years, as well as the upkeep.  An ink tank for my printer (a single color) runs about $70.00....and there are 12 tanks in the printer.

With all of that running through my brain, I have come up with a new price plan that will hopefully strike a compromise on these issues.  The non-gallery prints will remain the same as I have had continued successes with those sizes.  It is the gallery prints that have been reduced a bit.  Take a minute to check out the new prices, hopefully I am doing this as you are contemplating one of my gallery prints.

 

radar446 at 11:34:11 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 3 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

As luck would have it, I managed to catch a very talented photographer on his way out the door in just enough time to interview him for this monthly feature known as the Photographer Spotlight.  For those of you who are new to Photo Trek, this is a feature that I do around the middle of the month where I introduce another photographer.  I have shown the spotlight on photographers from amateur to professional which photograph a very wide range of subjects.  Without further delay, I would like to introduce to you Bob Howen whom I have just known about for a few days, but have been very impressed with, both as an artisan, and as a plain old nice person.

Schwanberger Landing    Photograph Copyright © Bob Howen

As you can tell from the lead photograph, Bob enjoys photographing the landscape, but there is so much more to him than that.  He is an Illinois native who attended Florida State University, in Tallahassee where he achieved a Business Management Degree.  He also holds an MBA in Quantitative Analysis from the University of Rochester in New York.  As if that is not impressive enough, Bob retired from the US Air Force as a Lt. Colonel, and has become the General Manager of Frost Enterprises.  In this capacity he manages real estate, oil and gas ventures, and a list of other duties.  Bob and his partner Joe Frost established Pro Video Productions in 1995 to produce travel videos for RV enthusiasts.  Since beginning that venture, Bob has received five national "Telly Awards" and has produced videos for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  There have been other commercials done for non profit organizations as well.  Oh yeah....and he has worn another hat that sports fans might recognize.  Bob has been a member of the San Antonio Spurs Statistics Crew where he has worn the hat of Chief Statistician since 1976.

Just hearing all that Bob has been involved with over his life boggles my mind, and I just can't see where there is time for photography.  However, photography and travel have been lifelong loves of Bob, and he has always managed to have time for both.  His newest venture deals with both of those loves simultaneously, and that is Bob Howen Photography.  Here he is able to combine two things that mean so much to him and that he is passionate about.  So how did this love for photography get started?

As is the case with most photographers I've written about, Bob has always had an interest in photography.  He tells me that he has been taking pictures since the early '60's, when he was using his first Yashica Camera.  He recalls having fun with that camera, but never really getting serious about photography until 1980.  This was the year that Bob retired from the USAF and along with his wife he started traveling for pleasure instead of work.

Riverwalk at Night   Photography Copyright © Bob Howen

The true focus on photography, as well as video production came in the late '80's with the birth of his first Granddaughter.  He purchased a video camera and started shooting some video and working on his basic editing skills.  One thing led to another, and before long he was producing fund raising and promotional videos in San Antonio.  This led to contacts which opened the doors for other productions.  He did several travel and recreation videos for the Rails to Trails Conservancy in Washington, DC, as well as the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

As long as Bob and his wife Judy were focusing on producing videos, they decided that they might as well travel to do it.  They purchased a motorhome and began to produce videos for those that enjoy the RV lifestyle (I'll probably see one of these eventually).  In their motorhome they sure did travel...going to California, the Rockies, Alaska, and even Western Canada.  In all of these destinations, Bob found it very difficult not to get excited about photography.

In all of his travels, Bob has decided that his favorite subjects to photograph are nature related...which is where he enjoys spending his time.  More specifically, it is the mountains that capture his imagination, and his heart.  If given the opportunity, that is where he would like to be.  From a photographic standpoint, old missions are a favorite study for Bob (one can be found on the opening page of his gallery).  There are five of them near his home in San Antonio, TX which he enjoys photographing.  He has been to almost all 21 missions in California, as well as most of the others in New Mexico, and Arizona.  It is the textures, patterns, and the way the light hits that can keep him engrossed for hours.  Of course, the historical perspective and architecture of these structures make them an exciting subject all on their own.

Gold Digger   Photograph Copyright © Bob Howen

As you look at Bob's photos, you will likely be thinking that he has been to all sorts of schools to learn his craft.  In actuality though, his only formal training has been at the George Lepp Institute.  While only there for a week, he brought back so much from George and attributes him with much of his own current skills.  He left the institute with a "real passion for improving my photography and a much better understanding of how to make that happen."

One of the biggest single concepts that Bob learned while under George's tutelage was the concept of isolation.  While George was very complimentary of Bob's current portfolio, it was this one thing that George wanted Bob to concentrate on when he was framing the picture.  Bob learned how to make his images simple which made the subject really stand out.  it took a while, but eventually during the week, Bob captured Gold Digger (above) and George said "Well, you finally got it."

Bob attributes the use of a tripod to being able to achieve this isolation.  "It slows you down and helps you isolate your subject."  That is the nice thing about a tripod, you can really focus on what is in the viewfinder and make very small adjustments as you need to.

In addition to George Lepp, Bob has also attended  a couple of short workshops.  One of these workshops took him to the Big Sur in California, and the other was to San Francisco.  The latter was a workshop on HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography which is an area that digital excels over film, and can yield some incredible images.

Bob chooses to shoot with Nikon equipment these days.  He started with a Cool Pix 990, and has seen time behind the D1X, D100, D2X, and D200.  Currently he is using the brand new D300 along with a full bag of Nikon lenses.  His favorites are the 18-200mm and his 12-24mm wide angle.

Tracks   Photography Copyright © Bob Howen

You can view Bob's photographs online at www.bobhowenphotography.com. This is more of a portfolio than a sales site.  It is there for your viewing pleasure, but if you would like to purchase something from him, I am sure a quick email would get you started on that track.  If you are ever in San Antonio, he has a permanent exhibition of 72 images on display at the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.  This can be found on the San Antonio Riverwalk.  The images that will be found there are primarily 30x40 giclee prints on canvas.  Bob is also represented by Art Incorporated and they have samples of his images in their gallery.

While Bob still finds it a little hard to believe that he is a "professional photographer), he has been very fortunate to have found his niche.  Most of his sales consist of San Antonio images which are being purchased by San Antonio law firms, accounting firms, and large corporations.  The popular sizes are 30x40, up to 40x60 canvas prints.

As a photographer, Bob belongs to two different groups of photographers.  He is a member of the National Association of Nature Photographers (NANPA).  Closer to home, his is a member of the Texas Photographic Society.  It is here that he is able to share ideas with like minded photographers and improve on his own talents.

When it comes to photographic influences, Bob is quick to pull out George Lepp's name, which you will recall has been a pretty big part in Bob's photographic development.  He also attributes Dewitt Jones for giving him an "understanding and appreciation for the emotional and psychological factors that make photography such a challenging and satisfying pursuit."

Influences don't always have to come from far away.  Often, some of the best influences come from close by.  D. Clarke Evans is a professional photographer for the San Antonio Spurs and has been very helpful with technical advice as well as with encouragement in Bob's endeavors.  Another source of advice and inspiration is Randy Gay who actually does the printing for Bob.  Randy fills the role of a sounding board for Bob, providing feedback, both positive and negative on his pictures.  Bob really trusts Randy (who is also a photographer), and counts on him to give him an honest assessment of how Bob is doing behind the camera.

Bob has simple goals for his photography.  His short term objective is for his craft to take him to the mountains.  There aren't really that many long term goals that he has thought about.  He h