It’s really fun having images used for various purposes. This was one of those moments where you’re thankful you keep the camera with you at all times. Heading out to a morning meeting, I came to an intersection only to see this scene blasted out in front of me. Stop everything and grab the camera. I’m glad the image inspired Ruth Grahman enough to use it on the cover of her latest book Fear Not Tomorrow. You never know where a bright sunrise will lead.
It’s that time again–time for “Festival of the Masters” at Downtown Disney. The event will be held 9:30 – 5 each day, November 13, 14, & 15 throughout the sidewalks of Downtown Disney. I will be in space 417 across the fountain from the AMC Theatre and next to the entrance of Planet Hollywood. Come on out and enjoy some great art Disney style. See ya real soon!
Headed out this morning before going to the airport for one last splash of fall color. Believe it or not we found the most unbelievable autumn leaves in a city cemetery. Respectfully, we captured the last blasts of color, stopped at Blake’s (a local diner joint) for breakfast, and headed for the airport.
>Photo Info: Nikon D700, 70-200 VR lens, no color adjustments added, image is as captured.
With the fall photo week winding down, we headed west from Maine back to New Hampshire. With a list of towns to visit, we searched high and low for interesting images. The trick was to remove the ordinary every day elements and bring the simplicity of autumn colors to the surface – not an easy task.
This granite wall was found just out behind the headquarters for The Old Farmers Almanac. Interesting what you stumble across when you least expect it.
The spectrum of falls colors can be seen completely from atop Cadillac Mountain. Nothing today compared to this incredible view!
We made it all the way out to Sandy Stream Pond in Baxter State Park before sunrise this morning. Mt. Katahin was dusted throughout the night with a light snow. That combined with a clear crisp sunrise made for an unbelievable scene on the pond. The wind was out of the northwest and cold with a wind chill at 14 degrees. We held out for 2 and a half hours and got to watch a moose cow go about her business all the way around the pond.
After thawing out on the car ride south, we arrived in Acadia National Park this afternoon. We got settled in and had the famous pop-overs at the Jordon Pond House. This along with split pea and butternut squash soup helped recharge my batteries. We drove across the island to capture the setting sun at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. A full day in Maine, from fresh to salt water, sunrise to sunset.
Today brought rain, but mainly snow at our higher elevation in Baxter State Park. The winds died down from yesterday and believe it or not, it was warmer today in the persistent snow.
The moisture added almost as much drama as this moose cow paying a visit (within 10 feet) to our viewing perch.
The overcast skies helped bring down the harsh sunlit contrast from yesterday, and the moisture clinging to leaves added an interesting spice to the images.
You have to hand it to the sturdy hardwoods of the north, they definitely know how to finish off each season — with color. And I do mean color a blazing spectrum of color. Enjoy the leaves…
…leaves (and a moose)…
more leaves…
more leaves and Mt. Katakin!
With an amazing sunset the night before and a front gate that was suppose to be locked until sunrise, my expectations for a great sunrise shot were limited. Well the sunrise photo gods were smiling down from above. Driving to the Portland Headlight the sky was lightening up with a thin band of clouds soaking up all the color. As you guessed, the gate WAS OPEN!! This shot was actually a series of vertical images stitched together to create one large panoramic. The sun was not up yet, but only a couple minutes away.
Driving around Maine is very hard. Well actually, continuing in one direction without stopping for a photo is very difficult, especially this time of year. This image was captured after a very quick vehicle stop.
After arriving in New Hampshire in mid afternoon, I wasn’t sure if I’d have a chance for any good shots over in Maine. Luckily Nubble had a welcoming party of great warm sunset light prepared for the visit. Perched on a small island off the coast of York, Maine this lighthouse is one of the iconic symbols of the state. This shot was taken on my belly with a small puddle of ocean spray directly in front of the camera. The light dropped off fast after this shot and the temps went with it. Thanks for the warm welcome Nubble, Maine.
It’s not everyday you can watch your photos drive right past you. So the other day when I got to see the final results of a project for one of my clients, I was quite pleased. Over fourteen feet in length and capable of speeds of over 70 mph, this is one big, fast, moving exhibit. It’s definitely drawing attention and getting noticed. That was the plan! Rumor has it that staff fight to take turns driving this mobile billboard. 
Now until October 19, 2009, stop by the Ocala Civic Theatre to view my new collection “America Aglow” featuring infrared panoramic images from around our great country. Some of the most recent additions include images from Seattle, Glacier National Park, Redwood National Forest, and Yosemite National Park. All images are available for purchase, and additional sizes, as well as canvas prints are also available.
What do you do when you’re out west and have to drive near the Grand Canyon on your way home? Well of course, you have to stop by, even if you’ve been there before. This was our first “big west trip” destination in June of 2005. We got to spend a week at the G.C. and do loads of exploring. When we drove up this time smoke was visible from both rims. Controlled fires create uncontrollable smoke – not so good for photos right, maybe not so.
The first night we went to the rim for sunset and the haze was thin but noticeable. This forced me to look for detail shots more close up, rather than big expansive shots. I was shooting these layers of rocks when low and behold two people walked out of the ledge for a photo. I couldn’t have placed them better, if I had paid them. This photo makes me wonder how many people actually fall while goofing around for a photo.
The next morning smoke settled low into the canyon, but with the nice side light from sunrise it helped show the huge depth of field between plateaus. So, I guess, the lesson is that smoke can be good. It’s all in how you look at it!
We spent the day, like many tourists, in Vegas by taking a drive out to the amazing Hoover Dam. It’s everything it’s said to be and more and well worth the visit. And if you’re lucky enough to get the same cashier at the gift shop (gotta get a souvenir or two), you might hear this – ‘Your dam receipt is in the dam bag. Have a dam good day!’ OK, you can’t do anything but smile at that!
By the way, these are the penstocks located on the Lake Mead side of the dam that intake the water for the generators. Water level is low, reflecting typical summer time in the desert. The contrast of shapes and colors drew me to this shot.
Later that day we headed to the top of the Stratosphere some 300+ feet above the strip. The wind was howling at 30mph and gusting higher. Tears were forming in my eyes which gave me a blurred view briefly. I ran with it. This shot is the Las Vegas strip lights deliberately shot out of focus. Fun, abstract, bright, and very colorful. The ’sin city’ definitely isn’t turning green any time soon
I had all but written off shooting the San Diego skyline after two days of thick gray fog. Was San Diego to be the San Francisco of the south? Not so. After a third day of exhausting zoo and park hiking a strange warm glow filled the air around dinner time. It was the sun and it looked great. Not having planned to shoot and not sure where to go, I raced across town to a place I thought might offer a view. With my trusty GPS, “Lola”, I zigzagged around the various streets of Point Loma, until WHAM there was the view across the bay. I had run out of warm glowing light, so I did the next best thing, shoot the blue hour light (top image). I had found the spot, so as you might be guessing, I returned the following evening to get the warm setting sunlight (lower image). As an added bonus, I was able to capture a Dole container ship heading out to sea.
My youngest son is crazy about animals, so we made the trek all the way down to San Diego. What for, well the zoo of course! The baby elephants and the koalas – OMG! I think if I could have reached one of the furry gray fellows, I might have stuffed him in my camera bag.
Our visit to the wonderful Yosemite was just that! The classic view of El Cap and Half Dome and Yosemite Falls along with the ancient sequoias of Mariposa Grove were sightes to behold.
If you’ve heard good things about the Monterey Bay Aquarium, they are accurate. This is one very impression facility. The displays, tanks, exhibits, everything were amazing. The aquarium focuses on creatures found in the cool waters of the central California coast. This means there are lots of smaller invertebrates and tidal pool visitors.
OK, who knew there is this much fog in San Francisco in July? Well, probably everyone, but me. I’ve been a bit bummed about the lack of opportunities to shoot the bridge. While planning this trip, I had about five different locations in mind to try, most at sunset. Well, as it turns out, in July in S.F. the fog rolls in very, very, very thick when the sun goes down. How thick, you ask? Last night, my photog buddy, Max and I went to a location where we were under the bridge and about an 1/8 of a mile away. We set up about 45 minutes before sunset with both towers visible, but foggy. By the time we were in “blue hour”, the bridge was completely gone. Only a few street lights on the side roads were visible. And I mean GONE! I’ll have to be content with the few shots we got on the one “good” day.
I would have to say the most challenging area to shoot on this trip so far has been the Redwood National and State Park. If you’ve ever had the chance to see these giants, you know how overwhelming it is to stand under a 300+ feet tall tree. With the limits of lens and our eyes, it’s really hard to get a sense of their enormity in a single image.
One morning while driving up the 101, we found a delicate edge where fog was thinning and sunlight was shining. No Photoshop here, seriously! I have a car full of eyewitnesses
With the summer low tide schedule matching sunrise, it took several early risings to get these images. Luckily my photog buddy, and son, Max was more than glad to join me in shooting and explore the exposed tidal pools.
The image of the sea stars incorporated a lighting technique I learned from Joe McNally. The sky was very dim and foggy, there was no good light to shoot with. Using an SB800 remote flash unit on a light stand about 15 feet from the stars, and an additional SB800 on the camera as a master commander, I lit the scene with a sharp sun-like look. The remote SB800 was zoomed into 150mm and covered with a warming gel which gave the warm glow on the sun, without the sun.
Phantom Ship Island “cruises” along Crater Lake, while above the rim an eco-system enhancing wildfire continues it’s burn under low golden sunlight.
As beautiful as the Seattle skyline is at dusk, it’s always nice to get out into the country. This is Mt. Rainier in the background at daybreak. We intended on spending the day at Mt. Rainier, but an unexpected road closure and detour made us divert our attention to Mt. St. Helens for the remainder of the day.
Besides the “Going To The Sun Road”, Glacier National Park’s main attraction has to be the Mountain Goats. With a new kid in tow, this mother surveys the scene while taking a brief rest.
Occasionally all the elements come together just at the right time. We were headed back down the GTTS road when an different light appeared above a distant mountain. I pulled over and began shooting. The light drifted across the scene, lighting the lower roadway several thousand feet below us just as rain began to fall. I was so caught up in the experience, a mule deer climbed up the hill side right in front on me. With a long lens in place, I wasn’t able to incorporate him into the shot, so I just kept shooting the landscape while the deer looked around hoping for hand outs.
An exciting day of hiking resulted in a nice image from Avalanche Gorge at Glacier National Park. While I haven’t been a fan of the “far-out” HDR images, I do appreciate HDR’s ability to pull an image out of rough. This scene has an incredible range of tones from super white to near black. Photomatrix software is relatively simple and easy to use. In the field, you simply capture a range of different exposures. Using a tripod, I shot multiple images with one fixed aperture. The shutter speed was the variable. If the the aperture is adjusted, the focus point will shift making for a miss align final image.
by Kent Weakley
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