Back to basics

Many years ago I experimented with Infrared Photography, with reasonably pleasing results but I was new in the world of cameras, so I tried a bit of everything and it fell by the wayside as I concentrated on other subjects and techniques.

This weekend, along with the colour run (see below) I dug out my ancient Nikon D1x, my 720nm filter and had a go at IR work again.

Still the same old problems with using the filter, focusing is off (because the camera focuses on visible spectrum, not the IR one) so the image is soft, setting the shutter speed is highly dependent on the sun (or lack thereof) and a million other issues (the D1x hasn't been used in years and it's developing hotspots on the sensor) but if you don't look too closely at the image, it's acceptable.

One day I will get a dSLR converted to full time IR, but not this year, unless anyone wants to donate a dSLR to me, then I'll take pics in your honour.

Camping

So I decided that since the last time I had been camping was in the early 90s, that I was overdue for another round of self-inflicted pain. Grabbing a spot, I pre-registered on a Monday, for the following weekend. 

So to punish my mis-placed optimism, it rained non-stop the entire week, stopping only enough to get this picture, and set up tent. After that, it poured, and in some places, hailed.

I was wet, and cold, and didn't sleep well because the wildlife woke up at 4.00am and started singing.

I'm ready to do it again!

Rain

We have had a rainy summer here. This is a river that you could walk from one side to the other (about 1/4 mile) without getting your feet wet. As you can see, that's no longer the case. The river is much more interesting when the bottom is revealed, tons of rocks and water-worn branches make for good photography.

Fujicolour film, ISO200, Nikon F5, 17mm lens.

Animals

On the same farm was a foal in care of its mother. Being respectful of the area, I waited for one of them to look at me. Taken with my favourite lens, the versatile 17-35mm.

Afternoon sun, Nikon D1x.

A Return to Form

I haven't been shooting much in the way of landscapes lately, I've been doing my people practice. But this weekend I went horseback riding and the area was too good to pass up.

It helped, of course that the "golden light" was nearly upon me, so I waited a few, and here is the end result.

It reminded me why I liked shooting landscapes so much, it's very peaceful to look at.

Canaan Valley

Dawn shot, overlooking the valley. The sky was kind of blah, but it was to brighten up as the day went by.

Glass

Pretty much all the work at the falls was done with my 17-35mm lens, which was dusty and I didn't catch that in time, so you may see some small round spots in the water area, nonetheless, this lens is so useful for me that it's about all I bring on landscape shoots

Yup, also handheld

Normally I could never pull off hanheld shots, but two in a row! Anyway, taken from a small waterfall area in West Virginia. Still film, still the 17-35mm lens.

Still feeling lucky

I totally didn't expect this shot to turn out at all, it was handheld from on half second. Amazingly, it's sharp.

The Big One

It's difficult to get a sense of scale for the primary 'scope at Green Bank, but here it is, towering over the trees and staring out at the skies.

This was taken at the late hour of 9am, the sun already having blown away the fog and bringing the early morning light to the ground.

Morning Sunrise

A little sun peeking through the mists of a morning in West Virginia's Canaan Valley. Experimenting with a polarizer on my 50mm lens. I like the effects.

Taken with my Nikon D1x

Night Everlasting

The lake in the lower right was partially frozen, reflecting the dying light nicely. By this point in time the landscape was completely dark, with only the faintest light showing through the clouds. I like the contrasts.

Now, with houses

A different road, but with a great vantage point for the setting sun.

More

More examples of what I found as the sun was setting. Again, large file.

Dusk and Her Embrace

On the way back to where I was staying, I found a turnoff from the main road that allowed me to capture the sun as it was going down.

Despite the freezing cold weather and wind (ah the things I do for my readers) I was able to capture some beautiful sunsets.

These images are very large, and in no order whatsoever.

Moonrise

So I realize it's still easier to load images here and talk about them than on my main website, so here is a recent one, a nice contrast to the one just below it I think.

Beach scene, just as the sun is setting behind me (and partially obscured by the dunes) and the moon is rising. The Atlantic Ocean is rougher than normal (apparently) because there is a hurricane forming 'out there' making a mess of things.

Shot with my 17-35mm lens, which is now my de-facto lens for landscape shots, and my beloved Nikon D1x.

Alternative View

I'm running out of things to say about the beauty of Colorado, so I'll let the images speak for themselves.

Here is a better one

Shot in portrait mode, the river serving as a leading line (Oooo, a school photography term!) to the end of the picture. The Black Mesa rocks really stand out here.

Let me know what you think.

Vacation

For the first time in a long time, I took a small vacation. Went to Baltimore's Inner Harbour to try my hand at some landscape (okay, buildingscape) shots. I must say I was very pleased at how they turned out, here is one of my favourites.

The weather, as you can see, was perfect for photography. Later that day a rainstorm hit, but even then the clouds looked great. I even managed to come back to work and find it still standing!

All done with my Fuji S2 Pro and Tamron 17mm lens. I've put my Pentax down for the time being, the lenses on the Fuji are just so much sharper.

Curves

Just a quick image of the area I visited. I couldn't get closer because it's an actual wildlife sanctuary and it was walled off. The area was beautiful and I would have loved to go exploring, but that's not allowed there. Still, would be a good place to go back with big glass and go bird watching.