Variety: The Incredible Spice of the Palouse

The Streak Continues: 196

It is 10:07am here in Indian Lake Estates, FL as I type. Including the time that I spent optimizing the 7 images here this blog post took almost 6 hours to prepare. I hope that you enjoy it.

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This image was created at 7:03am on June 10, 2014 with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender, an external Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (with the internal extender in place at 784mm–the max), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III . ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/80 sec. at f/22 in Av mode. Color temperature: 8100K. Live View (for mirror lock) and 2-second timer. Manual focus 1/3 of the way into the frame and recompose. In strongly backlit situations like this AF cannot see to focus. Click on the image to see a larger version

The Amazing Versatility of the 200-400 with Internal Extender

I used the 2-4 for probably 75% of my Palouse images. The ability to work with focal lengths in the 200-560mm range in and instant and to get out to 784mm in ten seconds as above makes the 200-400 the ideal long lens for Palouse photography. Throw in the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens and the figure above rises to 95%. I am just not a wide angle type of guy.

On each of our 6 mornings on Steptoe Butte we learned a bit more about photographing sunrise there.

This top and bottom stitched pano was created from two 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image. It was created at 6:27am on June 10th. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens (at 175mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop +/- two stops around the base exposure of 1/30 sec. at f/18 in Manual mode. Color temperature: 8,000K. Live View (for mirror lock) with the 2-second timer. AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the left corner of the barn and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II

My favorite short-intermediate telephoto zoom lens, the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, was the perfect adjunct to the 200-400 with internal extender. Together they gave me focal length coverage from 70-784mm. As above, I used one of these two great zoom lenses to create 95% of my Palouse images. The Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod topped by the Mongoose M3.6 head is the perfect tripod/tripod head combo for this pair of lenses. When I needed to be on a tripod with a short lens like the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM or the “circle” lens, the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye, I’d spin off the Mongoose m3.6 and mount the Giottos MH 1302-655 (Tiny) BallHead on the 3532. To save time I kept the Wimberley P-5 camera body plate on my 5D III for the entire trip.

This 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image was created same day at 7:03am with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (at 247mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III . Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops +/- two stops around the base exposure of 1/125 sec. at f/16 in Av mode. Color temperature: 4500K. Live View for mirror lock and 2-second timer. AI Servo Rear Focus AF again on the left corner of the barn and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

A New Art Vivid Trick

I’ve long said that if you are not learning, thinking, and trying new stuff every day in the field you might as well give up photography and take up knitting. While I have loved the Art Vivid HDR setting since from the first time that I tried it I am the first to admit that when working with greens and yellows (remember that there is lots of YELLOW in GREEN) in a variety of lighting conditions that the colors may be over the top; the greens and yellows will be too saturated. To tone those colors down I experimented by changing the color temperature to 4,000, 4,500 (as here), or 5,000K. I was quite happy with the results. If you go back to HDR Natural you need to remember to go back to AWB, Shade, or Cloudy. I am hoping that with continued experimentation that I will be able to use Art Vivid for all of my in-camera HDRs….

Thanks to BAA friend Don Nelson for the tip that led us to discover this old house. It was the lovely setting and the soft light that made this one special.

This 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image was created same day at 8:20pm with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (with the internal TC in place at 307mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III . ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stops +/- two stops around the base exposure of 1/320 sec. at f/13 in Av mode. Color temperature: AWB. Two rows down and two sensors to the right of the Central Sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Old Barn Detail Basics

To create images like the one above you will want to work tight, be sure to parallel the subject, and use an intermediate aperture (f/13 here) to ensure sufficient depth-of-field. Note that I carefully designed the image around the three cracks where the boards meet near the right frame-edge. Without any GREENs I went with Art Vivid HDR with AWB to juice up the colors.

This 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR blur was also created on June 10th. This one at 8:05pm with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (with the internal TC in place at 307mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III . ISO 100. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/4 sec. at f/20 in Av mode. Color temperature: AWB. AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the near edge of the dirt patch, re-composed, and panned slowly from left to right. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

HDR Art Vivid Pan Blurs

Simply put, creating in-camera HDR Art Vivid pan blurs is fun. I love the almost childlike quality and the soft colors of the resulting images.

This image was created as part of a 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR sequence same day at 8:20pm with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (with the internal TC in place at 461mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III . ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/60 sec. at f/11 in Av mode. Color temperature: AWB. The RAW file was converted in DPP. AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the prominent line of yellow grass and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Variety: The Incredible Spice of the Palouse

Take a gander at the 7 images presented here today. It is hard to believe that all of them were created in a single day during two shooting sessions. But they were. It is the incredible variety of situations, colors, and subjects that makes the Palouse such and amazing photographic location.

Your Favorite?

Please take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which of the 7 images you like best and let us know why you made your choice.

Inspired By Others

While I was looking east and photographing the canola hilsides, Denise Ippolito was looking to south. She created a series of images of the hillside patterns above and shared them with Lynn and me. As it was a nice combination of triangles and circles we joined her.

This three frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image was created at 8:33pm on June 10, 2014 with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender, an external Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (with the internal extender in place at 455mm), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III . ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/10 sec. at f/11 in Av mode. White Balance: Shade. Live View (for mirror lock) and 2-second timer. Manual focus on the green tongue and recompose. In softly lit, low contrast situations like this AF may have a hard time focusing. Click on the image to see a larger version

Perspective Matters

On our way west, we found a nice hillside planted with canola-the yellow blossoms, and photographed it side-lit. Nothing too special but canola fields were on the scarce side this year. As we headed back to the hotel we came around a curve in the road and we all gasped at the sight of hillsides of canola replete with dramatic black shadows. We had discovered the mother lode of canola. Or not. As we drove up a bit to turn around we realized with chagrin that the “new” canola fields were the same ones that we had photographed 90 minutes earlier. Viewed from a different angle in different light had changed things dramatically.

Yes, perspective matters. What’s the lesson? Be sure to take a close look at your subject from as many different angles and positions as possible.

Hope that you can join us 🙂

Announcing the Palouse A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT)/Eastern Washington State. May 29-June 2, 2015/5 Full Days: $1699

Rolling farmlands provide a magical patchwork of textures and colors, especially when viewed from the top of Steptoe Butte where we will likely enjoy spectacular sunrises and possibly a nice sunset or two. We will photograph grand landscapes and mini-scenics of the rolling hills and farm fields. We will take you to some really neat old abandoned barns and farmhouses in idyllic settings. There is no better way to improve your compositional and image design skills and to develop your creativity than to join us for this trip. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Photoshop and image sharing sessions when we have the time and energy…. We get up early and stay out late and the days are long.

After 6 days of back-breaking scouting work in early June 2014 we found all of the iconic locations and, in addition, lots of spectacular new old barns and breath-taking landforms and views. We will teach you what makes one situation prime and another seemingly similar one a waste of your time.
What’s included: In-the-field instruction, guidance, lessons, and inspiration, our newfound but very extensive knowledge of the area, all lunches, motel lobby breakfasts, and Photoshop and image sharing sessions when possible.

You will learn and hone both basic and advanced compositional and image design skills. You will learn to get the right exposure every time. You will learn to develop your creative eye. You will learn the basics of HDR (high dynamic range) photography. You will learn a variety of in-camera creative techniques; Canon 5D Mark III bodies are a plus. And most importantly you will learn to see the situation and to create a variety of top-notch images. Do see both of our blogs for lots more on that in the coming weeks. You will learn how the quality and direction of light combine to determine the success of your images. And–please don’t gasp–we will be working quite a bit with sidelight when creating landscapes. Lastly, we will be touching on infrared photography.

A non-refundable $699 deposit is due now. The balance will be due on January 29, 2015. With the unpredictable nature of the photography business, I have not said this often lately, but it seems quite likely that this one will fill up very quickly. Please let me know via e-mail that you will be joining us. Then you can either call Jim or Jennifer at 863-692-0906 during business hours or send us a check; the latter is preferred.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail

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