White Water

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/18 at 0.3
ISO 100

On our trip to Jasper last June, I had it in my mind to get some waterfall pictures. However, I am a lazy photographer and don't like to walk or hike too far to find an interesting scene. Luckily this waterfall was right at the side of the highway. We were not the only one's who stopped for a pic.

Of course I wanted to do the traditional slow shutter speed thing so as to blur the running water. It doesn't take much as you can see from the third-of-a-second exposure in the shot above. Colour balance was my biggest problem in post. The original camera settings produced a picture that was way too green and yellow. I added a bit of magenta and blue to tone it down.

Maligne Lake Alberta

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/5.6 at 1/200
ISO 100

This picture was taken in early June. If you want to see snow-capped mountains this is a good time to see them. The weather is warm and the roads have no snow but the mountains still retain much of their snowpack.

In this shot the lake is still covered in ice. It was a beautiful day and my wife and I lingered for some time taking pictures of the scenery and wildlife. One problem technically with this scene is the fact that the white mountains are in full sunshine and the dark green trees are in partial shade.

I exposed the scene so as not to lose detail in the snow and in post I had to reduce the contrast and brighten the area of the trees in the foreground. I am pleased with the final result.

The Road to Mount Robson

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/8 at 1/200
ISO 100

This is a view not many people get to see. Towering to 12,972 feet (3954 m) the peak of Mount Robson is usually hidden behind clouds. In fact I have passed this way before and was unable to see the peak because of clouds.

The motivation behind this image was to create a stock photo people in the travel industry could use to help sell their services especially RV rentals. As a result I spent a little time waiting at the side of the road for some RVs to pass by. I think I was successful but I have not yet made these photos available for sale. That will be a project for next year.

The Kiss

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/8 at 1/60
ISO 100

This shot was taken at the same time and location as the shot in my previous posting. I like this picture but I wish I was just a little closer and that I had set my lens to a larger aperture. The combination of these two things would have produced a less distracting back and foreground with a closer view and greater emphasis on the two chipmunks.

It still is an interesting moment and I am glad I was ready and waiting with my camera. They did this more than once but it happened so briefly that I was unable to get many pictures. This was the best one.

Up Close and Personal

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/5.6 at 1/250
ISO 200

While touring around Jasper we stopped at a picnic area at the side of the highway. There was a small parking lot and some picnic tables next to a small river. It was a nice place to have lunch and there was a group of chipmunks that thought so too.

It was obvious these little guys had learned that everyone who stops there to eat will give them a morsel or two of something tasty. We certainly proved their point. They all looked well fed and all were quite brave.They let me get really close. This shot was not cropped. I got close enough to him/her to fill my frame.

The biggest problem on this day wasn't getting close enough but getting them to sit still long enough for me to choose a good point of view with appropriate lighting and an uncluttered background. I really like this shot and several others I got that day. I may post another one tomorrow.

I Wish I Could Paint

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/18 at 1/20
ISO 200

I have always admired those who can put to canvas what they imagine in their minds. As a result, I took a painting class or two (watercolours) but unfortunately learned I wasn't going to be one of those people. Therefore, I look to my camera to help me create images that I am unable to create with a brush.

Although this photo is not as painterly as I feel a photograph can be, it is a step away from the literal or documentary and a step towards creating what I imagine in my mind. I talked about power in numbers in my last post well there is no substitute for practicing with various photogrpahic techniques. The more you shoot and pay attention to your results, the more you will be able to instinctively use your camera's controls to produce the photos you want.

Locomotion

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 28 – 105
f/20 at 1/13
ISO 100

I doubt this truck has moved in years. It is now essentially just a picnic table with a beautiful view of Mount Robson and only a few yards from the hummingbird feeder I spoke of in my last posting.

My goal was to try and capture a picture reminiscent of this trucks former life as a machine that moved, made noise, and helped people get work done. To do that I wanted to make it appear that it was in motion. But, how do you make a large stationary object appear to be moving?

The only technique I could come up with at the time was to use a slow shutter speed and zoom the lens during the exposure. I'm not sure I was completely successful at making the truck look like it is moving, but there is motion in the photograph that helps to make it more interesting than just a static shot of an old truck.