Bob Kent Bob Kent

Three Days of Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra

Three days of fall colors

I had a wonderful time bopping around the Eastern Sierra enjoying and capturing the season’s fall colors and clouds.

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also in the trees, and in the flowers, and clouds, and stars. Martin Luther

Three days of exploring the Fall Color in the Eastern Sierra

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Cloudy with a 100% of Spectacular

The Clouds are calling and I must go!

Kearsarge Station, Owens Valley

There is nothing wrong with blue skies. In landscape images, a pure blue sky can be a bit boring. That is why clouds are a landscape photographer's best friend.

Last of the ice at Grant Lake

There have been summers where I have complained of a cloud drought. You will not hear me complain about the lack of clouds in 2022 or 2023. Using Waynes World speak, 2022 has been cloudalicous.

Last of the Ice a Silver Lake

For the last several months the clouds have been amazing. They have sometimes been complex, threatening, angry and other times o majestic hanging in the mountains

I thought it would be an excellent blog post to pair these images with great quotes about clouds.

Here we go on our cloud trip and quotes

“We pledge to fight 'blue-sky thinking wherever we find it. Life would be dull if we had to look up at cloudless monotony day after day.”
― Gavin Pretor-Pinney, The Cloudspotter's Guide:

Iris Field in Bishop

“Thirty-nine years of my life had passed before I understood that clouds were not my enemy; that they were beautiful, and that I needed them. I suppose this, for me, marked the beginning of wisdom. Life is short.”
― Iimani David

Pine Creek

I’m sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world ofloveliness. -- Adeline Knapp

Lower Owens River near Independence

“Clouds are the most egalitarian of nature's displays, since each one of us has a good view of them, so it really doesn't matter where you are.”
― Gavin Pretor-Pinney, The Cloudspotter's Guide

Well, I hope you enjoyed all these clouds as much as I did. Now it is time to float away…

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

20 Yards of Track

Kearsarge Station - 20 Yards of Track

Having retired and signed up for Social Security has gotten me thinking. Thinking, about age and how folks feel about you when you get older. History has no memory if left unintended.

 I wanted to visit Billy’s Pond in the Owen’s Valley. On the way, I stumbled upon this E. Clampus Vitus historical road maker for the Kearsarge Station. There was a marker, a railroad sign, and about 20 yards of the original track. It was very unassuming. Knowing the history of the Carson & Colorado it seemed inconceivable. This was all there was to remember it.

 We tend to look at old folks as how they are in the present rather than the way they were when they were young.

 I remember my grandfather. We would visit him every Sunday at the retirement home. Even though I was young, I enjoyed the visits. Parkinson’s had taken its toll on him as he had a hard time speaking and his hands shook. There were flashes of fire that broke through with witty humor and a spark in his eyes. One day on the way home, my Dad asked what I thought of grandpa. I said he was a cool old man. My Dad then began telling me stories of what Grandpa had done in his life. He fought in WWI, he had owned more than 20 motorcycles and was a carpenter building houses. I never looked at grandpa the same way ever again.

 I attended the funeral of a friend’s Mom. She had health problems that slowed her down. At her funeral, every eulogy talked about how:

  • She liked to entertain

  • That her house was always open for company.

 They all remembered the “White Elephant Gift Exchange” she always had during the holidays. As they talked about that game it had the same level of honor as the Super Bowl.

 What to make of the Kearsarge station marker? Live life large and with a smile. That way when folks see you when you are older, they remember the deeds and traditions of your youth.

 In other words, make sure you leave 20 yards of track for people to remember and smile.

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Channeling Huell Howser in the Eastern Sierra

The last couple of months, with the drought going on, we have been channeling his shows on the Owens River and the Eastern Sierra. He visited an amazing number of locations. (Admit it, you heard his voice when you read amazing didn’t you.)

Bodie on a perfectly cloudy day!

Huell Howser once told critic Robert Lloyd that the intent of his show was to encourage viewers to “begin personal adventures into the circumstances of their place as if to turn each neighborhood joint or roadside attraction into the equivalent of the Mississippi River and to set out rafting with Huckleberry and Jim.”

My Photographer’s Assistant and I have been playing Huell’s Huckleberry and Jim for the last few years.  It has been a lot of fun.  If we are driving up the coast, we look for places he went to on his show.   Like the Moreton Bay Fig Tree in Santa Barbara, at 80 feet tall and 576 feet wide, he wasn’t kidding when he said it was a “big” tree.  Another time we searched for and found the Mission Purisima Mission in Lompoc.  It is the only place left in California where you can walk on an original dirt section of the El Camino Real that the Spanish and the Missionaries used hundreds of years ago.

The last couple of months, with the drought going on, we have been channeling in on his shows on the Owens River and the Eastern Sierra. He visited an amazing number of locations. (Admit it, you heard his voice when you read amazing didn’t you.)  They include:

  • ·         Bodie

  • ·         Bristle Cones

  • ·         Conness Glacier

  • ·         Devils Post Pile

  • ·         Hot Creek

  • ·         Manzanar

  • ·         Mono Lake (multiple times)

  • ·         Owens River (multiple times)

  • ·         Owens Dry Lake

  • ·         Rock Creek

  • ·         Yosemite (multiple times)

The above list doesn’t even include the multiple locations in Death Valley he visited or the Western Sierra!

I have “kind of” been to all the above locations.  I say kind of because I have been in 20 Lakes Basin but not on the Conness Glacier trail itself. 

This last month I have been focused on getting to specific spots along the Owens River.  I wanted to find the headwaters of the lower Owens River, the start of the LA Aqueduct, and Billy Lake.  It has been a lot of fun looking and along the way, I have discovered a few new spots I love.

The images in this post are from the locations Huell visited.  Some of the images are from years back and my photography has improved since then. I hope you enjoy them.

Probably the most photographed tree in the Bristle Cone groves!

Twenty Lakes basin near the start of the Connes Glacier trail head.

The top of Devil’s Postpile

Hot Creek on an exceptionally lovely day!

Manzanar

Mono Lake sunset spectacular

Headwaters of the Lower Owens River and Los Angeles Aqueduct. Those three inlets on the left and the water under the bridge are the start of the Lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Billy’s Lake on the Owens River

Bartlett Plant - Owens Dry Lake

Lower Rock Creek

Half Dome w Clouds

Did I miss any of the shows Huell did in the Eastern Sierra/Owens Valley? The trout stocking show was in the western Sierra. Evidently, there are two Duck lakes in the Sierra.

I hope you enjoyed channeling Huell in our part of California. It just proves this part of California provides its share of California’s Gold.

If you want to watch some of the actual shows you can find a lot of them on the internet. Just google Huell Howser and the location. Or you can search the on-line archives at Chapman University

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Quiet Moment - Waterfall

Just a little quiet moment for you courtesy of the Eastern Sierra!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Cloud's Life Lessons

Like clouds, life goes by so fast. Close your eyes and then it's past

Clouds Embracing the Sun

“Life goes by so fast
You only want to do what you think is right.
Close your eyes and then it's past”
Social Distortion lyrics from “Story of my Life”

If you follow my photography, I love photographing clouds in the Eastern Sierra.  The area’s geology creates an environment that allows the creation of a diversity of clouds.  Some that you will not see in most locations. 

Just the begining

In the Eastern Sierra if you watch you can regularly see:

  •        Cumulus white puffy cotton balls

  •        Stratocumulus, low, puffy, grayish, or whitish clouds that occur in patches with blue sky
    visible in between

  •        Altocumulus, look like the wool of sheep light and fluffy

  •       Cirrus, thin, white, wispy strands of clouds that streak across the sky

  •       Nimbostratus, rain, and snow clouds

  •       Lenticular, atype of Altocumulus, stacked on top of each other like pancakes. Think of our beloved Sierra Wave

  •      Cumulonimbus,the king of the clouds, thunder, lightning, you know fear of God type
    clouds

Golden Hour Contrast

As an Eastern Sierra landscape photographer, I especially love it when, just after sunset, the clouds go nuclear changing from white and grey into vibrant orange and red colors.  But this change also illustrates my frustration with clouds and the reason for the quote.  They never stay the same changing from moment to moment.

Sometimes, I will see these awesome, fully defined, Lenticular clouds. I will rush to get my gear and get to a good location to take pictures.  By the time I get to the location and set up my gear, they have morphed into something else. Even more frustrating, watching them all day then getting a location l early to a spot.  The sitting, waiting, and then presto like magic they are gone.

Whimsical Lenticulars

Understanding how clouds form and dissipate can help you plan a little better and eliminate some of the whiffs, but clouds are never truly predictable.

There are times I will say the clouds are not high enough to change color or they will dissipate and don’t go chasing them.  Then the next day on Facebook there are these awesome images of the clouds in vibrant orange and red.

Heaven above and below

The only thing you can do is take your chances and just go.    Accept the fact that you are going to have some whiffs but also know you will capture some once-in-a-lifetime images as well.

That is also one of the life lessons that clouds can teach us.  In life, it is better to take the risk and just go. Otherwise, as the song lyrics say, you “close your eyes and its past.”

Going out in a blaze of glory

Or as Ferris Buller said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Best Images 0f 2021

My best Eastern Sierra images of 2021

It is that time of year where folks publish their best images of the previous year. Here is my list.

Locations include:

  • Owens River

  • June Lake Loop

  • Bishop Canyon

  • Bridgeport

  • Sage Hen

  • Silver Lake

  • Gull Lake

  • Mammoth Lakes

  • Round Valley

While 2021 had its issues it was a great year for photographing the Eastern Sierra.

Would love to know what you think of the images and which one you liked the best.

Wishing you an awesome 2022!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Owens Valley: The Tule Elk on Hwy 395

The tule elk herd was established in Owens Valley on October 10, 1933. Twenty-six tule elk, 7 bulls, 3 yearlings, 11 cows, and 6 calves, were brought from Yosemite National Park to an enclosure in the Owens Valley near Aberdeen and held for several days before their release. Four months later, 28 more elk were brought from Buttonwillow (which became the Tupman Tule Elk State Reserve) to augment that initial release. These original translocated elk have since expanded in size and range and have formed eight distinct tule elk sub-herds located throughout Owens Valley.

Bull Elk

Our Elk Photographic Journey

When traveling on 395 just south of Big Pine we always look for the Tule Elk at the wildlife turnouts.  It was always a mystery to us when they would be in the field there.  Unfortunately, when we were lucky enough to see them, I hadn’t had much luck in photographing them. 

We usually find the Elk in the late afternoon.  That meant I was shooting straight into the sun, which is not ideal.  Lots of lens flare.  Other times they were way at the far end of the field.  Too far away to get a good image.

Riding with the King

One time, all the conditions were perfect.  They were near the road.  The sun was still high in the sky.  I even had rented a long telephoto lens.  When we saw the Elk, we pulled off into the viewing pull-out.  I grabbed my camera with the telephoto on it.  I took a bunch of images and they all looked great on the camera display.  When I got them on the computer it was a different story.  All the images were blurry.  I use a tripod a lot, so don’t usually worry about the shutter speeds too much.  Turned out I was shooting a 400 MM telephoto handheld and only had the shutter speed at 60th of a second.  Another fail.

A couple of weeks ago we hit all the right conditions.  The images you see in this post are from then.  I can check another bucket list from my Hwy 395-image list as I now have some Elk images I like!

Keeping an Eye on Me

History of the Owens Valley Elk

Some history about these Tule Elk.  Most of the info below is taken from the Fish and Wildlife’s “Distribution and Abundance of Tule Elk in the Owens Valley January 2020” report.  You can see the full report here.

The Tule Elk herd was established in Owens Valley on October 10, 1933. Twenty-six Tule Elk, 7 bulls, 3 yearlings, 11 cows, and 6 calves, were brought from Yosemite National Park to an enclosure in the Owens Valley near Aberdeen and held for several days before their release. Four months later, 28 more Elk were brought from Buttonwillow (which became the Tupman Tule Elk State Reserve) to augment that initial release. These original translocated Elk have since expanded in size and range and have formed eight distinct Tule Elk sub-herds located throughout Owens Valley.

The count of the Elk in 2018 showed the following herd sizes.

  • ·         Bishop: 80-100

  • ·         Tinemaha: 80-100

  • ·         Goodale: 50-70

  • ·         Independence: 60-80

  • ·         Lone Pine: 60-80

  • ·         Whitney: 40-60

Where and When to See the Elk

One place to view the Elk is the wildlife viewing pullouts on Hwy 395 just south of Big Pine.  The herd there includes bulls with expansive antlers and plenty of cows and calves.  There are "Wildlife Viewing" signs that point car pull-outs near two of the herd's most favorite places to graze and bed down. This allows you a safe way to look and photograph the Elk.

Gorgeous Antlers

The best time to see the Elk is spring through fall as the herd stays on or close to irrigated fields to take advantage of the ample water and feed.  The best time of day to see them is in the morning.

I am sure to include one of my Elk images on next year’s Eastern Sierra calendar!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Five Reasons to Buy a Wall Calendar

With all the technology we have at our fingertips why would anyone want to buy a wall calendar these days. Think about it. We have calendars on our phones, calendars on the computer, calendars in our Email application, calendars on our watches, and even the date on our car stereo.

The wall calendar should be as dead as a doornail. Yet the more accurate phrase is “the wall calendar is dead, long live the wall calendar!” What magic gives this lowest timekeeping device alive and well?

With all the technology we have at our fingertips why would anyone want to buy a wall calendar these days.  Think about it.  We have calendars on our phones, calendars on the computer, calendars in our Email application, calendars on our watches, and even the date on our car stereo.

The wall calendar should be as dead as a doornail. Yet the more accurate phrase is “the wall calendar is dead, long live the wall calendar!”  What magic gives this lowest timekeeping device alive and well?

Here are my top five reasons the low tech “wall calendar” thrives in this technology-driven society:

  1. In our high-tech screen-driven world, images and information are fleeting.  This creates a human desire for something physical and more permanent.  We have two calendars in the house.  One in the kitchen and one in the main bathroom.  I usually make two calendars, one of the Eastern Sierra and one of Dodger Stadium.  We catch ourselves regularly stopping and looking at the images.  It takes us back to places and experiences we love.

  2. It is like having Christmas twelve times a year.  The calendar in the kitchen is too high for my wife to reach.  On the first of each month, one of the first things she asks me to do is to flip the page on the calendar.  She looks forward to seeing what the next image is going to be. It’s like opening a present! Some of the images have a special meaning because, as my “Photographer’s Assistant” she told me to take them!

  3. Wall calendars bring people together.  You can write something on a calendar for a specific date.  From that point on everyone can see it without having to ask Alexa.  We have a group of longtime friends with who we get together several times a year.  With kids, sports, and work it is hard to schedule things.  We have a planning party every year to map out the things we want to do together for the next year.  You should see the calendars come out at that event. If you have a friend that really likes a particular topic a quality wall calendar on that topic is a great way to provide an inexpensive gift that still has a very personal touch.

  4. I think having a wall calendar hanging up is also a character statement.  Let me give you an example.  In the Book Blue Highway, the author takes a trip around the US trying to drive only on “Blue” highways, meaning back roads.  In the book he stated he could predict the type of meal he was about to have by the number of calendars the restaurant had on its walls:

“No calendar: Same as an interstate pit stop

One calendar: Preprocessed food assembled in New Jersey

Two calendars: Only if fish trophies are present

Three calendars: Can’t miss on the farm-boy breakfast

Four calendars: Try the ho-made pie too

Five calendars: Keep it under your hat, or they will franchise”

Now think about it.  The last road trip you made.  If the joint had a calendar or two, usually of a local youth sports team or a local business, the food was pretty good and the service was friendly.  Now think about the last time you saw a calendar at a McDonalds.  Enough said.

Well, maybe one last point for my Highway 395 friends.  Our first impression of the Aberdeen Resort was a Margie standing in front of a wall calendar hanging next to a rotary phone.  The food was off the chart.

 

Aberdeen Resort

 

5. The benefits of buying from a local or small-time artist that focuses on a place or thing you love.
  In my case the Eastern Sierra.  You are supporting a local artist.  That artist will put some of that
money back into the local economy of the place you love.  If that was not enough, the calendar will
bring you back to your happy place all year long.

We have several calendars up on the walls of our house. The connection between calendars on the wall and good food that the Blue Highway author makes is true. The BBQ at the Kent house is pretty tasty.

Reverse Seared Rib Eye

 After reading this you have the desire to buy a wall calendar of the Eastern Sierra check out mine at the link below.

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Eastern Sierra Intimate Fall Colors

I needed new fall color images for my 2022 Eastern Sierra calendar. To fill the need I spent two weekends chasing fall colors in the Eastern Sierra from Bishop to Lee Vining.

The first weekend there was a lot of smoke, it forced me to refrain from the large vista type images and concentrate on more intimate compositions. While I am not a fan of smoke, but it prompted me to change my focus and improve my images.

I needed new fall color images for my 2022 Eastern Sierra calendar.  To fill the need I spent two weekends chasing fall colors in the Eastern Sierra from Bishop to Lee Vining. 

The first weekend there was a lot of smoke which forced me to refrain from the large vistas and concentrate on more intimate compositions.  While I am not a fan of smoke it made me change my focus and ultimately improve my images.

Early Morning Color

The pursuit of intimacy got me farther from the road and provided me with a challenge.  How to make a certain tree or set of trees stand out in a very busy scene.  The extra time I took setting up the composition really paid dividends.

There is one beautiful section In Bishop Canyon on the way to South Lake.  There are Aspens in front of steep granite rocks.  I have been trying to get an image I liked from here for years but never quite succeeded. Either the colors were blown out from the sun or the shade gave a blue cast to the image that I didn’t like.

On one of the afternoons, we were driving past this area and the sun was hitting the tops of the Aspen.  It created this wonderful contrast between the bright treetops and the shaded granite.  I almost kept driving, but my photographer’s assistant insisted I take a picture.  I found a spot to park and took the shot.  I am glad I did because now I have an image of this beautiful spot that I really like.

Aspens and Granite

I found several areas where there were single Aspen trees mixed in with the Pines.  Their leaves were reflecting indirect light that the rest of the forest was absorbing.  This helped isolate the Aspens in a busy scene.  I got especially lucky one morning to catch the sun shining through one of the Aspens.

Aspen Starburst


Bright Aspen

Dancing Aspen

Circle of Aspens

On the second weekend, the smoke was gone.  While I started taking large vista images, I continued to focus on the intimate compositions.  This time trying to add water.  There are some spots I know that are not heavily traveled by other photographers.  Others have become heavily visited.  With social media now publishing Fall Color updates and screaming “go here now” visitation to once peaceful locations are now as crowded as the floor of Yosemite.  Unfortunately, McGee Creek is one of those lovely spots that has become heavily traveled.    

Again, obstacles forced me to go a little deeper into the woods.  The result is I upped my game and I am very happy with the results.

Aspen and Stream

McGee Creek

Golden Carpet

The colors this year were wonderful.  The smoke and crowds created a few obstacles.  I worked around them.  In the end, the obstacles made me capture better images.  As Marcus Aurelius said:

“Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal.”

Heart Aspen

Stay tuned for the next post that focuses on Fall Color grand vistas!

Some of these images will be in my 2022 Eastern Sierra calendar. The link to order is:

https://www.bob-kent-photography.com/2022-sierra

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Clouds make my Eastern Sierra Sunset Images Pop!

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

- Rabindranath Tagore

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."- Rabindranath Tagore

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

- Rabindranath Tagore

In my previous blog, I talked about how wonderful the weather was.  It was doubly perfect having still mornings and cloudy afternoons.  The still mornings created “glass” like conditions on the lake surface, one of my signature types of photographic images. 

In this post let’s have fun discussing the cloudy afternoons we had for several days in the Eastern Sierra.  Glass lakes and cloudy afternoons make for great landscape photography!

Let’s do a little bit of background on why clouds form in the afternoon near the Eastern Sierra along Hwy 395 or any mountains for that matter. 

Stratus and Lenticular clouds form in the afternoon because air encounters the Eastern Sierra.  The air will rise and cool. This cooler air is no longer able to hold all the water vapor it was able to hold when it was warm. The extra water vapor begins to condense out of the air parcel in the form of liquid water droplets and a cloud is formed.

Watching clouds over time is like watching a movie. The scene keeps changing as the story unfolds

Watching clouds over time is like watching a movie. The scene keeps changing as the story unfolds

Cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds form when air rises because the mountains are warmer than the surrounding air.  That causes the air to rise. Once the air rises, it follows the same process to form clouds as described above.

One additional fact. Sometimes the bottom of the clouds are perfectly flat. Cumulus clouds are the type of clouds that have flat bottoms. The bottom of clouds is the exact height at where the combination of temperature and air pressure causes water vapor within the rising current to condense into a visible cloud.

“There came a day when the clouds drifting along with the wind aroused a wanderlust in me, and I set off on a journey to roam…” - Matsuo Basho

“There came a day when the clouds drifting along with the wind aroused a wanderlust in me, and I set off on a journey to roam…” - Matsuo Basho

The fact that hotter temperature is involved in cloud creation would seem to explain why most of these clouds don’t hang around for sunset.

For several days, clouds would form in the afternoon and we were lucky enough that some even hung around till sunset.  This creates an opportunity that my photographer’s assistant and I like to enjoy.  Just find a strategic spot, set up the camera, and then enjoy the show with a bottle of wine and some snacks.  It is a great way to get outside and spend a late afternoon/early evening. These evenings were no exception. 

One of the nights the clouds put on a show for us was when we were waiting for the Bridgepoint fireworks on the 4th of July.  The Bridgeport firework show was awesome, but I think the Sun bursting through the clouds was an equally impressive light show.

Not all fireworks are man made

Not all fireworks are man made

I hope you enjoy the clouds the Eastern Sierra help create as much as we do! Be sure to check out my other blogs for stories and images in and around the Eastern Sierra. Feel free to share this post with anyone you think would enjoy it.

Wishing happy trials to you, until we meet again!

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Sound of Silence

We need silence to be able to touch souls

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

Mother Teresa

No Fishing Gull Lake

No Fishing Gull Lake

Typically, the 4th of July weekend Mammoth is so crowded you need to get away from your getaway.  To avoid the crowds, I started to get out around 4:30 in the morning.  I wanted to go out and look for sunrise images.  For several days in a row, the weather was perfect for photography:

  • Perfectly still in the morning

  • Clouds in the afternoon

  • High clouds in the evening providing some sunset color

Originally, I was going to head up towards Sagehen because I had never been past the Aspens at the summit.  With it being perfectly still I changed my plan and headed into the June Lake Loop.  June Lake already had some wind so there was no chance of getting any reflections.  I was thinking, oh well, at least I tried.

I headed to Gull lake and about had a heart attack.  There was no water movement, no wind, no early fishermen, nothing, nada.  It was just me and a few ducks.  The lake was like polished glass.  In fact, in some places, the reflection of the colorless cloudless sky, appeared like it wasn’t there at all. 

Your transport is ready - Gull Lake

Your transport is ready - Gull Lake

I took a few pre-sunrise images from the boat ramp figuring it would not be long before the ramp became active with fishermen.  I then went onto the boat docks for the sunrise because there were some interesting foreground elements.  For me, taking multiple long exposures on a floating dock requires some forethought and control.  These days, I am a Covid “heavy” boy and any movement I make will rock the dock.

I had to set the tripod up, frame the composition, and then, with a wide stance, hold perfectly still for several minutes to let the dock stop rocking.  I then had to touch the shutter release lightly and only move my hand half an inch away from the camera to not rock the dock. 

The Sound of Silence - Gull Lake

The Sound of Silence - Gull Lake

Well, the work was worth it.  One of my signature styles as a landscape photographer is still lakes with glass-like reflections.  In my biased opinion, these images came out awesome.  I cannot wait to print these on metal.

After Gull, I went to Silver Lake and discovered it was the exact same way.  No movement, no wind, no fisherman, nothing, nada.  I set up to shoot Carson peak that was ablaze from the sunrise.  Just as I am about to shoot this duck comes swimming into my composition.  My first reaction was to shoo her off.  Instead, I started to talk to her. 

You see my group of close friends believes in “making friends wherever we go.  I figured I would make friends with her.  I asked her if she was intent on ruining my picture?  She responded by standing on a rock right in front of the camera so as not to create any ripples.  She kept pruning herself so I asked her if she could pose?  She stretched her neck out and held perfectly still while I took my series of HDR images.  I thanked her.  She then did this amazing thing.  She stood on one leg and spread her right wing out to show the coloring in the wing.  She held that pose long enough for me to get several HDR series of her “Instagram” posing! It was like she was saying “ I am ready for my close-up Mr, Dimille.

Carson Peak and my new friend

Carson Peak and my new friend

I am ready for my close-up Mr., Dimille

I am ready for my close-up Mr., Dimille

It was an incredible experience and I made a new friend.  As Mother Teresa said in her quote “We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

My next post will be on the clouds from the 4th of July weekend. Be sure to check it out.

As always feel free to share this blog with anyone you think would enjoy it!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Sunrise, Sunset

“Regular mornings are for showers, coffee, catching up on the news, dressing for the day. Daybreaks are for quiet, peace, and standing on rocks to take bad selfies with the sun. Morning is responsibility, daybreaks are freedom—a smooth, blank page upon which I can write whatever comes to mind.” Gina Ryder

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laiden with happiness and tears

Lyrics from Sunrise Sunset Fiddler on the Roof

 

Sunset over the Minarets

Sunset over the Minarets

There is something special about sunrises and sunsets.  For me, they stop time.

A few weeks ago, there were some cool clouds above Mammoth Mountain.  There was a good chance they would turn color at sunset.  I went out early to scout out a location because I didn’t have a go-to site in mind.  I found a viewpoint that I liked way earlier than I thought I would.  I set up my tripod and camera and just watched as the sunset progressed. I ended up being at that spot for around an hour and a half.  To me, it seemed like only a few minutes.  Sunsets and sunrises have a way of grabbing your soul and stopping time. See the scene I captured below.

Mammoth Mountain Sunset

Mammoth Mountain Sunset

It seems I am not alone. 

As I did the research for this post, I found others felt the same way.  Gina Ryder, who lives in New York, decided to try a “Sunrise Therapy” to counter her winter blues.  She put to words what I feel watching a sunrise or sunset. 

“Regular mornings are for showers, coffee, catching up on the news, dressing for the day. Daybreaks are for quiet, peace, and standing on rocks to take bad selfies with the sun. Morning is responsibility, daybreaks are freedom—a smooth, blank page upon which I can write whatever comes to mind.” Gina Ryder

Mono Lake Sunrise

Mono Lake Sunrise

Studies have shown that appreciation of natural beauty increases your emotional wellbeing, raisess your concern for others, and increases your satisfaction with life.  If you want to experiment to see if the studies are true remember sunrises and sunsets are natural beauty at its best.

For some, making time for watching sunrises and sunsets comes naturally.  For others, not so much as the pillow has magical powers to make us stay put.  An article on the Psychology Today website gave some tips to help you develop your sunrise/sunset watching skills:

·         Grab a camera or sketchpad.  The goal is to really see the sunset and capture the moment-to-moment experience, not create an artistic image.

·         Make it a meditation. Take several slow, deep breaths to relax your body and calm your mind. Then intentionally focus on the sunset, noticing how the colors and light change as the sunset first builds in intensity and then fades.

·         Listen to music that thrills you. If you’re more attuned to sound than sight, use music to put yourself into a receptive state of mind.

First Light

First Light

Nature gives us these sunrises and sunsets freely.  There is one of each every single day. I highly suggest you take some time to enjoy these gifts.  They will do you good!

I would love to hear what your most memorable sunrise/sunset experience is.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Feel free to comment or to share it with others!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Early Morning Around the Loop

It is so beautiful and diverse you cannot go wrong taking images in the “Loop”. Plus, people who love the area never get tired of looking at images of the area. I guess the old saying applies; “When in doubt…” head towards the “Loop.”

The June Lake Loop is the gift that keeps on giving for a landscape photographer who focuses on the Eastern Sierra.  It is so beautiful and diverse you cannot go wrong taking images in the “Loop”.  Plus, people who love the area never get tired of looking at images of the area.  I guess the old saying applies; “When in doubt…” head towards the “Loop.”

This early morning, I originally intended to head out east on Highway 120 to explore parts of Sage Hen that I have not been at yet.  Driving north on 395 I realized I had gotten on the road too late to get there before the sunrise.  There was now this debate in my head between keeping to the plan and turn right on HWY 120 or go to plan “B” and turn left on HWY 158 and go into the “Loop.”  The voices in my head kept arguing Plan A, no Plan B, no Plan A…

The Tail of the Isthmus - Grant Lake

The Tail of the Isthmus - Grant Lake

With the title being “around the Loop” you can guess that I went with plan “B” and turned left into the “Loop.”  There is a small isthmus on the north side of Grant Lake. It has this grand view of the lake and Reverse and Carson Peaks.  I have taken pictures there before but was not completely happy with the results.  I went back to the isthmus.  I arrived early enough, trying not to wake up the folks sleeping in the van, to be able to poke around a bit to find the perfect spot for sunrise.  

Looking East at Grant Lake

Looking East at Grant Lake

With my composition locked I had some time on my hands.  As the scene unveiled around me, it presented some additional looks that I was able to capture before getting my sunrise image.  It was cold with just a touch of wind to wipe out the chance of a glass reflection from the lake.  However, it was still enough to project the colors from the mountains.

First Light - Grant Lake

First Light - Grant Lake

On the way back to 395, I noticed this awesome road scene so I quickly pulled over and changed to my telephoto lens. I am so glad I did, just love this scene.

Looking West into the June Lake Loop

Looking West into the June Lake Loop

All in all, a nice set of images for a plan “B.”  As I said earlier you really cannot go wrong taking images around the “Loop.”

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

The Case for Lingering

Getting to a location early and lingering afterward lets you see this incredible transition from darkness, to blue, to gold, and then finally to daylight. The same scene can look totally different and tell a completely different story, all within an hour. Same place, same stream, or trees, or mountains yet in a matter of a few minutes it “feels” totally different.

I was watching a landscape photography video from Roman Kurywczak called “For the Love of Landscapes.”  In the video, he reminded me that to be a good landscape photographer you must have discipline.

Specifically, the discipline to get to a location early and stay late.  To linger.

For a sunrise, you should get there an hour before the sunrise and stay for an hour after the sunrise.  This is not a message I like to hear, as it means getting up at 4:00 AM or earlier to get to a location in time.  However, it is a message that I need to hear regularly because he is right, and it is worth it.

He is right because a lot of the beautiful magic happens well before and after the actual sunrise.  Roman correctly points out, if see something happening before you are there, you have already missed it.  Unfortunately, I know this from experience.   Countless times seeing the clouds turn while driving to a location and knowing no matter how fast I drive I am too late.

Getting to a location early and lingering afterward lets you see this incredible transition from darkness to blue, to gold, and finally to daylight.  The same scene can look totally different and tell a completely different story, all within an hour.  Same place, same stream, or trees, or mountains yet in a matter of a few minutes it “feels” totally different.

You don’t have to be a photographer to enjoy this.  If you go to a location, especially in the afternoon, take your time. Linger. 

Owens in Blue

Owens in Blue

There is a transition that is worth the price of admission to watch.  At a lake, many times, the transition follows a pattern.  In the afternoon it mostly calm with flat colors, then just before sunset the wind kicks up, the water is choppy, and the colors have this golden cast.  It is the day taking its last breath.  Finally, after the sunset there is this stillness that descends upon everything.  The water goes still, it gets quiet, and if you’re lucky the high clouds catch on fire with yellow and oranges.

Owens in Purple

Owens in Purple

To experience this, you don’t have to move locations you just have to linger in one place for a while.  While sometimes you get duds, many other times you get one heck of a show.

Owens in Gold

Owens in Gold

The series of images in this post of the Owens River in the morning transition is a perfect example.  If you want to see another incredible transition at Lake Tenaya, message me.

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Best Images of 2019

Best images of 2019

So if you are here you probably read my January Photo of the Month Email post and came to check out the rest of the images I talked about. I had a great year taking images of the Eastern Sierra and I just could not narrow it down to 10 or so. So with no further intro here we go.

The Mother Ship

The Mother Ship

2019 was a great year for clouds. This weekend the clouds were forming in masse, there were micro bursts all over the place and I spent the entire day chasing here and there to capture them. Toward mid-day this massive cloud started forming and morphing. It was just incredible to watch. I chased it for a couple of hours. For those of you who know this spot you will realize just how big this cloud actually is.

Bodie Barber

Bodie Barber

The weather was perfect this day in Bodie. The clouds were awesome and it only drizzled a little bit. I went with the goal of seeking unique compositions so was really pushing what I wanted out of the images. The painted barber sign was a perfect frame to show the rest of the town. In the image I was able to get the barber shop, the firehouse, and the school. Then there were the clouds testifying what a tough life living in Bodie must have been!

Driving Forward with an Eye on the Past

Driving Forward with an Eye on the Past

The vehicles in Bodie get their photos taken a lot. I wanted to get a unique take and this old truck was the perfect vehicle (pun intended.) While it is going nowhere it shows it wants to go forward, but at the same time keeping an eye on the past. A perfect analogy for Bodie. Did I say the clouds where awesome that day?

Bodie - A Tough Place to Live

Bodie - A Tough Place to Live

I love the layers in this. The buildings showing their wear and tear but still standing defiantly against the harsh elements.

Calm at Silver Lake

Calm at Silver Lake

This spot by the Silver Lake Resort is one of our favorite places to unwind. There is a grassy area with picnic tables where you can sit and just let this scene suck all the tension out of you. I was lucky as it was late in the day and the lake was still like glass. It is a view you cannot beat.

Lupine with a View

Lupine with a View

I have been working on framing my images in such a way to create what Ian Plant calls a visual flow. As we were driving down this road we spotted this gorgeous Lupine with a view of the snow capped mountains. I slammed on my breaks threw it in reverse and took this image. It actually is one of my personal favorites form 2019.

Green Church

Green Church

I also have a Facebook post on this image. The Green Church is an instantly recognizable icon to anyone who regularly comes to the Eastern Sierra around Mammoth. For me it brings the sense that my adventure is about to begin as a lot of the dirt roads I like to explore are down the road from this Church. It is hard to get a good image of this Church as there is a lot of visual clutter very close to it including a power pole, fences, and a very ugly propane tank. It took me years to get an image I liked but I do like this one. In the image the Church is the beginning of the adventure represented by the Mother Ship cloud in the background.

Clash of Day and Night

Clash of Day and Night

It was so cool to see the Full Moon on the horizon that was being lit up by the morning sun.

Horsetail Falls at Full Flow

Horsetail Falls at Full Flow

Horsetail Falls in the June Lake Loop is another icon that amazes people with its power during the Spring. It is difficult to get a good image of the falls as there are trees and other objects that crowd your view as you look up from the floor below. It took me a couple of trips driving around different narrow streets to find this unobstructed angle. I really like the fact you are almost at the same level as the falls.

Hot Creek Entrance

Hot Creek Entrance

Many will instantly recognize this spot. For me it is another icon that tells me my adventure is about to begin. This day with the clouds and the snow covered mountains it was an adventure all by itself!

Hot Creek

Hot Creek

The entrance to Hot Creek was not lying when it told me there would be adventure. It was late in the day, well after the golden hour, so I did not expect to get a remarkable image. But the light had not gotten to harsh yet and snow and the clouds created a perfect frame for this beautiful gorge.

Hwy 120 the “Wide Open”

Hwy 120 the “Wide Open”

I have fallen in love with Hwy 120 heading east from Hwy 395. It is such a wide open vista that it reminds me of the old western movies. Add some snow and clouds and I have an image I want to print as big as I can make it!

The View from Behind

The View from Behind

I had scouted this spot out as a great place to get an unobstructed view of Mammoth Mountain. I found the sunrise occurring behind me was even more beautiful than the image I had come to capture!

Sunkist Mule Ear

Sunkist Mule Ear

Sometimes you just get lucky. I set up my camera on a tripod way down low. So low it was difficult to see into the viewfinder. I eyeballed where the lens seemed to be pointing and hit the remote shutter. I ended up with another of my personal favorites from the year.

The Road to North Lake

The Road to North Lake

We took a trip back east to help our favorite Aunt and Uncle go from Pennsylvania to Florida. It was right during the peak of the Fall Colors. North Lake itself was no where near peak but the road to it was gorgeous. Oh ya, and those clouds!

Bishop Creek

Bishop Creek

I love this spot but I have never been able to capture an image that did it justice. This time the light was right and I moved off the bridge down to the edge of the stream. It made all the difference.

Snow, Sun, and Color

Snow, Sun, and Color

I almost did not take this image. I thought it did not have a strong enough focal point to tame the kaos. I did take the image and it has gotten the most emotional reaction from folks that have viewed my images. Sometimes the fool has to rush in where the wise man fears to tread.

Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth

Another image gotten via luck. We were coming back from June Lake and decided on a whim to take the Scenic Route into town. Wow that road really looks good in white!

First Light

First Light

There was no luck in capturing this image as it was all planned. I had scouted out the area the day before and knew exactly what I wanted to capture. Other than standing in 17 degree temperature for an extended period the only other thing that had me worried was that a fog had rolled in and was threatening to obscure the mountains. It dissipated just before the aplenglow started. So I guess even though it was well planned I did have some luck after all.

Yosemite Creek

Yosemite Creek

I will end this post with the image of the stream that ended my camera. About 15 minutes after I took this image my camera fell into the stream. My wife was amazed at how calm I was but I have been reading the Daily Stoic and realized no amount of cussing, screaming, or pouting would bring the camera back. The good news is the CF card was fine and I did not loose this image!

If you can believe it I actually did not post all of the images I had planned to. 2019 was a banner year for my photography. I would be very interested in hearing from you which image you think was best. So feel free to post here on the post, email me, or post on my Facebook page.

Hoping 2020 is even better that 2019!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

A Different Take on Bodie

Instead of taking images that were documentation in nature, I wanted to have my images tell a story.  A story about what it must have been like to live in a rough town with hostile environment.  Nature gave me a bonus by providing this incredible cloud show the day we went to emphasize the hostile weather.

You can be civilized but not very civil. Despite having all the institutions of of a modern city: Barber, fire department, and a school Bodie was a rough town that was not very civilized.

You can be civilized but not very civil. Despite having all the institutions of of a modern city: Barber, fire department, and a school Bodie was a rough town that was not very civilized.

I am teaching a composition photography class in September at the Mono Arts Gallery.  In researching the material for the class, I have learned a lot of new composition concepts that are having a positive impact on my own photography.  When we had a friend come to Mammoth who had never seen Bodie it gave me the perfect reason to go and to look at Bodie differently than in previous trips.

Porch with a view. What amazing stories this porch could tell!

Porch with a view. What amazing stories this porch could tell!

Instead of taking images that were documentation in nature, I wanted to have my images tell a story.  Stories about what it must have been like to live in a rough town with a hostile environment.  Nature gave me a bonus by providing this incredible cloud show the day we went to emphasize the hostile weather.

Sometimes there is only a thin pane of glass that protects us from the harsh elements. An analogy that our society is fragile and could come crashing down with all the heightened tensions in our world today.

Sometimes there is only a thin pane of glass that protects us from the harsh elements. An analogy that our society is fragile and could come crashing down with all the heightened tensions in our world today.

If you look back too much you can get stuck in one place and become a relic.

If you look back too much you can get stuck in one place and become a relic.

As I researched for this blog post I wanted to include some interesting Bodie trivia to go along with the images.  Just like my attempt of changing the composition nature of my photography my research netted me a different take on Bodie.  Instead of a lot of fact and figures about when the town was started or how much silver was mined I found this story about the “Curse of Bodie.”

Live a good story. Could you use any of this stuff today? A reminder that it is not the things we own that are important but the experiences we have.

Live a good story. Could you use any of this stuff today? A reminder that it is not the things we own that are important but the experiences we have.

You would expect the curse to be about the ghost of some innocent who was killed by a gunfighter or some small child that died too young from disease.  Instead the curse is a modern day invention “created” for a specific purpose just like the town’s name. The town’s name was changed from Bodey to Bodie so people used the correct pronunciation. (A much more fun theory is that an illiterate painter misspelled Bodey as Bodie on the side of a building and the misspelling became the defacto official name of the town.)

Look at your everyday world as if it was art. You will be a much richer person for it.

Look at your everyday world as if it was art. You will be a much richer person for it.

The town’s name was created from a necessity.  So, did the “Curse of Bodie.”  The State of California keeps Bodie in the state of “arrested decay.”  What that means is the State tries to keep the town looking exactly like it did when people abandoned it.  They will do repairs but only to the extent to keep it looking like it did when folks left.  If the building is leaning they will fix the roof or keep it from leaning more but won’t try to straighten the building up.  Here is where the invention of the “curse” came in. 

Man vs. Nature. Nature always plays the long game and In the end will prevail.

Man vs. Nature. Nature always plays the long game and In the end will prevail.

In this arrested decay condition there are artifacts that were randomly left everywhere.  When people left they had to travel long distances and did not have the capability to take things with them. Dishes are still by a sink.  An oven door is outside leaning against a building.  In that environment visitors have a natural desire to take a souvenir.  One item missing is no big deal but with thousands of people visiting Bodie every year lots of stealing would have a major impact. 

In your life build a safe heaven to provide shelter in the storm. I have found the best shelters from life’s problems are good friends.

In your life build a safe heaven to provide shelter in the storm. I have found the best shelters from life’s problems are good friends.

Somewhere in the past a few rangers “created” the “Curse of Bodie.”  They said that if you took an artifact, rock, or anything from the site you would be cursed from then on with bad luck.  They thought the story of the “curse” would deter folks from taking stuff.  While it has kept folks from stealing, something else happened.  People who did take artifacts blamed bad events that happened to them on the curse.  Rangers get letters every week from folks who took items from Bodie that blame the “curse” for breakups in relationships, the deaths of family and friends, even simple things like flat tires.  Some go as far as to send the item they took back to the park in hopes of lifting the curse.

"Please find enclosed one weatherbeaten old shoe. The shoe was removed from Bodie during the month of August 1978... My trail of misfortune is so long and depressing it can't be listed here."
Letter to Bodie, undated

Some of the most beautiful paintings are right in front of you. Take the time to stop and enjoy.

Some of the most beautiful paintings are right in front of you. Take the time to stop and enjoy.

Today the Rangers no longer like to speak of the curse because if someone does send something back they have to treat it as a theft and file charges.  Not something they really want to do.  Besides once an item is removed it loses its historical context that cannot be regained.  An example is a piano that was taken and then returned.  No one knows what bar or house it came from.  It now sits in the town hall like an orphan who does not know where she came from.

Get outside and into the world around you. It is much more colorful than being cooped up inside.

Get outside and into the world around you. It is much more colorful than being cooped up inside.

Please enjoy my visual “different” take of Bodie.  Enjoy Bodie when you go but remember the “curse of Bodie.” It may be made up but lots of people believe the bad luck of the Bodie “curse” is very real.  Let the artifacts lie where they are so others can enjoy them for many years to come.

Bodie is so mean it will even spit at you (rain) on you when you leave.

Bodie is so mean it will even spit at you (rain) on you when you leave.

Please leave comments to let me know if I succeeded in creating a different take on Bodie than you have seen before.

Source Article about the Curse is from KQED see it here.

If you are interested in taking my Photography Class it is on September 28th in Mammoth from 3-6. On the 29th we will do a group photo safari in the morning to put what you learned in action. Sign up here.

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

Heaven

A few years ago, I experienced a drought of clouds for what seemed like an eternity.  Every time I went on a photo expedition it was nothing but blue skies. It was frustrating as I love clouds in my landscape images.  Well this spring ended the cloud drought in a spectacular way!

Spring or 2019 - Wildflowers, snow, and winter that won’t go away!

Spring or 2019 - Wildflowers, snow, and winter that won’t go away!

A few years ago, I experienced a drought of clouds for what seemed like an eternity.  Every time I went on a photo expedition it was nothing but blue skies. It was frustrating as I love clouds in my landscape images. 

Now the cloud “drought” was not all bad as any day in the Eastern Sierra is a good day; with or without clouds.  The lack of clouds forced me to experiment with new compositions and subjects which made me a better photographer.  In the end I still wanted clouds.

That is were we are heading to!

That is were we are heading to!

I am here to say with the Spring of 2109 my cloud drought is over.  The last couple of meanderings has been off the charts.  There were clouds, and I mean awesome clouds, everywhere you looked.  They weren’t high clouds, so they didn’t go orange and red at sunrise and sunset, but it didn’t matter.  Their size, complexity, brutishness made them totally photogenic.  The main key to getting great images was to just get out there, and stay out there, capturing the clouds as they morphed throughout the day.  All the while I was in heaven. 

The road and clouds inviting us to explore!

The road and clouds inviting us to explore!

I am doing research on a photography class I am going to teach at the Mono Arts Council in the fall.  The class will not focus technology but on using personal vision, style, and composition to create “remarkable” photographs.  During this cloudfest I started to apply some of the things that were newly learned from my research..  It was difficult to do things differently. 

I may be biased but it made a huge positive difference in the impact of the images I was able to create. I will have to wait to see if the peer reviews from my fellow photographers agree with my self-assessment.

In any case sit back and enjoy my vision of heaven on earth, even though it is extremely cloudy.

Storms over the Eastern Sierra. Lots of snow still on Mammoth!

Storms over the Eastern Sierra. Lots of snow still on Mammoth!

Symmetry in Nature

Symmetry in Nature

and on and on and on! Truly Heaven on Earth!

and on and on and on! Truly Heaven on Earth!

FYI, as I mentioned above I will be teaching a Photography Composition class at the Mono Arts Gallery on September 28th. Then on the 29th will facilitate a field trip to put what you learn into practice. You can sign up here. Would love to see you there!

Feel free to comment and share!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

A Perfectly Cloudy Day

Me and my camera took off for the high country.  When we got there, it was cloudy.  Perfectly cloudy to be exact.  You see lots of people love blue skies, but photographers think blue skies are boring and long for partly cloudy skies.  Especially Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratocumulus, and Lenticular clouds. The first three are what the Lord gave me this “I got to go” trip.

We live in LA, wait we live in Mammoth.  Yes, we are one of those folks, but our Mammoth place doesn’t stay vacant much.  We are not skiers, so we take a winter hiatus during the snowiest part of winter and let the ski people enjoy our place.  The winter withdrawal this year was worse than usual.  Work has been intense, and I needed a John Muir soul “refresh.” I told my better half “we have to go now.”  She said she had to work but was an angel for letting me go without her. 

The entrance to Hot Creek Never looked so good!

The entrance to Hot Creek Never looked so good!

Me and my camera took off for the high country.  When we got there, it was cloudy.  Perfectly cloudy to be exact.  You see, lots of people love blue skies, but to photographers blue skies are boring. We long for partly cloudy skies to add impact to our images.  Especially Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratocumulus, and Lenticular clouds. The first three cloud types are what the Lord gave me this trip. It was like he was saying good decision to come on this trip!

Green Church with Clouds! FYI, this is the first time I captured an image of the Green Church I liked!

Green Church with Clouds! FYI, this is the first time I captured an image of the Green Church I liked!

As a teenager and when my kids were young I remember afternoon thunder clouds while camping at Silver and Twin Lakes.  This trip was like a Deja vu.  There were afternoon clouds and thunderheads all around.  Over the whites, over the Eastern Sierra, seemed like they were everywhere. I needed something to frame the clouds.  Off to Hot Creek I went.

This one huge cloud kept morphing as the afternoon went on.  I followed it for an hour or so. After I had chased the clouds for hours and thought I had gotten my fill, I headed off to Tom’s Place to get a JoJo margarita. She makes a mighty fine margarita.  On the way I kept having to stop because I would see another awesome thunderhead rising above a mountain ridge line here then there.

Either this is what Moses saw in the desert of aliens are coming! :-)

Either this is what Moses saw in the desert of aliens are coming! :-)

The afternoon was just gorgeous

The afternoon was just gorgeous

Tree with a crown of Clouds

Tree with a crown of Clouds

The amazing thing about the trip was with all this weather activity, the water on the lakes in the June Lake loop was so still that the lakes looked like mirrors. Since still water is another of my favorite things I got a twofer on this trip!

Silver Lake Glass (a Blog post in its self)

Silver Lake Glass (a Blog post in its self)

What a great weekend.  So glad I decided to heed the “calling” of mountain’s to go!

FYI, I will be teaching a Photography Composition class at the Mono Arts Gallery on September 28th. Then on the 29th will facilitate a field trip to put what you learn into practice. You can sign up here. Would love to see you there!

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Bob Kent Bob Kent

My Path to Better Wildflower Images

I am now on a quest to take the best wildflower image I ever have. This post is a combination of my experience so far this season combined with the research I have done to help my images get better. I thought it would be good to share before the 2019 season comes to an end.  Here goes.

2019 - Flowers from here to infinity

2019 - Flowers from here to infinity

This is my second post this year touching on how to take great wildflower images.  Why two posts?

My forte’ is landscape pictures, mostly on a grand vista scale.  I have had less success in taking pictures of flowers that are good enough to print and hang on my wall. Like a million other folks, this year’s abundance of wildflowers has got me hooked on photographing flowers.  I am now on a quest to take the best wildflower image I ever have. This post is a combination of my experience so far this season combined with the research I have done to help my images get better. I thought it would be good to share before the 2019 season comes to an end.  Here goes.

Environment

There biggest environmental factor that can improve your image is taking the flowers under the best light.  Most people want to view wildflowers on a bright sunny day.  This is probably one of the worst environments for taking wildflower pictures.  The light is strong causing harsh contrast, saturated color tones, etc.  You want to actually use soft diffused light. Like the light from an overcast day, or at sunrise/sunset because the light is softer and warmer.  This diffused light gives the wildflower a much more pleasing look.  As a bonus to taking pictures early or late in the day tends to mean less wind to move the flowers around.

I love this composition but the harsh sun makes it unusable

I love this composition but the harsh sun makes it unusable

It was an overcast day when this was taken and the diffused light makes these poppies much more appealing

It was an overcast day when this was taken and the diffused light makes these poppies much more appealing

Speaking of wind. If it is windy, sometimes the best approach is use it as an element in your image. Slow your shutter speed setting down and use the contrast of the moving flowers against the sharp background in the distance to add interest in your image.

Subject Matter

What flowers you choose to take a picture of is very important.  If you are taking close ups, you want a prime specimen, not one where pedals are decaying, eaten by bugs, etc.  Remember you are probably in a huge field of flowers, you can and should be selective.

I love the shape of this Poppy but you can tell from the leaves it has seen better days

I love the shape of this Poppy but you can tell from the leaves it has seen better days

This flower is in perfect condition and is the type of flower you should look for

This flower is in perfect condition and is the type of flower you should look for

Composition

Memorable images have the ability to tell a story that evokes emotion in the viewer.  You already know the story and why it evokes emotion within you.  Folks who will look at your image later weren’t there. They didn’t experience the same emotions you did while you were there.  Your image has to tell your story in order to evoke the emotions in others who were not there.  When you take the image, work to create a composition that will tell your story.  It could be you caught a butterfly resting on a flower or lots of other people around you enjoying the flowers.

In this one image I tell the viewer the whole story of my visit. That the flowers were all around, it was a cloudy day, it was easily accessible, close to the highway, and you would have enjoyed being there.

In this one image I tell the viewer the whole story of my visit. That the flowers were all around, it was a cloudy day, it was easily accessible, close to the highway, and you would have enjoyed being there.

The people in the image tell the story of how we were exploring the beautiful countryside

The people in the image tell the story of how we were exploring the beautiful countryside

Even in this colorful chaos your eye tends to end up looking at that one unopened poppy in the middle. When you create a focal point that the eyes can focus on your viewer will spend more time exploring the rest of the image .

Even in this colorful chaos your eye tends to end up looking at that one unopened poppy in the middle. When you create a focal point that the eyes can focus on your viewer will spend more time exploring the rest of the image .

From my experience and research I believe there are three go to composition approaches that will help make your wildflowers ones to remember:

1.       Shoot Low to the Ground.  Shooting from a standing position at wildflowers close to you is almost guaranteed to give you a mediocre image.  The same goes true for taking pictures of dogs.  Have you ever seen a dog picture that was taken from a standing up position that you really liked?  Probably not.  It is always when the photographer gets down to the dog’s level that creates a memorable image.

Taking this image from a higher perspective dilutes the impact of the flowers.

Taking this image from a higher perspective dilutes the impact of the flowers.

Shooting lower, at the flower’s level, increases the impact of the image dramatically

Shooting lower, at the flower’s level, increases the impact of the image dramatically

2.       Shooting parallel to the plain of the flower.  If you’re taking a close-up of a flower, what is in and out of focus is a big deal.  This is usually referred to as depth of field.  If you shoot parallel to the plain of the flower you minimize the amount of distance or depth of field that must be in focus.  Let me explain. 

If you take a picture of a flower from the side, to keep both the front and back of the flower in focus you need to keep a greater amount of distance in focus .  Now take a picture of the flower from directly overhead.  The front and back are at the same distance from your camera, so you need less depth of field to keep everything in focus.

Notice the front of the flower is out of focus

Notice the front of the flower is out of focus

If you shoot parallel to the plain of the flower the amount of distance to keep in focus in considerably less

If you shoot parallel to the plain of the flower the amount of distance to keep in focus in considerably less

3.       Use the flowers as a foreground element.  How many times have you seen an image of this huge field of gorgeous wildflowers and not been moved by it?  As humans we like structure. Our eyes want to focus on something, anything.  Fields of wildflowers are pure chaos.  There is not a single subject for our eyes to focus on, so our minds don’t process the image in a way that creates an emotion. 

One way to create emotion is to use the wildflowers as the foreground element but have a strong background element as well.  Have the wildflowers at the bottom of the frame but have a hill, lake, mountain, or something in the top background element. If you are successful at creating a link between the two you will naturally create emotion in your viewer as they look at your image.  FYI, a cloudless blue sky does not count as a strong background element. In fact, it dilutes the viewers interest factor.

Using the flowers in the foreground against the canyon’s super bloom creates a focal point for the viewer’s eyes to focus on, yet tells the story that there was color all around you. It creates an emotional impact

Using the flowers in the foreground against the canyon’s super bloom creates a focal point for the viewer’s eyes to focus on, yet tells the story that there was color all around you. It creates an emotional impact

The rock and the flowers in the foreground anchor the image and give a sense of proportion that evoke emotion from viewing the image.

The rock and the flowers in the foreground anchor the image and give a sense of proportion that evoke emotion from viewing the image.

Equipment

As always, the best rule is use what equipment you have at the moment.  One hundred percent of the time, having a picture is better than no picture at all.  So use what you have available. I went with my wife on a wildflower tour and one of the images she got on her iPhone was better than 90% of what I took with my Canon DSLR.  The reality is however, bringing the right equipment with you can have a huge impact on the quality of your image. Here are some examples:

Camera with Controls

We talked about the importance of selecting what is and is not in focus. A camera that gives you control over aperture and shutter speeds gives you way more flexibility to capture the image you want.

Camera with a Zoom

As a landscape photographer my favorite lens is a wide angle.  I tend to leave a 16-35 lens on my camera all the time.  It was counter-intuitive to me that many photographers said their favorite lens for shooting wildflowers was a long telephoto lens. Like 300-400 long lens.  I tried it and they were right.  For isolating a specific flower with a small depth of field you cannot be a telephoto lens.  Either having multiple lenses or having a good zoom lens will give you a huge amount of flexibility and control to create the image you want.

The zoom lens lets you blur the background of the rocks behind this flower. If the rock in the background was in focus its strong contrast pattern would have been very distracting

The zoom lens lets you blur the background of the rocks behind this flower. If the rock in the background was in focus its strong contrast pattern would have been very distracting

Tripod

Earlier in the post I said you need to be picky about the flower you chose to take pictures of.  It is as equally important to take time to compose the image of that flower. To do that ,you need to be able to hold the camera at the right spot/angle while you adjust your focus or wait for the wind to die down, etc.  That is the job of a tripod.

I was laying on the trail and had got the perfect focus and composition but had to wait several minutes for the wind to die down long enough for the flower to stop moving. No way could I have done this without a tripod.

I was laying on the trail and had got the perfect focus and composition but had to wait several minutes for the wind to die down long enough for the flower to stop moving. No way could I have done this without a tripod.

Knee Pads

Remember some of the best picture angles of wildflowers are down low.  That means a lot of kneeling. The reason the wildflowers look so good at the location you are shooting at is because there is water there.  Knee pads makes it much more comfortable to kneel and keep your clothes from getting dirty or wet. 

Diffuser

You are stuck taking pictures of wildflowers mid-day. There is hope.  A diffuser is a filter that softens the harsh sunlight passing through it..  You can buy a diffuser or very cheaply make your own.

Conclusion

If you are in the hunt for that “perfect” image of a wildflower hopefully these suggestions on light, composition, and equipment will help you succeed! I would love to hear from you if these tips or others not mentioned helped you on your quest!

Wish you luck in your hunt for the perfect wildflower image

Wish you luck in your hunt for the perfect wildflower image

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