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

Photographing Yellowstone In Winter

After just returning from my very first time shooting during the winter in Yellowstone, I can honestly say it should be a trip on EVERY photographer's list.  It is like going on an African Safari in North America!  For 6 days we explored the area between the North and Northeast entrance of the park on the only park road open during the winter.   Along with Jen, we had the pleasure of hanging out with our great friends and locals Eric Rock and Melissa Scott who often guide wildlife and photography tours in the park.

No doubt I learned more about Yellowstone from spending a week with them then I would have learned in a month of prep with guidebooks.  Their knowledge was key in understanding were to find specific species and why much of the wildlife moves to the north end of the park during winter.   No doubt driving the road was like a winter African Safari.

 


Because we only had about a week to spend around the park, we opted to not take the Snow Coach to the interior sites like Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  But rather focus on wildlife along the road where we had easier access and the ability to be based from our own vehicle.  

I was a bit sad to miss some of these classic spots; but as a photographer I long ago learned it is better to focus on a small area rather than spread yourself too thin.   Despite not getting close enough to photograph any Wolves in the Lamar Valley, hearing them howl while we watched them through binoculars was more than enough payoff for focusing our time in one area.  

  After spending a few nights in Cooke City and Gardiner we ended the Yellowstone leg of our adventure by soaking in the hot baths of Chico Hot Springs just North of the park for a night with several great friends from the Bozeman area.