Helton Creek Falls Vertical

Helton Creek Falls Vertical.

 

In my video about my trip to Helton Creek Falls:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnJUJcRAnhY,

I discuss my decision to do a vertical image as well as the horizontal. I wanted the viewer to not be distracted by the area around the falls and by including a rock as a primary element in the foreground, I give the viewer and anchor point as well.

 

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual mode, f11, ISO 50, shutter speed of 30 seconds, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, H&Y Filters K series ND32 CPL filter, Shimoda Action X50 backpack. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamronnewfelens, #tamron28200, #sirui, #siruiimaging, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #hyfiltersglobal, #bearwoodsphotography

Helton Creek Falls and my latest video

Helton Creek Falls and my latest video.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnJUJcRAnhY&t=13s

 

I talked with my friend George Mraz late Monday about meeting up Tuesday morning to photograph somewhere. He suggested Helton Creek Falls. It was a short morning, but that is okay when you get everything you hoped to get quickly and early to beat the heat. We got to do some video while we were there as well. A nice conversation with George towards the end about his photography.

 

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual mode, f11, ISO 50, shutter speed of 30 seconds, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, H&Y Filters K series ND32 CPL filter, Shimoda Action X50 backpack. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamronnewfelens, #tamron28200, #sirui, #siruiimaging, #siruiusa, #acratech, #shimodadesign, #hyfiltersglobal, #bearwoodsphotography

Cosmos

Cosmos.

 

Sorry for a late post, seeing how I usually post by about 7am. Last evening I was talking with my friend George Mraz, and we decided to try and do an early photo shoot and video at Helton Creek Falls. As many of my shoots happen it is decided late the night before. Anyway, we had a great shoot this morning, and I will have the video out in a day or so. This is another image of the Cosmos in the garden. We bought the big bag of wildflower seeds to put out this year and with the heat and rain they have gone crazy! The pollinators love it and the birds are starting to go in the feed on seeds. I, of course, love all the photo ops I get!

 

Tamron SP 180mm Di 1:1 Macro lens on a Nikon Z6 via the FTZ adapter, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/80th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron180macro, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #acratech, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography

What a camera sees vs. what I envision

What a camera sees vs. what I envision.

 

As I go through my creative process when I am making images, there are times I walk up to a subject and see the “finished” image vs what is in front of me. Photographing past their prime flowers yesterday was one such time. Seeing the delicate flower fade was pretty but giving it a warm black and white finish, to me, gave it more of a look that complimented the state of the flower. To me, it makes the small details in the flower stand out, whereas in the color version they would be lost competing with the soft pastels. What do you think?

 

Tamron SP 180mm Di 1:1 Macro lens on a Nikon Z6 via the FTZ adapter, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron180macro, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #acratech, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography

Separation

 

Separation.

 

When I made this image I concentrated on two factors to make the flower in the foreground standout against the busier background. First a shallow depth of field was needed, and secondly making sure no part of the tips of the flower “merged” with the flower that is out of focus in the background. These two factors would naturally help to lead the viewer’s eye to the subject. This simply helps give direction to an otherwise busy image.

 

Tamron SP 180mm Di 1:1 Macro lens on a Nikon Z6 via the FTZ adapter, Manual Exposure mode, f3.8, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/50th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron180macro, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #acratech, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography

A little garden time

A little garden time.

 

With all the rain and sun, our gardens up here are full of beautiful flowers right now. I decided to do a little macro work with the Z6 and the vintage Tamron SP 180mm Macro lens. I was wanting to use a longer focal length because I would be shooting through other flowers hoping for a natural vignette in the images. Right now the Black-eyed Susan are loaded with opportunities. You may see a few more over the next few days.

 

Tamron SP 180mm Di 1:1 Macro lens on a Nikon Z6 via the FTZ adapter, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/50th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron180macro, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #acratech, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography

The herd at sunrise

The herd at sunrise.

 

Now that I have been home for a little more than a week, I am spending some time catching up on some of my favorite images from the Triangle X Ranch in Wyoming. This was always one I wanted to spend some time getting detail in the right places and doing a little digital darkroom work. I think it turned out pretty nice!

 

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f11, ISO 200, shutter speed of 1/10th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X70 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamronnewfelens, #tamron28200, #TriangleXRanch, #Wyoming, #BearWoodsPhotography

The Galactic Core above Brasstown Bald

The Galactic Core above Brasstown Bald.

 

I know that title comes as a shock and surprise to some who thought they were the galactic core, but it is the part of the Milky Way we observe that appears the brightest and widest. I know someone is thinking ALL of the night sky is the Milky Way, but for the purposes of this image, this is what is referred to as the galactic core as I photographed it over the top of Brasstown Bald Monday night. Man, that was a lot to say without saying anything. Tonight and the next 2 nights are perfect for making that hike up to the top with diminishing moonlight, and the Comet increasing the height of its position on the horizon. It would be fine to go up early, pack some water, a light jacket, and some patience, then get ready. For the Milky Way I recommend the widest lens you have, and for the comet I would recommend something that covers from 100-200mm to get some foreground in the image, a long lens if you want to just get the comet. You need a tripod as well, and I better go ahead and mention, you need a camera body as well. Take an extra battery, nothing is worse than having to make the 1.2 mile round trip hike to get a new battery from the car.

 

Tamron 24mm f2.8 Di III OSD M 1:1 lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure, f2.8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 25 seconds, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, f-stop Guru UL 25L backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron24, #sirui, #siruiusa, #acratech, #scenicgeorgia, #BearWoodsPhotography

NEOWISE over North Georgia

NEOWISE over North Georgia.

 

I’m not positive when the conversation started with a friend yesterday, but we discussed going out at 5 this morning to photograph the Comet NEOWISE. Well as we talked it went from 5 this morning to 4 this morning to 9:30 last night. That decision was finalized around 7 last night. I grabbed the gear I thought I would need and did the roughly hour and a half drive to the parking area of Brasstown Bald. Then Mark and I hiked up, leisurely since I was babying the knees, to the observation area on top. You could feel the humidity still in the air and when we arrived we found 3 or 4 other photographers there. Apparently one of them is in the business claiming the title best boiled peanuts in Georgia. I’ll go back for the peanuts during daylight sometime. Using some basic guidance from a friend as to locating the Comet, and after the “Peanut guy” (sorry I didn’t get your name), we located it. You could see a low hanging line of haze from the humidity and it was about 20 minutes before the Comet dropped behind the haze. It was barely visible to the naked eye, but the camera brought it out nicely. Because of the haze we had to use a higher ISO and longer shutter speed than I had hoped for, but it worked none the less. Thank you Mark for making the journey up the mountain and some great conversation.

 

Tamron 100-400mm Di VC USD lens on a Nikon Z7 at 145mm, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 10 seconds, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron100400, #neowise, #brasstownbald, #scenicgeorgia, #sirui, #Acratech, #BearWoodsPhotography

19 Years of sharing beauty

19 years of sharing beauty.

 

I know that has to confuse everyone, so let me explain. There is so much beauty around us, and last week our trip to the Tetons was no exception. I probably captured some of my favorite images of all time last week. One thing that made it even better was spending the week with Evelyn and her doing what she loves to do, ride horses. I find photography is not only my work, but my relaxation as well, for her riding and doing yoga on the front porch of the cabin was her relaxation. This day 19 years ago, we were preparing to go to the Courthouse in Apalachicola, FL sign some papers, then go to Lafayette Park to say “I do”. Then we spent the next few hours enjoying a great lunch with some family at the Owl Cafe. I’ve seen some beautiful things in my life, and everyone of the best were shared with Evelyn during these 19 years. We may enjoy things differently but we always enjoy them together. To the next 19 years and more of sharing beauty together…Happy Anniversary.

 

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f11, ISO 200, shutter speed of 1/15th of a second, Sirui AM 284 US tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Action X70 backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamronnewfelens, #tamron28200, #TriangleXRanch, #Wyoming, #BearWoodsPhotography