Fresh Snow in Nevada City, California

The other day I had the chance to photograph the first winter storm as it left a fresh blanket of snow on the historic gold rush town of Nevada City California.   It doesn't hurt that I live only about 15min from downtown.   It is rare that it storms on a Friday night, but clears on Saturday morning.   This allows for some great photography while the town is nearly empty of people.   About the only people around town at 7am on a snow Saturday morning were a few other photographers who were all very kind not to track the fresh powder.

Let ski season begin!

 

Bald Eagles Workshop Recap

There is nothing more amazing than a wildlife encounter that has you sitting silently in the snow with the temperature below zero when it is so quiet that you can actually hear a Bald Eagle eating from 100ft way.   As with my previous trips to Alaska to photograph eagles, Haines did not disappoint.

Despite having a couple of slow days and temperatures that had the locals complain that it was cold, my group came home with some truly amazing images as well as some great stories.

What makes Haines so special for Bald Eagle Photography is that the Chilkat River has one of the last Salmon runs in South East Alaska, while at the same time as it has a unique warm water upwelling that keeps a short mile long stretch of river thawed.   As a result eagles come by the thousands to the last reliable food source before the long dark winter.

This unique combination concentrates the eagles and offers the best chance of photographing them in the wild found anywhere in the world.   Photographers come from the world over in big and small groups to capture these majestic birds.   While this year there was one workshop with 16 people, I kept my group much smaller to allow us to change locations rapidly to adjust for changing weather and changing bird activity.   After watching the frustration from some people in the larger group, I am again convinced of the value of small workshops that can be much more tailored to individual needs and goals.

As always it was sad to leave Haines with so many eagles still waiting to be photographed, but knowing I'll be back in a couple years with another group helped to keep me excited for the future.

Gear Gear Gear!

Someone always asks so...

I took two Nikon D3s's (one borrowed from NPS) and a D800 with the vertical grip which allows for high resolution or a 1.5x crop at 6fps with the grip.   I mostly used the D3s's because the light was low and I wanted the 9fps over the D800.   I didn't find I needed the extra reach of the 1.5x crop on the D800 much either.

I mainly used my Nikon 500mm f4 VRI, and Nikon 80-400mm VRII.    It was the first trip I have used the new 80-400 on, and I was very happy.   (Anyone what to buy a used 300 f4 AF-S).   I used the 500mm on a tripod with a Wimberley Sidekick, and the 80-400 over my shoulder.   Both with a D3s and fast flash cards.   I brought a 16-35 and 24-70 but they only saw very minor use, I also tried out a Fujifilm X10 Point & Shoot which I kept in my pocket the entire trip for quick snap shots.   I never used my flash once, with the ability to adjust shadows so much in Lightroom I don't find I use as much fill light as I once did.

A few times I used the 1.4x on the 500mm until I slipped on an snow covered slope and fell on the 500mm & 1.4x, which for the rest of the trip became a fixed 700mm f5.6 because I couldn't take the converter off.   $430 and a trip to the shop later, I now have a 500mm f4 again.   Based on the fall I took an the fact I landed in a thorn bush I feel like I got off lucky considering the value of the gear I fell on.

While I am an f-stop camera bag lover through and through, this time I carried all my gear in a rolling Think Tank Airport Security.   Knowing I would always be working close to the car and the fact I was carrying the 500mm convinced me to use the roller.  Man was it nice rolling through airports and the ferry without a 50lb pack on.

January 2014 Shutterbug Cover

Checkout the January 2014 issue of Shutterbug!

I have the cover as well as four page story on creating sunstars. and balancing exposure.   The cover was shot during a trip to the Peter Grubb Hut on Donner Pass.   Its hard to pass up an amazing sunset reflected in fresh snow.

Sierra Club and Peter Grubb Hut photos

For several years Jen and I have been organizing a yearly winter trip to the Peter Grubb Hut just off of HWY 80 on Donner Pass.   Most years we get a big group of friends and make a weekend adventure out of it, with guitars, wine, and of course skiing. 

Over the years we have noticed the slow decline and disrepair of the hut, and this past winter the Sierra Club was forced to close it until emergency structural repairs could be completed.   While preparing to do the repairs they started a major fundraising campaign to help foot the bill for some future remodels as well. 

I am happy to announce that they are using my  photos from many of our past trips to the hut to help with all their fundraising efforts.  Photos are being used both on the web and in mailers, in an effort to help keep the hut running for many more generations of backcountry adventures.  To find out more and to donate please checkout the following link.   

National Geographic

Getting excited about my Bald Eagle workshop this coming November because I just got my copy of the 2014 National Geographic Eagles Calender with two of my images from my previous trips to Alaska.

I scored the January page which is the most prestigious page after the cover. I also have the June page as well.

I still have some space on the trip for anyone interested.

Signing with Aurora Photos

The big news on the photo front is that I signed with Aurora Photos to distribute my images world wide.   Aurora is the most successful and exclusive photo agency in the world for outdoor and adventure work, and they represent most of the world's best outdoor adventure photographers.  Along with opening up many new markets for my images in both Europe and Asia, Aurora is also partnered with Getty images, which is the largest photo distributor in the world.   Needless to say, this is a major career move, and will lead to new sales and hopefully open the door to many new clients throughout the world.   This has been nearly a year long process between reworking my website, applying, doing the legal stuff, and finally having my first selection of images on their site. 

Adopting Francisco

It has been a busy past few months for sure!

  As many people have already heard through the grapevine or on Facebook, Jen and I just got home from the Philippines, where--after a long 5 year process--we adopted our son, Francisco.   He is a wonderful 23 month old who is already keeping us running to keep up.   Looks like he picked the right family to join if he wants lots of adventures!   There are lots more photos on my Facebook page.

New Shutterbug Cover

Pick up the new July 2013 copy of Shutterbug Magazine.   Along with the cover I have a 6 page story about using graduated neutral density in the digital age.   It is a great article for those landscape and adventure photographers out there.  

Are your lenses always fogging up in the winter?

After so many days shooting in the snow and sub-freezing temperatures this year I thought it might be good to share a few lessons learned about keeping your camera functional and ready to shoot in winter.  

The key to understanding fogged lenses is that it only happens when you bring a cold camera into a warm environment.   Meaning that one never has problems when bringing a camera from the warm car/hotel room out to shoot in the cold.   In Yellowstone several times I pulled out my room temperature camera and began shooting early morning photos when the temperatures were below zero (easily a 70 degree temperature difference with no fogging issues).   But as soon as that camera cooled down and I brought it back to the warm car it would suddenly become a useless foggy mess.   The key is that once your camera is cold you need to keep it cold.  But be sure to pull the batteries out and keep them warm so they work.  

In Yellowstone we kept the temperature in the car just warm enough for our fingers and toes, but never warm enough to affect our cameras (I would take off my parka but leave on my hat, gloves, and fleece jacket).   My guess is that we kept the car around 40 degrees, and we often drove with the windows down while using binoculars to spot distant wildlife.   By keeping the car cold, we were able to leave lenses and cameras sitting out in the back seat ready for use at a moment's notice. 

         Drying my sleeping bag after a cold night, and yes that top number is correct it is 14 degrees at    
                                                                9:28am in the sun.   COLD!

At the end of the day when it is time for me to bring my gear into a warm tent, cabin, or hotel room, I always pack everything away tightly into my camera bags to help slow the warming process.   Not only is condensation a pain because fogged lenses can't be used till they warm, but moisture can also lead to electronic problems.   Some photographers even go so far as to wrap their gear in a plastic bag to keep out condensation until the equipment has reached room temperature. 

So remember, going from warm to cold is no big deal, but going from cold to warm is a BIG DEAL!   Also don't forget to keep that extra battery warm in your chest pocket!

Ostrander Ski Hut

Jen and I just spent a great three nights at the Ostrander Hut, 10 miles into the Yosemite backcountry.   The hut has long been considered the premier ski hut of the Sierra and a must do trip for any serious outdoor adventurer.  So how could we resist?  Funny how things happen, because though the trip started out as an adventure for us and one other couple, it turned into a trip of 15 people!   We all met in Yosemite Valley the night before at the campground, and talked over meals and ski plans.   Then the next morning we drove up to Badger Pass where we finished packing and left our cars near the trailhead.

The first five miles of skiing went amazingly quickly on the groomed, but crusty, Glacier Point Road.  We stopped at the start of Horizon Ridge to eat lunch and treat some blisters.   Then it was another five miles of up and down (mostly up), but with the poor snow pack this year, several times we found ourselves skinning across pine needles rather than snow.   By the time we made it to the hut, most people in our group were pretty worked, and several showed up right as it got dark.  

With the hard part behind us though, we quickly forgot the struggle of getting to the hut and set about making the trip as enjoyable as possible . . . which of course involved a nice warm fire and a glass of wine.   When we woke in the morning we found that the foot of fresh powder predicted hadn't arrived and that the storm was only just beginning.   So after a leisurely breakfast that turned into lunch, we eventually put on our storm gear and headed out for an adventure. 

We discovered that Fritz, the hut keeper, had been right when he said that despite only having a few inches around the hut, the North Facing slopes on the ridge were great skiing.  With hoods fully zipped against blowing snow, we made two climbs and had a great afternoon playing in the first new snow in more than a month.   

With everyone rested, warm, and happy, that night turned out to be party night.   Once I found out that Fritz and Lindsey, his wife, had a guitar stashed away in the root cellar, I couldn't help busting out a few tunes with backup from a wash basin standup base (redneck style for sure).   Yes, that is me on the guitar.   

The following day was what makes living in the Sierra worth all the hassles of crowded California.   Fresh untracked powder, bluebird skies, views down to Half Dome, and only our friends to share it with.   While some people skied the steeps, the rest of us went exploring along horizon ridge and found some amazing tree skiing along with some of the best views of the Yosemite high country I have ever seen.   Obviously many photos were taken and many high-fives were given.   After skiing, there was nothing better than to spend the afternoon with a cup of hot soup on the porch of the hut enjoying the view and the warmth of the sun.

So after three nights and amazing ski conditions, my only regret from our trip was that we hadn't stayed longer.   We made great time skiing fresh powder on the way back to Glacier Point Road with only a short section of carrying our skis to avoid the rocks and dirt.  Even the one member of our group who hiked out all 10 miles carrying his broken skis on his pack said it was the trip of a lifetime.  

For those photographers out there, in order to save weight I carried my Olympus EM-5 Micro 4/3 system rather than my heavier Nikon full frame system.   For 90% of everything I shot, it performed amazingly well and I never missed my heavier gear.  But for the action sequences I did end up missing a lot of shots because of its poor continuous-auto focus.   I love the system for static subjects or street photography, but for action or high level landscape work, I'll continue to take my Nikon gear in the future.  If I did the trip again tomorrow, without a doubt I would still take the micro 4/3 gear again, because I wasn't there to shoot action, but rather to enjoy the trip.

Sunset on Half Dome

Equipment

Olympus EM-5   

Really Right Stuff grip (makes the camera so much more functional)

Mini flash that comes with the EM-5

2 Olympus batteries

2 knock off batteries, which suck!

Lenses 

Don't forget, micro 4/3 is a 2x crop system so the focal length is equivalent to double on a full frame camera.

Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6

Panasonic 20mm f/1.7  for low light interior work

Panasonic 45-200 f/4-5.6

High Resolution Cameras

So after spending several months working with the 36 megapixel Nikon D800, I figured it was time I weighed in on all the hype over the new crop of high megapixel cameras and the "problems" they create. Just like every other photographer, I am a bit of a gearhead, so when I heard "36 megapixels" my mind started racing with massive prints, major crops, shorter lenses, and greater sales.  Before ordering my D800 through Nikon Professional Services, I tried hard to weigh my decision based the question "would the D800 improve my photography?"  Being that I have already been happy with 20x30 prints from my D3s, and that the majority of my photo sales are for publication, not prints, how could I justify spending the money for a fancy new camera?  Also, would my 5 year old computer handle the enormous files, or was I also looking at investing in a new computer system?

Being that I was happy with my D700 for my light-weight body, how did I convince myself?  It was the ability make major crops that sold me.  With a 36 megapixel file, my editors have the ability to crop a vertical cover image from a small portion of a horizontal image.  Also, the higher video quality was a deciding factor, because more of my clients are looking for someone who can do video and stills for their projects.

Problems, you say? Well along with the massive file size and amazing resolution, come a new set of issues.  First, getting sharp images is a lot harder than it was with a 12 megapixel camera, because even the slightest lapse in technique shows as a glaring mistake.  With every camera I have owned in the past, I could shoot at shutter speeds equal to or greater than my lens lengths, I now have to double that number in order to be absolutely sure I am eliminating any camera shake.  (Mirror lockup is now even more important as well).   It is sort of like using a magnifying glass to look at a scene rather than just using your naked eye.  Small things that look fine to the eye now stand out at higher magnification.  Also, as I feared, I found that the new files were so large that my high powered photo-editing desktop was so slow I wanted to shoot myself.  In the end, tripling my resolution also required investing in an entirely new computer system, including replacing my new Drobo hard drive because it was just too slow and didn't support Thunderbolt.

So is this camera for you?  We all want the newest and the greatest inventions, but I would argue that even though this camera is flying off the shelves, most people are getting in over their heads.  How often do you actually print 20x30 or larger?  How often do you crop more than 40-50%?  Could you just get a little closer to your subject?  If you mainly post photos online, make 16x20 or smaller prints, or give slide shows, you are not gaining anything over the 12 or 16 megapixel camera you already have.  I would say that for  90% of people, saving the money spent on a new computer and camera for a cool new lens, trip of a lifetime, or photo instruction, is a better choice.  As the saying goes, "the best camera is the one you have with you".

2013 Wild and Scenic Film Festival

 
                     Activist Craig Childs addresses a crowd

Each January the South Yuba River Citizens League puts on the largest environmental film festival in the country in Nevada City.   For years I have been involved in various ways with the event, either showing work or helping to check tickets at the door.  This year I decided it was time to donate my photography skill to help create publicity photos of the event.   I had a wonderful time interacting and photographing film makers, volunteers, guest speakers, and of course famous rock climber Alex Honnold.  

If you have never attended the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, you are missing out.   With some of the most inspiring and educational films I have ever seen, I can't wait for next January.  













Naturalist and Author John Muir Laws signs petition to protect Yuba River Salmon from a proposed Dam project.













Climber Alex Honnold being interviewed for upcoming film.

                                                                                Filmmaker wins an award