Posts Tagged ‘HDR’

Stuck in Customs.com is my favorite site for seeing cutting edge HDR photographs done well by a master in this art form, Trey Ratcliff.  Many consider this site the very best when it comes to travel photography.  He’s also written a book, “A World in HDR”, that I found very inspiring.  I you only want to learn his technical approach to taking high dynamic range photographs, you can get all that inf0rmaiont from his tutorial found on his website.  However, if you want to gain a deeper insight into why you love photography, and HDR in particular, buy the book; you won’t be disappointed!

Snow and Ice at Osage Lake

It was the day after Christmas 2009, and two days since the biggest blizzard in over 20 years blanketed Southwest Oklahoma with amounts of snow varying from 2 to 8 inches.  Throughout the area, thin layers of snow lay alongside deep snow drifts, the results of 30-40 mph winds.  There was barely a breeze stirring today; the sky was blue and clear as far as one could see, and warmth from the sun felt so good!  The family had come to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge primarily to get out of the house but also to see the snow on the Refuge.  It was already mid-afternoon so we weren’t expecting to be the first footprints in the snow.  However, we were soon to be disappointed when we discovered that areas such as Boulder and Sunset had not even had their gates opened for access.  We may have been disappointed, but our intent to have fun was not thwarted.  Since we were in two vehicles, I led the group to the Treasure Lake – Post Oak Lake Area because I was confident we could get up the road and there were no gates to be closed, anyway.  Soon we found ourself out of the cars, enjoying the fresh air, the young bison grazing nearby on Indian Grass poking through the snow, and throwing snowballs at each other.  After a good time was had by all, and hands and feet were becoming uncomfortably cold, the family decided to drive to Mamaw’s house for a visit.  I opted to remain in the WMWR in search of interesting photo opportunities.  I was certain I could find some. Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas Lights Reflect in the waters of Bath Lake

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Iron Foot Bridge

Sunday afternoon was beautiful with temperatures into the 60s.  While Sherry, Marcy, Erin, and Mike hiked the Elk Mountain Trail up Elk Mountain located on the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Oklahoma, I stayed at the bottom searching for photographic opportunities in the Sunset Picnic Area.  The old footbridge crossing Headquarters Creek was replaced with a new recently constructed ironwork bridge.  It is being allowed to age naturally.  I think it’s a nice and thoughtful touch.  The dominating red color in the granite and soil of Southwest Oklahoma is due to the high levels of oxidized iron; this oxidized iron bridge is a perfect fit.  The image is a 4 exposure HDR image.  I used a polarizing filter on my Carl Zeis 16-80mm lens to bring out the moss growing on the bottom of the stream.

"Barns of Southwest Oklahoma"

It was late in the evening; the sun had already sank below the infinitely broad western horizon of Kiowa County.  Earlier in the day I had taken Hwy. 54 north to 152, then west to Cordell, and finally north on 183 into Clinton, OK.  I enjoyed the drive; I always do.  However, it’s not uncommon for me to return a different route.  Late in the afternoon, as I began my return trip, I decided to continue on 183 south out of Cordell then turn east on Hwy. 9, a couple miles south of Rocky.  This would take me to the intersection of Hwy. 9 & 54, at Gotebo.  Though several miles away, I could faintly see the lights of Gotebo ahead where Hwy. 9 intersects with Hwy. 54.  I had never traveled this eleven miles before and it was not out of the way, so what the heck?  I questioned my decision just south of Cordell as I came upon some extensive road construction.  The flagman had us stopped waiting our turn to go for so long I turned off the engine.  There was nothing else to do since I was hemmed-in, both front and rear.  After what seemed like twenty minutes, but was probably much less, the lead car came to lead us, slowly, to the other end of the construction, just a few short miles north of Rocky. Read the rest of this entry »

Pac Man

Recently, I was reading “Inner Game of Outdoor Photography”, by the late Galen Rowell, and something he wrote struck a strong chord with me.  In the chapter titled, “The Art of Fixing a Shadow”, he wrote that William Henry Fox Talbot, in 1839 while introducing his invention of photography, referred to it as the “art of fixing a shadow”.  Upon reading those words, everything all my knowledge about photography suddenly melted together in harmony.  Fixing the shadows is truly the art and essence of photography.  The great landscape photographers have always been and always will be putting forth great effort to resolve the issues between light and dark, the highlights and the shadows.  Rendering highlights into a pleasing picture is not difficult, ah, but making the shadows work, that’s the art.

This is what I find fascinating and rewarding about employing high dynamic range (HDR) techniques in my photographs.  This technique is one I have only recently began exploring, but now there are so many, “Aha”, moments I have become intoxicated with the possibilities.  For years I have studied and labored on efforts to solve the issue of correctly representing what I saw in both the highlights and the shadows.  Most of these efforts met with disappointment and even the ones I considered successful failed to fully satisfy.  HDR appears to be the answer with results that bring a great deal of satisfaction and peace with my efforts.

Enchanted Tower

It had already been a magical morning.  The magic began shortly after sunrise as I rounded the curve that bent back toward the southeast taking me to the dam on  Lake Rush in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  The scene took my breath as the scene unfolded in brilliant colors in shades of reds, yellows, and greens.  “Thank you, LORD!”, I spoke aloud, even though there was no one else around to hear them; just He and I.  I continued to thank him throughout the morning as he showed me wonderful and glorious beauty.  I knew I was rushing against ever rising sun and it’s changing light.  I knew the wind was coming, as well, and understood this window was fleeting.  A feeling of urgency arose within and I rushed to gather my  equipment, locate the perfect place to set up and then to think clearly enough to  manipulate the controls and settings to capture the image not only seen with my eyes but felt in my soul.  My biggest fear was that after two days already spent on the Refuge, the planning, the preparation, and now the presentation would be lost because of mistakes I’d make and points I wouldn’t consider.  To minimize all possibilites, I focused, not just the lens, but my total attention to the task at hand.

The next two hours were intense as I tried to capture as much as possible before the sun rose higher changing the angles of the light and chasing the enchantment away.  I moved frequently trying to stay ahead of the sun and time.  Each moved revealed something new requiring a changes in method and technique.  I was oblivious to everything around me and yet, hyper-aware of all my surroundings.  Finally, with a deep sigh, relaxation washed over me and I knew the window was closed and it was time to leave.  I left with no regrets.  But, I knew there was more left to the morning if only I could find it.  I knew there was more He could show me if I wanted to see. Read the rest of this entry »