The First Day Out... In a long, long time...

July first was spent doing something I had not done in a long, long time... I went to the beach with the sole purpose of photography. And it was everything I hoped it would be.

Here are some outtakes...

Friends, inspiration and bonding times - Part 4 of 4

Our last stop before heading home was another stop on my bucket list. Smith Rock, near Terrabonne, Oregon is another one of those places where photos cannot do justice to the scale of the scene. From the trial next to the river to the various peaks,  can range from 40 feet to 400 feet.

In addition to the natural beauty that Smith Rock's volcanic pumice scenery provides it is also one of the premier rock climbing destinations in the United States with a climbing routes rated a 5.9, one of the most difficult climbs available. It has also been host to numerous film crews including John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn,  Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, the box office bomb The Postman and Swordfish with John Travolta, Hugh Jackman and Holly Berry.

The shear rugged terrain is instantly eye grabbing. It is hard to know where to start photographing. I of course wanted to get the classic shot of Smith Rock, above, but then I moved into some different perspectives like the photograph on the left and below.

This location is also ripe with opportunities to photograph textures galore. Shoot one rock face, move your lens a few inches and you have an altogether new texture to photograph. If you do go to Smith Rock, do yourself a favor and visit the Crooked River Bridge which is the 464 feet long and is 295 feet above the crooked river. Don't do it if you have a deep respect for (a.k.a. fear of) heights. It isn't for the faint of heart.

I will be returning to Smith Rock again in the future. There is so much to see and photograph. You come back here tomorrow for a free desktop wallpaper from Smith Rock. Until then enjoy this one last photograph.

Friends, inspiration and bonding times - Part 2 of 4

Odell Butte and Diamond Peak at Crescent Lake 

The Sun breaching the crater rim

How does one drive seventy miles to catch Crater Lake at sunrise on the longest day of the year? You have to get up at 3:00 AM and hit the road at 3:30 AM and arrive by 5:00 AM. Is this painfully early? Yes it is.

Is it totally worth it?  Yes it is.

As early as it was, Crater Lake proved to simply stunning. I have lived in Oregon most of my life, save four years I was in the military. I was born here, grew up here and returned here after I left the military. Yet given my growing number of years in Oregon, exceeding four decades, I have seen very little of Oregon. In the last decade I have created a bucket list of sorts. My bucket list includes seeing sites in my own home state that I have not seen yet. Crater Lake was at the top of that list. Well now I get to scratch that off my list.

I was awe struck by the shear size of the caldera, at over 5 miles wide. Photographs absolutely no justice to the shear size of the crater. It is estimated that Mt. Mazama, now Crater Lake, was at a height of 11,000 to over 14,000 feet (larger than Mt. Shasta). If you add in the fact that Crater Lake, the deepest lake in North America and the 9th deepest in the world, is 1949 feet deep, nearly one vertical mile of mountain collapsed into the caldera, ejecting up to 14 cubic miles of magma into the air in the most violent eruption ever in the Cascade Mountains.

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14 cubic miles may initially sound mild, but think of it like this, 14 miles high by 14 miles wide by 14 miles deep. In comparison to the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens; Saint Helens' eruption had a Volcanic Explosive Index (VEI), which is used to measure the explosive power of a volcano, of 5, but just barely and had very little magma ejection. Krakatoa in 1883, one of the most powerful explosions in modern recorded history measured a 6 on the VEI scale. Mazama's collapse and subsequent magma eruption measured a 7 on the VEI scale. The only larger would be Yellow Stone, 640,000 years B.C. The source of this information can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_Explosivity_Index

Ash from the eruption, known as Mazama ash for its unique silica composition, covered nearly all of Oregon and reached as far as Washington, northern California, Idaho, western Montana, and parts of Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

After the trip to Crater Lake was complete we came home, took naps, had lunch and proceeded to photograph around the lake again, well into the night. If you haven't made it to Crater Lake, do yourself a favor and get there soon. It is stunning, beautiful and well worth the trip. Come back tomorrow for a free wallpaper you can download and enjoy on your computer. Until then, enjoy a couple more of the photos I took from the day below. I took many more photos of Crater Lake, but those will be in future blog posts.

Diamond Peak

Odell Butte at night

Wallpaper Wednesday - Odell Butte

Download the 16x9 format

This week's wallpaper is a stark black and white of Odell Butte set behind Crescent Lake. This is only available in the 16x9 format. Enjoy!

Friends, inspiration and bonding times - Part 1 of 4

My friends Rick Clark (standing right) and Chris Kilpatrick (crouching left)

I don't usually travel much outside my sphere of residence. A lot of my limited travel has to do with anxiety. So I have not seen much of the state I was was born in. I was born in Oregon, raised in Oregon and outside of four years in the military I have lived in Oregon my entire life.

Given that I have 40+ years of living in a state that contains such natural beauty, I have never seen such basic must see sights like Crater Lake, Smith Rocks, Painted Hills or many other natural beauties. That was until a few weeks ago.

Salt Creek Waterfall

When I turned 30 I started my bucket list of things to see during my time on this earth. That list has turned into a list of things to Photograph. It contains a list of things right here in my home state that I have never seen.

I was blessed with an opportunity to stay in a cabin by a lake in the beautiful Cascade Mountains on the central Oregon side. Chris and her husband Steve invited me, my wife, Rick and his wife Shawn to come spend a weekend at their cabin by the lake for a weekend filled to the brim with photographic opportunities.

In this three part post, I will share with you the wonderful scenes and times I got to spend with these wonderful people and the two major items I got to cross off my bucket list.

On day one, we drove to down to the cabin. On the way we stopped at Salt Creek Fall. This amazing waterfall is nestled into the Cascade Mountains 21 miles east of Oakridge, Oregon on Highway 58, just after the tunnel. Not being a fan of heights, I got my shot and left the scene immediately.

We arrived at the cabin a little after 4:00 PM and I went to work with my camera photographing the various scenic landscapes around the lake.

I cannot thank Chris and Steve or Rick and Shawn enough for the generosity. I can only say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kim and I had the time of our lives that weekend and it was all thanks to you.

Here are a select few images from that amazing evening on the lake. Come back next week to learn what item I first crossed off my bucket list. And make sure to check out tomorrow's free wallpaper.

Crescent Lake, Oregon

Diamond Peak

Odell Butte

Full Moon at 1000mm

Bad Moon Rising

The moon has enthralled mankind since we were first able to look up at the night sky.

A few weeks ago a friend of mine loaned me his 500mm mirrored lens with 2x tele-converter. At 1000mm, plus the crop factor of the DX sensor, it is easy to literally fill the frame with the moon.

The downside to the technology used is that it is a fixed f/8 lens which means a slower shutter and high ISO to compensate. And at 1000mm the camera shake generated simply by the shutter actuation was shocking and frustrating, even on the most stable tripod Manfrotto makes. To prevent the shutter actuation from making the image blurry, getting my shutter to 1/1200 of a second, I had to ramp the ISO up to 3200 which means noise was awful.

I am still intrigued with getting one of these for myself. They are affordable at about $190 for the kit. I just wish they can make them at about f/4. But until they do, I will make do with what I have available and my friends who love to share their technology with someone eager to try new things.

To find out more feel free to visit, Amazon.

Butte Creek Falls

South Falls Panorama

I spent the morning with my friend Jim near Scotts Mills, Oregon. He showed me two gorgeous waterfalls called Butte Falls, North and South. The area above Scotts Mills is a diverse of old growth state forest and privately owned farm land. The road then turns to gravel and after another 15 minutes of driving, we came across a little brown sign identifying the Butte Falls trail head and an outhouse. A short hike down the trail, and I mean down, we are at the base of the South Falls. Head North for a ten minute hike that felt a little perilous at times we came to a viewpoint for the North Falls. Needless to say, the area is gorgeous.

Butte Falls - South Falls

Butte Falls - North Falls

Butte Falls - North Falls Panorama

Free Wallpaper Wednesday - Butte Creek Falls

Download Widescreen 1600x900

This week's free Wallpaper is a soothing photograph from Butte Creek Falls outside of Scotts Mills, oregon. There are two versions offered, one is a standard 4x3 for monitors (800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x1024) and the other is for 16x9 widescreen monitors (1600x900).

Download Standard 4x3

The Amazing Feeling of Appreciation

Blue Tempest (2010)

It has been a while since I really put myself out there and put my work on display for public consumption. Sure, I have had my images hidden in the mash of other images of my peers, but it has been a long time since I show cased my images in a featured artist setting. That is until now.

Fall Bloom (2012)

I know I am a good photographer, but I also know the world is full of good photographers and I am but a simple guppy the sea.

I personally know dozens of photographers who consistently produce absolutely stunning work. By absolutely stunning, I mean their work truly humbles me in regards to my own work and constantly inspires me to do better. So, with that said, I have not been highly motivated to try and market my work. I have been focused on fine tuning my style, my voice, my vision.

I know, this can sound pretentious and a little asinine like the way movies stereotype the snobby New York artists, but the fact of matter is that I have been on this journey of discovery for year. As a result of the journey I developed three different styles, one of which is present in the image on the right, called Fall Bloom.

This particular style was initially experimented with in 2010 with my Blue Tempest shot, above. I truly fell in love with Blue Tempest. I printed it as and 11"x17" print on metallic paper mounted on foam core and showed it at the State Fair. There was an offer made to purchase it at the fair, but the sale never came to be. So over the course of two years, it hung on my wall as I quietly fine tuned that style into what became the style shown in Fall Bloom.

A few years ago I made a good friend, April, during a program called the Artist Way. April has always been a fan of my work, as I have been of hers. In December, April was promoting the opening of a new family ran pizza parlor style restaurant named Donatello's. Being the man of culinary substance that I am, I dragged my wife down on Donatello's opening night.

April was working the bar, as a favor to the owner. We chatted for a bit and she asked me if I would be willing to be their first featured artist. I hesitated for a three seconds and before I could say the six reasons I came up with in those three seconds, my wife said "He means, yes he will do it."

I am going to do something magical right now. I am going to answer your question; "What are the six "reasons" you came up with in three seconds to not say yes immediately?" I am also going to translate those reasons for you as well. They were, in order:

1. "The walls are really red." Translated, I was simply making an excuse to hide my fear.
2. "I don't have enough images to fill the huge space." Translated, this was another excuse to hide that I was doubting the validity of my own work. 
3. "I won't have time to get anything together." Translated, this was an excuse to hide I was afraid standing out from the crowd.
4. "I can't afford to print new images." Translated, this was an excuse to make sure I didn't have to do it.
5. I don't have anything worth showing. Translated, this was an excuse to ensure success through lack of action. What does that mean? If I don't try, I can't fail.
6. I am not capable to doing a featured show. Translated, this was pure fear.

This is how the whole thing when down:

April: "I am glad you came to night. We are going to be displaying artwork from local artist and I would love for you to be our first featured artist."

Me: "Um, yeah... well..." (six excuses processed)

My Wife: "He means, Yes, he will do it."

April: "That is great!"

Above the Bar

I am my own worst critic. Most of us are. My second worse critic is my wife, but she is also my biggest fan and supporter. So after her almost comical  and instantaneous acceptance of the offer on my behalf we sat down to eat some yummy pizza and I said, "I don't have enough pieces to fill the space and we don't have enough money to print more." She called me on my bullshit and the rest is history. With seventeen of my existing prints and a budget of $100 I printed fifteen more images from the only locally owned and operated professional printers I work with, Photo Vision here in Salem, and I prepared to show. On December 23rd, with the help of my wife and April, my prints were hung in the pizza parlor and I made my first sale about a week later, Blue Tempest and my second sale came about a week after that, Fall Bloom.

Relativity

I am happy that I did this show. It has inspired me to show more. I am not making a fortune in any way shape or form from the sales of these images, but then that is not what this was about for me. This was about showing my work. This is about people experiencing my vision; my voice. The fact that two pieces sold is great simply because these people were moved enough by my work that they have hung my work, in their home, shop, garage, place of work or bathroom. Their appreciation of my work will continue, even after my showing is over. That is what makes me happy.

Outside the Men's Room

Now I am a big supporter of three types of businesses, those that support local artists, those that give to the community and those that are locally owned and operated. So here is my plug for a business that is all of the above. If you live in the Salem, Oregon area, come in to Donatello's at 3981 Commercial SE, next to Northern Light's Theater. While you are there, try a bite of their fantastic pizza and their amazingly fresh salad bar. It is a classic pizza parlor dining experience that resembles the days before the other fast food, diarrhea inducing, prefabbed crap that is out their today. 

Donatello's just opened in December. They are family owned and operated. They are providing an avenue for artists to show and sell their works. They support local giving events. They are a family friendly business worth the support of a community and their food is amazingly delicious and fresh to boot. Go check them out. Show your support. Eat some delicious food. Appreciate some art. Enjoy a family friendly experience.

Getting the most out of winter

 

Spinning Umbrella

Winter in the Northwest can bring so many unique opportunities that aren't as readily available during other seasons.

Leaves have fallen away, exposing the forests for their natural beauty. Overcast skies create the best possible natural softbox for diffusing light. Finally, rain creates natural textures, reflections and patterns.

Rising Waters

It is easy to complain about the weather, but if one embraces the beauty that all weather brings it becomes easy to appreciate and even look forward to the rain, the sun, the snow, the wind and even the gray skies.

The key to shooting winter is to prepare yourself and your gear.

Sunken Dock

Rain on Blue

Preparing Yourself:

• Dress in layers
• Wear a raincoat
• Protect your feet
• Wear a hat
• Bring an umbrella

Skyward

Prepare Your Equipment:

• Use a raincoat - You don't have to buy a $30 camera rain covering. I use recycles plastic grocery bags and dollar store hair ties. Poke a small hole in the bottom of the bag, push the lens through and seal it with the hair tie. You now have a raincoat for your camera that cost you maybe $0.11. 
• Keep your lens cap on until you shoot.
• Keep your lens point away from rain whenever possible.
• Use a plastic garbage bag to for your camera bag or backpack.

Stark Winter

Harsh Winter

With a little preparation and even less money you can still go out when the weather less than ideal or savory.

No excuses. Now GOYAS.

Wet path

Reflection

Autumn Orchard

The final fall images of the year are in the bag so to speak. I have been working on a themed result this year in the hopes to put together a show for this winter.

So now I am entering the phase of selecting choice images to include in the show. This will likely take me some time as I am brutal in my selection process.

Stay tuned, in the coming months I will be announcing the where and when of the coming show.