My favorite Balanced Rock image from Moab

My favorite Balanced Rock image from Moab.

 

So this will probably be, well maybe anyway, the last of the series of images I post from my trip to Moab. I can’t promise it though as I still have so many others. This is probably my favorite image that I captured from Balanced Rock using the H&Y Filters Pure Night Filter. It is not a lot of difference in how you capture the image, but processing it becomes very easy and the results are better. Street lights tend to show up in images as light pollution, and this filter reduces the light cast by the 2 most popular types of street lights, sodium vapor and mercury vapor. By reducing it, I was able to get rich color in the base of the Galactic Core as it was positioned between the rocks. The color of the core was consistent throughout the visible Milky Way which, for me, it has always had a different color at the bottom vs higher up in the sky. Unfortunately it doesn’t remove the red light from someone’s flashlight in the bottom left on the tree…

 

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 15 seconds, H&Y Filters Pure Night Skies Filter, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron1728, #hyfilters, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #bearwoodsphotography

Another Balanced Rock sunrise

Another Balanced Rock sunrise.

 

The haze had moved in the last 2 days of our conference but it still offered some incredible opportunities for the participants to capture unique images. On the last morning I asked if it was okay for us to open up our morning session to the other groups who were scheduled to go to another locations. Of course the answer was yes and I think it gave everyone a chance to have a great last morning. Since we had been there the day before we knew exactly where to position everyone to get perfect images of the sun rising over the horizon. I set my camera off to the side and set it to do a time lapse, which by the way I still need to process. Cecil and I were joined by Aaron King who is an incredible photographer and has some great videos on YouTube. When the conference finished I think everyone got some great images and learned some lessons about adapting to the conditions. The next conference is just around the corner up in Acadia NP and I am sure we will be doing a little adapting up there as well.

 

Tamron 28-200mm Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f4, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/160th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron28200, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #outofmoab, #bearwoodsphotography

Park Avenue at Sunrise

Park Avenue at Sunrise.

 

One area of Arches NP that I love to photograph is looking down Park Avenue from the viewing area at sunrise. With clear skies you can create a natural frame or vignette with the shadows of the rock walls placing the focus of the viewer on the spire at the end. Arches NP offers so many studies in how light places emphasis on you subject and the elements that will make it stand out.

 

Tamron 28-200mm Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/20th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron28200, #tamronnewfelens, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #outofmoab, #bearwoodsphotography

Dead Horse Point SP

Dead Horse Point SP.

 

The single most inspirational landscape book I have ever read, well mainly looked at the photos, is Art Wolfe’s “Light on the Land”. I got my copy back in the early 90’s when Art and I were doing some workshops together and it remains a book I refer back to for inspiration on composition in landscape photography to this day. Art’s ability to see and capture the light as it paints the land is second to none. I thought of that book as our Out of Moab groups were at Dead Horse Point State Park for the sunset on the first night of the conference. I talked with several folks pointing out how even though our eyes see a lot of detail in the scene, we can expose to make the peaks stand out and create lines in a graphic design. In this image I spot metered the tips of the mesa and set them at -.7 stops to allow the land around it to disappear in the shadows. If you can find a copy of Art’s book I would encourage you to pick it up for inspiration.

 

Tamron 28-200mm Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/50th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron28200, #tamronnewfelens, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #outofmoab, #bearwoodsphotography

Pure Night Filter

Pure Night Filter.

 

Just before I left for Moab I had received a filter that I ordered a little while back. I ordered it specifically for use with night skies, and Moab was a perfect place to give it a try. It is made by H&Y Filters and is an HD MRC Pure Night Filter. I took 2 different versions, one that I could use on my magnetic filter holder, the other an 82mm for use with my RevoRing from H&Y. I could definitely see a difference as the filter is designed to reduce the color you get from mercury and sodium vapor lights, which happen to be 2 of the most common causes of the haze seen with light pollution. I was and am very impressed with the results and look forward to using it more often in my night sky images. It definitely reduced the time I worked on color correcting the images in LR and PS.

 

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 20 seconds, H&Y Filters Pure Night Skies Filter, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron1728, #hyfilters, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #bearwoodsphotography

Mesa Arch

Mesa Arch.

 

I know it is an over photographed location, but there are still lots of our folks in a workshop that want to photograph it. I think it is okay for everyone to make sure they get those iconic images so they don’t regret not getting it, especially if it is their only time visiting that location. The group earned a great morning waking up after being out the night before until midnight and leaving at 4am in the morning, then hiking out in the dark. When we arrived there was only 1 other person there, but by sunrise we had been joined by about 50 other people. I was glad our group had been able to line up and get the best locations. Several of them made the comment to us that the images they captured that morning were their favorites from the trip. What an awesome group!

 

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/8th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron1728, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #outofmoab, #bearwoodsphotography

Sunset through Turret Arch

Sunset through Turret Arch.

We finished the Out of Moab Landscape Conference today, and as usual I am exhausted! I always love seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I have a few webinars in the next week or so then it is off to Out of Acadia! This was sunset last night with the sun setting in the arch with a person standing in the base of the arch. It is always interesting to see the scale of the arches with people in them.

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f20, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/10th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron1728, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #outofmoab, #bearwoodsphotography

Smoke and Haze

Smoke and Haze.

 

Late yesterday afternoon some of the smoke and haze from the wildfires out west have blown in to give us a different perspective to the Moab area. Our group this morning went to Balanced Rock to capture the sun behind the rock formation. It was very different, but still very nice. This image is 2 images combined for the shadow area and the sky, then I took a little liberty to give a little warmth to the sky as well.

 

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/250th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron1728, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #outofmoab, #bearwoodsphotography

Juniper Tree at Dead Horse Point

Juniper Tree at Dead Horse Point.

 

We started the workshop officially last night and the conditions are perfect here right now. This was the image that I was working with my group. The Milky Way is the brightest I have ever seen right now. Simply breathtaking.

 

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 30 seconds, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron1728, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #outofmoab, #outofchicago, #bearwoodsphotography

Arches sunrise

Arches sunrise.

 

Last night at 11:30pm, Cecil and I decided that we would wake up early, 3:30 a.m., and drive to, then hike through North Windows Arch and stand on a small ledge to photograph Turret Arch at sunrise. We climbed over and through boulders in the dark, slid down rocks, but eventually made it to the ledge. As the sunrise got closer throngs of people showed up. At one point we counted 40 people standing in the arch. It was building up to be a huge frustrating disappointed, but when the sun illuminated the rocks, people left! We seized the opportunity to make some images without anyone in the frame, but one of our favorites was when a lone person stood in the arch. We asked if she would raise her hands, and she did for us. What a great morning.

 

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Expousre mode, f8, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X50 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamronnewfelens, #tamron28200, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #bearwoodsphotography