The view from the Lodge at Triangle X Ranch

The view from the Lodge at Triangle X.

 

If you have ever wondered what the view is like from the Triangle X Ranch where we base our Winter in the Tetons Workshop…this is standing at the base of the steps at the lodge while we were preparing to have breakfast. We decided years ago to make our workshop about more than photography, we wanted our group to experience the Tetons. The Ranch is always such a highlight. The folks there are incredible, the accommodations are great, the food is first class, and as you can see the view isn’t half bad either. Oh by the way we have opened registration for our 2021 Workshop. 7 spots remain….

http://www.natureinfocusworkshops.com/photo-workshops/2021-winter-in-the-grand-tetons

 

7 frame panoramic image made with the Tamron 35-150mm Di VC OSD lens on a Nikon Z7, Manual Exposure mode, f3.2, ISO 64, shutter speed of 1/30th of a second, Sirui SR 3204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, stitched and processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron35150, #portraittravelzoom, #TriangleXRanch, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

A short break from the Tetons

A short break from the Tetons.

 

I still have many, many images to share from Wyoming, but I had to share an image of the beautiful sunrise we had yesterday morning. I saw on the news this great sunrise to the east, but we face southwest and it took a little longer for us to get the color. I grabbed the camera, lens and tripod and spent a few minutes capturing a cotton candy sky.

 

Tamron 35-150mm Di VC OSD lens on a Canon EOS RP, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 200, shutter speed of 1/30th of a second, Sirui W2204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron35150, #travelportraitzoom, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #the3chairs, #BearWoodsPhotography

Creating separation using a long lens

Creating separation using a long lens.

 

I photographed many trees in snowy conditions while in Wyoming a couple weeks ago and found that using a long lens was most effective for the look I wanted to achieve. A long lens allowed me to get back from my subject, which combined with the snow created a nice separation of my subject from the background. I found using a shorter lens often eliminated the gap created by the snow. In a situation like this image, the long lens visually separated the subject from the similar objects in the out of focus background. This image was made using the Tamron SP 150-600mm G2 @ 380mm.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon Z7, Manual Exposure mode, f6.3, ISO 320, shutter speed 1/500th of a second, Sirui SR 3204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Explore 40L backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron150600mmg2, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #ShimodaDesign, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

What worked in the Tetons

What worked in the Tetons.

 

I am going to do a little video later today or tomorrow following up on my video of how to prepare for winter photography, but I wanted to do a post as well. We had some fairly harsh conditions, no extreme cold, mainly in the teens or single digits with the windchill, but it was fairly moist which offers other issues. I will start with the failures I had were more from a personal comfort standpoint, and mainly on one day. While photographing sheep, it started to sleet. No problem, right? Wrong! I had gotten out of the car without my hat because it was fairly warm and no precipitation was falling, but the sleet came on fast and I literally scraped the side of my head at one point and had enough slush to make a snowball! Simple fix, wear a hat!

 

As for gear…I have never, I repeat never been able to go to Wyoming in the winter and not had the ballhead freeze and render it virtually useless. Well that all changed this year with the combination of Acratech GXP ballhead and the Sony mirrorless cameras. I noticed that being able to keep my face away from the back of the camera virtually eliminated condensation on the ballhead. I wanted to test the ballhead to see how it did with moisture and freezing so I breathed on it for a while to get it to freeze, but it still worked great. On one morning I actually dropped it into the snow (accidentally) and snow and ice were covering the ballhead but it worked great, no problem. My Sirui SR 3204 got a little stiff after the legs had a little ice form on them one day, but tapping the bottom got it working fine.

 

As for lenses and lens issues…zero. The focus worked great in autofocus and never froze up. Tamron’s weather sealing on the lenses kept moisture out and I never had any issue with condensation going from warm to cold or cold to warm. The cameras I carried worked great, no issues. I carried 1 Nikon Z7, a Sony a7Riii, and a Sony a7iii. Even though I carried extra batteries, I never had one fail in the cold and only changed and charged batteries twice in over a week. Here is a link to my “Prepper” video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3s7DDPeH0

 

My decision to pack the Shimoda Rolling bag to travel and then switch it to the Explore 40L backpack after I arrived (it was packed with clothes in my checked bag) was perfect. It is so nice to walk through the airport without having a lot of gear on your back.

 

The trip was as great a success as I could have hoped for with my preparation and gear, any mistakes were my fault. Our group was great! We have posted our 2021 Workshop for Winter in the Tetons and would love to have 10 of you join us!

 

The image today is a 7 frame panoramic using the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD mirrorless lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Mode, f8, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/25th of a second, Sirui SR 3204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Explore 40L backpack, stitched and processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron2875mirrorless, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #ShimodaDesign, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

More trees in the snow

More trees in the snow.

 

When we met with our workshop group on the first day, I explained to them we would have a theme for our lessons…simplicity. Our goal was to find simple subjects, then to compose the image where other elements would direct all the attention to our subject. We were going to work on eliminating distracting elements, but include enough, to tell a simple story. We were going to learn minimalism, and simplicity. One spot we had scouted was on Antelope Flats Road on the way to Mormon Row. The snow, winds and temperatures prevented the group from hiking out, but we still had opportunities from the gate blocking the last one mile of the road. Simply moving left and right to arrange the elements to frame the single tree with the structures behind it made for a simple composition.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon Z7, Manual Exposure mode, f6.3, ISO 220, shutter speed of 1/500th of a second, Sirui SR 3204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron150600g2, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

When perfect conditions present themselves

When perfect conditions present themselves.

 

As a workshop leader you pay a lot of attention to weather reports, but you learn to ignore them as well. Going into our workshop last week in the Tetons, the forecast called for virtually 100% cloud cover all of the time. We monitor several Apps all day long to see if there is any chance to get out for a sunrise or sunset. We started our workshop on Friday, and the forecast all day for Saturday was calling for snow and clouds, but then all of a sudden while we were at dinner, a few of the Apps changed and gave us a 44% chance of clearing. We had snow and wind so we knew we would have to break a path out to the prime viewing area at the Snake River Overlook. We left early enough that it allowed Cecil and I to pack snow with our snowshoes for the group to make it out safely. We all got set up and were rewarded with this beautiful sunrise where the sun painted the peaks with light. Use Apps to help plan, but don’t solely rely on them when you photograph, look at radars as well that show cloud coverage, pay attention to the sky to the east for sunrise and the west for sunset, then do what your gut tells you to do.

 

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/30th of a second, Sirui SR 3204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Explore 40L backpack, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron2875mirrorless, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #ShimodaExplore, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

My favorite from 2019, the epic Apalachicola sunrise

My personal favorite from 2019, the epic Apalachicola sunrise.

By far, the most incredible, magical, epic light I experienced this year (and was able to capture on my sensor), was the sunrise in early November at Scipio Creek Marina in Apalachicola. I was able to not only do a panoramic, but to do a video as well, if you are interested the link is below. What an incredible morning! 2020 is going to have to work hard to give me better conditions than I had that morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agvN5wbxx18

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD mirrorless lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f11, ISO 50, shutter speed of 1/2 second, Sirui SR 3204 tripod, Acratech GXP ballhead, Shimoda Explore 30L backpack, stitched and processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron1728mirrorless, #SiruiUSA, #Acratech, #ShimodaDesign, #BearWoodsPhotography