Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Photographing Death Valley

Racetrack, Death Valley
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (70mm) f/14 1/250 ISO50

Racetrack, Death Valley
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (41mm) f/14 1/250 ISO 50

Death Valley got its name from a group of pioneers lost in the winter of 1849-1850; as the party eventually climbed out of the valley over the Panamint Mountains, one of men turned, looked back, and said "goodbye, Death Valley". 
We've visited Death Valley before however this was the longest stay to date.  Staying at the Furnace Creek Ranch we shot for 5-days visiting Badwater, Artist Palette, Zabriskie Point, Stovepipe Wells, Teakettle Junction and The Racetrack.

Racetrack, Death Valley
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (67mm) f/14 1/250 ISO 50

A little "behind the scene" of Don stalking a rock at the Racetrack.


This is the finished product of what he took - a 2-shot panorama.

Racetrack, Death Valley
Cambo WRS/IQ160 HR40mm f/11 1/250 ISO 50

Just a quick peek at what it looked like while we were at the Racetrack.




There's been numerous television shows lately showing Death Valley and just how dangerous a place it can be for those who are unprepared.  To quote the National Park Service " GPS Navigation to sites to remote locations like Death Valley are notoriously unreliable. Numerous travelers have been directed to the wrong location or even dead-end or closed roads.  Travelers should always carry up-to-date road maps to check the accuracy of GPS directions.  DO NOT DEPEND ONLY ON YOUR VEHICLE GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM."  We'd also add to pay attention to the road signs; if it says primitive road or high clearance vehicle recommended, best heed the warning.

We had been calling this formation the "mother ship" but learned later its' name is "The Grandstand".  This is the first formation you see as you get closer.

The Grandstand, Death Valley
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (24mm) f/14 1/250 ISO 50

Just to give you an idea of the vastness of the area - remember Don is 6'-9" - can you spot him?

Racetrack, Death Valley
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (39mm) f/13 1/250 ISO 50
Along side Ubehebe Crater
Canon 1DsIII 24-70 (38mm) f/11 1/320 ISO 50
Near Teakettle Junction
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (24mm) f/11 1/250 ISO 50

While most locations we visited this trip were just off major paved roads one wasn't.  The Racetrack is located in the northern section of Death Valley just past Grapevine.  The actual road leading out is within the same area as Ubehebe Crater.  Racetrack Road is a 27-mile gravel, washboard, heavy rutted road.  There's a speed sign a couple hundred yards in that states the speed is 30 MPH - do that speed at your own peril.   While there are some sections where you might be capable of 30MPH the vast majority is much closer to 10 and below.  You can't be in a hurry to reach the Racetrack - figure at least 2-hours to get to the northern portion and depending on conditions another 10-minutes to reach the southern.  As a point of reference, we've traveled to the Racetrack in a small 2-door Jeep, a 4-door Jeep and this year in our Ford Raptor.  It doesn't matter the vehicle, you still need to go slow or risk vehicle damage and severe back problems for the driver and passengers.  And, while you don't necessarily need a 4-wheel vehicle you should at least drive a high-clearance vehicle.  If you get stuck out here there's no cell-phone service and a tow truck will cost much more than an arm and a leg.   You've been warned.

 Devil's Golf Course
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (44mm) f/11 1/250 ISO 50
Phase DF/IQ160 55mm LS f/11 1/260 ISO 50

Devil's Golf Course
Cambo WRS/IQ160 HR40mm f/11 1/500 ISO 50

Photographing Death Valley is a rewarding challenge.  Sunrise/sunset at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes can be beautiful just as at Zabriskie Point.   Early morning light at Badwater and Devil's Golf Course is not to be missed.  Remember to have a tripod and filters, be patient and you'll capture the colors at Artist Palette and Golden Canyon. 

Artist Pallete
Canon 1DsIII EF17-40 (30mm) f/11 1/250 ISO 50

Artist Pallete
Canon 1DsIII EF17-40 (17mm) f/11 1/250 ISO 50
Artist Pallete
Phase DF/IQ160 55mm LS f/11 1/160 ISO 50

We're including images from some of the locations we visited to give you a sample of what you can find.  Our weather for the most part was good with blue skies and scattered clouds with low temps in the morning before warming up to short sleeve weather in the afternoon.  The wind for the most part wasn't a major concern however the closer it got to our departure the more we noticed it blowing and far less clouds.

Badwater, Death Valley
2-shot verticle panorama
Cambo WRS/IQ160 HR 40mm f/11 1/180 ISO 50

Closeup at Badwater
Phase DF/IQ160 Mamiya 120mm f/5.3 1/100 ISO 50

If you only have a few hours to visit Death Valley then a stop at Zabriskie Point is a must.

Sunrise at Zabriskie Point (6:16 AM)
Phase DF/IQ160 Mamiya 120mm f/5.6 1/6 ISO 50

Zabriskie Point (6:22 AM)
Phase DF/IQ160 Mamiya 120mm f/5.6 1/8 ISO 50

"Cake-Mix" at Zabriskie Point (6:32 AM)
Phase DF/IQ160 Mamiya 120mm f/8 1/10 ISO 50

Equipment used on this trip included a 35mm Canon 1DsIII  along with a range of lenses (17-40 and a 24-70) along with a Really Right Stuff MC-34 Monopod with the MH-02 LR monopod head.  Additionally, a Phase One IQ160 digital back attached to either a Cambo WRS tech camera or Phase One 645DF body was used along with either a Rodenstock 40mm tilt/shift lens (attached to the WRS) and a Schneider 55mm leaf shutter or a Mamiya 120mm manual macro lens on the 645DF.  A Really Right Stuff TVC-34L tripod with an Arca Swiss Cube was used to steady most of the medium format images. 

Zabriskie Point (6:09 PM)
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (44mm)  f/8 1/160 ISO 50

Zabriskie Point (6:11 PM)
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (55mm) f/8 1/100 ISO 50

If you look close enough you'll see Don sitting on the edge in the middle.
Zabriskie Point (6:15 PM)
Canon 1DsIII EWF 24-70 (55mm) f/6.3 1/100 ISO 100

Sunset at Zabrisriske Point (6:38 PM)
Canon 1DsIII EF 24-70 (70mm) f/4 1/80 ISO 100

The image files were later processed using a combination of Capture One Pro 7, Photoshop CS6 as well as either Silver Efex Pro or HDR Efex Pro.  The videos included were taken either with our Canon XF105 or a really cheap "truck-camera" both later processed using Adobe Premiere Pro software.

"Dunes"
Phase DF/IQ160 Mamiya 120mm f/11 1/160 ISO 50

We're already planning our next visit which will include some canyons which we've not visited before.  Our next trip is a return to Monument Valley so please stay tuned.

"Storm Clouds" in Death Valley
Phase DF/IQ160 55mm LS f/11 1/160 ISO 50

This turned out a little longer than normal however we wanted to share the information with you.  As always, thank you for allowing us to share and please remember your comments, thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.

Sandy & Don


Monday, March 18, 2013

Mono Lake California

Canon 1DsIII EF135mm f/112 1/160 ISO 50

Tufa formations, Mono Lake
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (50mm) f11 1/80 ISO 100
Don's been to Mono Lake before and wanted to share the experience with Sandy so we decided this year to make a stop on our way from Carmel CA to Death Valley.
Sierras along the way to Mono Lake
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (70mm) f/18 1/160 ISO 50

Canon 1DsIII 24-70 (45mm) f/11 1/80 ISO 50

Mono Lake is best described as a "fairy-tail: lake with eerie tufa towers growing in the water along the shore and inland.  The fairy-tail mineral structures are created when fresh-water springs bubble up through the lake's alkaline waters. 
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (28mm) f/8 1/125 ISO 50

Canon 1DsII EF24-70 (70mm) f/11 1/100 ISO 100

Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (24mm) f/11 1/100 ISO 100

Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (42mm) f/11 1/100 ISO 100

However you see it, Mono Lake is located in the Eastern Sierras of California and is home to millions of migratory and nesting birds. 
Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (50mm) f/11 1/100 ISO 100

Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (35mm) f/11 1/100 ISO 100

Canon 1DsIII EF24-70 (33mm) f/11 1/100 ISO 100

The day we visited Mono Lake it was extremely cold and very windy.   Driving into the parking lot we found we had the place to ourselves and we didn't see signs of life the entire time we were there.  There's a boardwalk leading from the parking lot out to the shore.  Once at the shore you are free to walk along it and get very close to the various formations close to the shoreline. We began at the parking lot at South Tufa and after walking out to the shore drove over to Navy Beach.  We've only scratched the surface of Mono Lake having visited twice, both times in February.  We're planning a return sometime in the spring or fall when the weather will be better suited for a longer exploration.  
Boardwalk at South Tufa

View from Navy Beach
Canon 1DsIII EF135mm f/11 1/160 ISO 50

We left Mono Lake spending the night in Lone Pine before heading into Death Valley. 

2-shot panorama
Cambo WRS/IQ160 f/11 14-seconds ISO 50
Thank you as always for allowing us to share our adventures and images and remember your comments are always welcome.  Next stop - Death Valley...



Sandy & Don












Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Mr. Bill's adventures with Iron Creek Photography™


We normally travel alone however we decided to take Mr. Bill along with us on our last trip.  Mr. Bill informed us he had never been to either Mono Lake or Death Valley and both places were on his "bucket-list"; promising to behave himself we took him along figuring how much trouble could he cause?  Sadly we found out....
Mr. Bill forgot his camera and we just didn't trust him with ours.  Mr. Bill got himself in a bit of trouble in Mono Lake as he thought he could climb the tufa formations along the shore only to get stuck and needing rescue.  He tried to take a swim in the lake however we stopped him before he reached the water.  To say he was a small handful at Mono Lake would be an understatement.

Thinking he learned his lesson at Mono Lake we decided to take Mr. Bill out to the Racetrack in Death Valley.  Again we're thinking how much trouble could he cause?  Turns out he ended up trying to move the rocks and when he couldn't budge them he climbed on top of one.


This is why we don't like to take others along while we're trying to work.  So long Mr. Bill.


Sandy & Don


We'll be posting images from Mono Lake and Death Valley just as soon as we get Mr. Bill cleaned up.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Cambo Groundglass/Loupe Part II

Pfeiffer Beach California
Cambo WRS/IQ160 Rodenstock 40mm tilt/shift f/11 31-seconds ISO 50
Several days ago I shared my thoughts and video on using Cambo's revised groundglass/loupe on my WRS tech camera.  So I thought I'd add to that. 

  Groundglass/loupe attached with the loupe swung open to reveal the groundglass.  

 View of the groundglass
First let me say that while I only had the groundglass/loupe a short time to evaluate, I found I liked it so much I bought it from Dave GallagherOkay, it would have cost less to return it however that isn't the point.  I found it works and works well so I decided to keep it.

Groundglass/loupe attached

Using the groundglass/loupe is a matter of choices.  If you have a fast moving scene such as fast light and or clouds then using the groundglass may slow you down too much and you'd be better off the "old fashion" way of composing (shooting and checking on your digital back).  If you have a Phase IQ back then you could use the live view function so long as you have at least a 3-stop filter.  I think that given enough time I might be able to learn (building muscle memory) to quickly change between the back to the groundglass and return to the back in a short enough time to capture most of the fastest of changing lights; it just take practice.  If the scene was that fast I'd more than likely just swap the back over to the Phase DF and shoot that way.  Again choices....

Mono Lake, California - Very windy and extremely cold
Cambo WRS/IQ160 40mm f/11 13-seconds ISO 50
I ended up only doing 3-shots here due to the extreme conditions.
Devil's Golf Course, Death Valley California
Cambo WRS/IQ160 40mm f/11 1/500 ISO50
The Racetrack, Deat Valley California
2-shot panorama
Cambo WRS/IQ160 40mm f/11 1/500 ISO50

We're back from our latest trip and the images shared here were all taken with the WRS using the groundglass/loupe first to compose and focus.  I'll admit that the number of shots taken at each location was reduced due primarily to using the groundglass.   I've found I had no problem with critical focus despite the fact I normally wear tri-focal glasses.

Badwater, Death Valley California
2-shot vertical panorama
Cambo WRS/IQ160 40mm f/8 1/80 ISO50

While I've only had the groundglass/loupe a short while I highly recommend it.  Don't take my word for it.  Watch the video that was included in the previous write-up then contact your medium format camera dealer for a test spin.  If you don't have a dealer then I strongly recommend Capture Integration as a dealer you can trust.  

Thank you as always for allowing me to share our experiences. 

Don