A Photo Quest

(Photoquest.Photography)

Come, Refresh, renew your interest and

excitement in photography!

(The dates for these classes will be posted in the near future!)

 

The Native Americans believed that when one's interest in life waned

they should depart on a vision quest in order to renew their focus into oneself,

and to re-invigorate their interest in life again!

 

In that endeavor, you are invited to join us in a Photo Quest,

to find new ways to become a better photographer, and to renew

your interest in this exciting discipline!

 

It doesn't matter if you are a professional photographer,

or an interested hobbyiest,

you will find this class exciting and educational beyond belief!

 

For a day and a half, you will spend time with other photographers

renewing and learning the skills and techniques that will make you

a better photographer.

 

We will spend time learning about ...

 

What makes a great photograph?

What is the psychology of photography, how does my mind interpret what I see?

How can I compose and capture what I see so that it looks like what I saw?

What are leading lines? How does my brain interpret them to give me that depth in my photos?

 

Exposure

What kind of lighting and settings give you the best exposure in your shots.

How to create that mood in you photographs to capture that dramatic feeling.

I all light the same? Quality vs. quantity, how to set up for both.

Will my camera always know the best setting that I need to capture what I see?

 

Framing

What kind of composition techniques can I use to make my photos look their best?

 

Focus

How do I set my camera for the best depth of field?

 

Tradecraft

What should I look for in a good lense ?

What kind of filters should I invest in?

Are tripods necessary, and when?

What kind of software packages should I invest in?

 

 

Special Topics

How can I take great lightning shots?

How is night photography done?

What equipment do I need for Infra Red photography?

Can my camera be made to stay in focus for fast moving objects

like hawks and birds?

 

 

And a very special modeling session!

You won't want to miss this part of the course. By itself,

this is worth the whole price of admission! You won't be

able see something like this anyother place - take my word for it?

 

 

Following are some photos that show how exposure,

framing and focus techniques can be used to take some

awesome photographs. The topics outlined above are

all exemplified in these shots.

 

 

Aspen Leaf in the Snow

 

One early winter in 1996, a day after a really quick surprise snow storm, I took a brief hike

up the Longs Peak trail. On my way back I hiked down to what is known as the Alberta Falls

trail head. The sun was starting to set - it was getting dark. The temperature was starting to

drop rapidly as well, and so I decided to turn around and go back to my car since I wasn't dressed

for an extended, cold hike. When I turned around I found myself facing a snow bank where

the sun's rays leaked through the canopy above and briefly illuminated this aspen leaf. I shot

several frames of this and the second photo below and hurried back to warmer environments.

When I got my film developped, I could not believe my eyes. Clearly I was very fortunate to

be at the right place at the right time, which is many times better than planning and composing

an award winning photography session, don't you think?. I could not have planned this shot in a

million years! And I have looked for repeat opportunities, always failing to have the combined

set of light and objects. I witnessed what now seems to be a "once-in-a million"

performance by nature! I consider myslef very fortunate.

 

 

Aspen Leaves

 

This is the shot of the whole snow bank, where the aspen leaves had fallen for the winter.

It was a few minutes after I took the shot above. The sun had set, but the lighting and

composition still lended itself to beautiful scene. It was one of those evenings where

you could tell that nature's cycle for the winter season

had started in earnest!

 

 

Longs Peak - Haiyaha Trail

 

For better or worse, many are the trails and paths that exist in the Park. Then some are well traveled,

others are not. But if you want to be on a trail less traveled - and one where you are unlikely to meet

other hikers, the trail to lake Haiyaha should be high on your list. Half way up you will start to see

beautiful scenes on your left. This one of Longs Peak is one of the many possible sites. And then

of course, is the view from Lake Haiyaha. Don't cheat yourself by not going all the way up!

This shot shows how a shot can be framed useing trees and other natural surroundings.

 

 

 

Longs Peak - Winter Morn

 

Cold and crisp - so uninviting! Yet there is such a unique beauty in such a scene. And with the first

rays of sun the world seems to return to what we conceive as normal. This shot of Longs Peak

was taken from just above Beaver Meadows. It was mid-winter 1998 and the sun was just

starting to rise. The extreme cold of the alpine environement started to give way to one more

winter morning.

 

 

The Diamond Cathedral

 

 

What a contrast! From cold, uninviting winter mornings to bold and bright summer ones. Early

mornings are so special for viewing Rocky Mountain National Park and Longs Peak. I was

at the base of what is called "The Diamond" or East Face of Longs Peak, and when the sun

rises the effects of it are experienced quickly. The face of the Diamond just seems to throw back

the sun's brilliance in a phenomenon called the Alpenglow. And then, as quickly as it started,

it all ends. What an interlude! And what a unique way to recieve an invitation to "climb on." And so

we did, my other two partners and I. But you leave with the indelible impression burned

in your mind of what I like to call, "The Diamond Cathedral."

 

 

Hallets Peak from Dream Lake

 

 

Changing venues a bit, here is a shot from a very popular hiking trail that goes all the way

to the base of Hallets Peak. And half way along this trail is a long, beautiful lake called

Dream Lake. As you can see, when the sun is almost directly overhead the water's hugh

fools the film into rendering it as a deep, black lagoon. In effect is a fairly deep rock basin that

catches the still melting snow. Very cold and brisk, the water becomes inviting only to a few ducks.

Beeing just below alpine level the lodgepole pines flourish with a deep green. And then

there is the 'prow-like' monolith named after William Hallet, an early setller and guide

for the Estes Park area in the late 1800's. I would like to think that if Mr Hallet were to be

standing next me in 1997 when I took this shot, he would say that . . . "things haven't

changed much up here." And I thnik he would be right. It makes one feel like

we just took a step into the past.

 

 

Fall River Spill Lake

 

 

Further down and to the north of the Park is a more daring road that a few choose to drive to

the Rocky Mountain visitor center. It is called Fall River Road. A while back an alpine lake

called Lawn Lake busted through its containment walls and emptied itself down to an area

now called The Alluvial Fan. Spring run offs fill this little basin carved out by the Lawn Lake Flood

and produces some stunning views as you look up towards the road. It was a little windy that day

and so the water wasn't a mirror finish, but the light was just right for this shot.

 

 

 

Golden Eagle In Flight

 

 

Catching this Golden Eagle in flight was both exhilirating and frustrating! The sun was announcing

that our time was coming to an end by rudely setting behind the ridge on the other side. The

lighting was getting worse and worse, and the eagle could care less about us getting a good shot

yet. Being that we were shooting with film, we really didn't know what we had. I wasn't

optimistic, I sure didn't feel like I was capturing what I was experiencing in person.

It wasn't until next week when I developped my rolls that I saw slide after slide that

verified my worst fears; not good shots. It wasn't until the end of the stack that this shot

was finally on the viewing glass. I got it! One out of several hundred I think? But there it was.

Yes, the lighting could have been better! Yes, I almost clipped both tips of his wings out of

the picture. But, yes, I was able to capture a moment of extreme intensity as the eagle spotted

the handler with that juicy rabbit leg in her glove, his concentration not wavering on the

final prize! And I walked away, finally, with mine!

 

 

Tornado in Parker, Colorado

 

This shot was taken from the driveway of a neighbor's house while we were discussing dinner plans.

We could just feel that the weather was up to something! As we continued our discussions, all of the

sudden we saw a cloud to our south that was dropping a column, which was the beginnings of the

funnel cloud. It would come down for a few seconds and then go back up. After about four of five

times it finally dropped down far enough that a debris field started to form underneath and reached

up to meet the funnel. As you can see, it developped into a full-fledged tornado.

Being a photographer, the first thing I thought of was going to the car to get my camera!

Many of my friends after seeing this shot could only ask, "What were you thinking? I would have

headed for the basement, not my car!" Well, that's what makes me a real photographer, ... I think!

This tornado was a small EF1, and luckily no one was hurt. Property damage was minimal.

(Camera Information: Nikon D300 body, AF-S Nikkor 18-200 lens. 1A warming filter)

 

 

Lightning bolt in Colorado Springs

 

 

I was at a good friends house havging dinner after spending a long day at what is called

"Territory Days" which is a huge street fair in Old Colorado City. This happens every year

on Memorial Day weekend. This is prime time for early summer thunderstorms. Well, this one

was a duzzy! My friends house is on a ridge just west of Colorado Springs on a high ridge which

offers a wonderful view of the city below. What else couldyou ask for? A thunderstorm in the distance,

a high vantage pooint from which to photograph the event, and even a small refridgerator sotcked

with Colorado's best micro brew beers! And this is the result.

(Camera Information: Nikon D100 body, unknown lense)

 

 

Lightning bolt in Centennial, Colorado

 

 

Summer thunderstorms are very commong in Colorado,like in many other parts

of the country. But the ones in Colorado can be vicious, given the dryness, altitude,

and the moist weather systems that come over the Rockies and drop down 10,000 feet.

This was taken with an older Nikon film camera. (I'm dating myself, because this was

before digital camera were just toys but just dreams of something futuristic!

(Boy, that future is now here, huh?)

(Camera Information: N80 Nikon body, Kodacolor Gold 100 film, unknown lense)

 

Here is a second shot: