Messages

1

Landscape / Re: Around Inari, Finland

« on: February 14, 2013, 12:58:14 PM »

Great shots of the Aurora. I really like the last one as well.

2

Landscape / Re: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands NP, Utah

« on: February 09, 2013, 10:29:53 PM »

Thanks for the advice, we're in Page for 2 days (got my lottery ticket for the Wave) and for upper and lower Antelope Canyon.  Very excited.

Congrats on the lottery win. I have seen many amazing shots from that spot. We did try the lottery and were not successful. We had intended on the daily walk up draw, even stayed in Kanab to be near the office for the draw, but chose not try as we were told the crowds were still very large trying for permits to the Wave.  Kanab became a good base for touring areas like Bryce Canyon, and Zion.

Make sure you post photos of your visit there.

Steve

3

Landscape / Re: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands NP, Utah

« on: February 08, 2013, 10:56:13 AM »

We're planning a 16 day trip to the southwest this summer.  After seeing this picture I'm adding Canyonlands to the list of places to see.

If you can, try for a minimum two days in the Moab, UT area.  We had barely a day there and missed so much. A week likely would only scratch the surface of the scenic beauty there.

By Staying in Moab, you are close to Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point SP, and so many other places.

If you are after a sunrise shot of Mesa Arch you will need to get there early, we lucked out in that I barely got a spot in the line up. We were there an hour before sunrise in early October, and from what I have read it is busier in the summer.

Steve

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Landscape / Re: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands NP, Utah

« on: February 08, 2013, 07:10:31 AM »

Thanks for the information drmikeinpdx. Thanks for the positive comments curtisnull, and Menace.

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Landscape / Re: 2013 Vistek Emerging Photographer

« on: February 01, 2013, 12:34:03 PM »

All your photos are great, but I really like your first one most.

I cast my vote for you Riley.

Steve

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Landscape / Re: Spiral Arm of the Milky Way above the Texas Desert

« on: February 01, 2013, 07:14:19 AM »

For those of you looking for dark skies, this light pollution map is great:
http://www.blue-marble.de/nightlights/2010

Thanks Axilrod for posting the light pollution map link.  I will use the map come this spring and summer to try my luck with some local astrophotography.

Here in Ontario where I live we have a protected Dark Skies Preserve, the Torrance Barrens that I will visit as well mid-summer. It is great area in that the few trees that are there are fairly small and stunted in growth due to the harsh growing conditions present. http://www.rasc.ca/content/torrance-barrens-dark-sky-preserve

Steve

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Landscape / Re: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands NP, Utah

« on: January 31, 2013, 11:19:30 AM »

It will be a few years before we make it back the US SW. Next time I will be better prepared for what to expect and time needed to explore such a gorgeous part of the US.

At the Canyonlands portion of our trip, I still did not know how to bracket my exposures with my new camera. There is so much to learn on these new 'powerful' cameras, but that is half the fun.

8

Landscape / Mesa Arch, Canyonlands NP, Utah

« on: January 30, 2013, 09:34:10 PM »

After our wedding in late September 2012, my wife and I spent over a week, and driving some 300 miles in the US SW. After viewing so many fantastic photos in this forum, I knew we had too much to see with too little time. I did manage to drag my bride out of bed early one morning to make the trek from Green River, Utah to make it yo Canyonlands National Park to see and shoot the sunrise there. We arrived early, or so I thought, but the place was packed. I was lucky enough to squeeze into a spot toward the right end to get several shots.

I now know that next time, we will stay in Moab, and I can go to the Arch myself even earlier to try for an even better vantage point.

9

Landscape / Re: Utah

« on: December 17, 2012, 07:18:27 AM »

Your third shot is quite amazing. Great ingenuity used as well. My wife and I had a short visit to Arches NP in early October, but not being familiar with the area, chose to hike to the Delicate Arch from the second parking area as the first was packed with vehicles. It was quite busy at the second and after a relatively short hike, we found we were quite a distance from the actual arch. The view was great, but I left my 70-200 in the car so the arch is quite small in al my photos.

When you took that photo, how many other people were there with you? At sunset while we were there, a large group was at the upper viewing area, with some people under the arch as well.

Steve

10

Landscape / Re: Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona

« on: December 15, 2012, 07:39:59 PM »

Great shot.  I live in Arizona (not near Page, though) and could fairly easily drive up there on a two day trip.  However, I have never been and likely never will for one reason.  Everyone I know who has gone in the last decade says that it is always full of photographers with tripods no matter when you go and you have to fight for a place to get a shot.  Just too popular and too small of a space.

Am I wrong about this?

If you have not been in that area to photograph it, I say take the time, it will be well worth it. Start early with sunrise at Horseshoe Bend, just south of Page a short walk from the highway, do the canyon during the day and head a little bit west to Toadstool on highway 98 in Utah. Sunset at Horseshoe Bend is awesome too. As will the dozens of other photogenic areas be.

When my wife and I were there  October 1st, there was 1 other person with a tripod in my tour. The folks at Ken's Tours, who run the tours are great people to deal with. http://www.lowerantelope.com  When we left the parking area, there were many cars there, but the Upper AC parking lot across the highway was packed with cars buses RV's and tour vehicles. Which I am sure would make for a zoo of a tour.

11

Landscape / Re: Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona

« on: December 15, 2012, 07:31:15 PM »

Awesome shot!  What time of day was it when you took this shot?  I'm assuming open lens without any filters, is that correct?

My work takes me to Page several times a year but I haven't been to Antelope Canyon yet.  What do you believe is the best time of year and best time of the day for AC?

We took the morning tour I think it was 8:30, I got the photo tour (which gives you and additional hour) as I had a tripod and a DSLR camera.  I only had a UV filter on the lens plus I covered the camera and lens with a rain sleeve because I was concerned about dust.

There were several in the tour but at no time did I feel rushed or have people in my way. The Upper Canyon tour is the opposite from what I have been told. As I mentioned in my first post, I had a tripod malfunction, I did not locate the allen key in the tripod bag, so the camera became loose, making long exposures a waste of time sadly. Add that to the fact my camera was new, so I did not know how to bracket exposures, I still came away with many good shots.

The summer time is better for the sunbeam shots, but the crowds are heavier too. I have recently chatted with someone that was there recently and he said they allowed him an additional hour for a small fee.

12

Landscape / Re: Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona

« on: December 15, 2012, 02:20:35 PM »

Thanks phixional ninja.

I used my new 5D mk3, only its 341st shutter actuation with a rental EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II plus a rental tripod that gave me issues.  The image was a 2.00s exposure at f/14 and the ISO was 100.

13

Landscape / Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona

« on: December 15, 2012, 11:43:53 AM »

Here is an image from Lower Antelope Canyon near Page Arizona, taken in early October.

14

Pricewatch Deals / Re: 12 Days of Christmas at Gura Gear

« on: December 14, 2012, 12:28:15 PM »

That  Really Right Stuff MTX Multi-Tool would be cool to win, but I am sure it's too late to enter now.

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Contests / Re: Gura Gear Giveaway!

« on: December 07, 2012, 10:45:58 AM »

I have lurked here for a while, and with my first post i would like to win something great.