Daily Image - Oct 2018 Archive

03 Oct 18 We'll conclude our Antarctica visit with a shot of that most famous tourist attraction Mt Erebus. In the mid 70s Air New Zealand Flight 901 was a regular sight seeing flight that operated out of Auckland. It would depart in the morning, spend several hours flying around Antarctica with the highlight being Mt Erebus, and then return home in the evening via Christ Church. It was very popular (for wealthy folks) with the flights occurring between 1977 and 1979. The last flight on 28 Nov 79 ended when the aircraft crashed into the side of the mountain killing all 257 on-board. Since then there have been no such flights but there has been talk now and again about resuming them. Time will tell. Of course while we were there we got to fly around it frequently and were often not far from it physically when out exploring. Today we are looking at Mt Erebus which sits on Ross Island. Since the Ross Sea was frozen at the time I took the shot one could have simply walked across the top of the water (we can all walk on water in the wintertime, yes?) and gone over to climb the mountain. We didn't as we were climbing on some smaller rocks on McMurdo Island and the distance between us and Erebus is deceiving. Erebus is an active volcano and should it decide to blow seriously the McMurdo station will likely be history. But for now the mountain seems content to just occasionally blow off a little steam to remind all that she is alive and well. On the day I took the shot the sky was almost cloudless so I stuck in a few to make it more interesting, otherwise, this is a straight shot. Easy Access Nikon F2AS; 55mm macro; ISO 100; guessing 1/250 @ f /11.

01 Oct 18 A hard & fast rule in McMurdo was that one had to attend Happy Camper School before ever venturing out of town to go sightseeing. I had an opportunity to go on an adventure that I shouldn't have been allowed to do before I attended the school. It was one of those if you don't go now you likely won't get another chance so I went with the approval of the C.O. As it turned out everything that could go wrong did and I found myself in a VERY challenging situation that had a good change of ending poorly, very poorly. Fortunately it didn't and shortly thereafter I got to go to Happy Camper School. Had I done so before that adventure there would have been absolutely no problem and what I learned in the short 2 day school was invaluable. For the most part, although the training was of a serious nature, it was conducted by extremely skilled instructors who made it fun. That training could fill a couple thousand word narrative so I'll just leave it as stated. Today's image is an illustration of some of the fun aspect of the training. We had to sleep overnight on the ice and in preparation for so doing we constructed several different accommodations in which to sleep. One such approach was in a teepee-like tent that could be carried in our survival bags which contained sufficient supplies for three days in the worst kind of weather. Since the teepee-like tent would be subject to potential blowing over in windy conditions we built an ice wall around it and included a fancy Roman Arch to serve as the entrance. One of the students was one of the visiting teachers and she always took a penguin with her on her travels so we stationed the penguin at one place on the wall to serve as lookout (not in this shot). We also built an igloo, a story in itself, had different kinds of tents, and even the possibility of sleeping out in the open (no takers). I slept in a tent with another individual of about my same age from New York who had never camped in any form all his life. He timidly asked if he could join me in my tent and I of course said sure. In the tent I placed two 1/8 inch rubber roll up mats directly on the ice and my mummy bag on top of those. Though the weather outside was -20F, I was so hot in the bag that I had to unzip it to keep comfortable. While it will likely sound crazy to you, the trick to making this all work is that you sleep nude in the mummy bag; any clothing between you and the bag greatly decreases it ability to keep you toasty. Lots more I could share as I suggested earlier, but we'll leave it here. Those of you who are photographers will note that the lens diaphragm had six leaves. Ice Town Nikon F2AS; 50mm; most likely something like 1/250 @ f /11.

02 Oct 18 With the proper training for cold weather operations - like Happy Camper School - one can deal with just about whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Sometimes it can even be comical. Today's image come with its own story. You are looking out a window from the offices of VXE-6 across to the helicopter hanger with OB Hill in the background even if you can't see it! The photo in the ULH is how this view looked in clear weather a few minutes prior to the taking of the other three panes. Shortly after I took that first shot I re-positioned myself and stabilized the camera on a table top to take the other three frames. Those three frames URH, LLH, and LRH are a sequence taken in less than 2 minutes. These kinds of quick squalls that can result in a total white out in just a few minutes are called Herbies, and they can be troublesome especially when you are not prepared for them. They can occur without virtually any warning and when they do you need to act smartly and quickly. One day while we were pre-flighting for a trip to an outlying field we called OPS for a weather report on the expected flight conditions and were told 50 - 100 miles clear visibility. At the time we called we were in a Herbie and the comment from the pilot to the folks in weather can't be repeated here, but it was something along the lines of get off your @#$%^& and look out your window!! In many was quite humorous and in more ways not! We'll conclude these Antarctic shots tomorrow which a nice view of Mt Erebus; then I'm off to Yellowstone. Time Lapse Nikon F2AS; 55 mm macro; ISO 100; likely 1/500 sec @ f /11.

16 Oct 18 Back from Yellowstone; 12 days, 2,450 miles, and 3200+ images. Got back Sunday evening late and far too tired to even try to send out a mailing. Weather was a challenge the entire trip as were the photographic opportunities; virtually no animals other than one small and one medium sized herd of bison and two small herds of elk plus one coyote way out yonder. All told perhaps 250 animals total! I had expected to encounter at least 10x that number. A huge disappointment to say the least. But the weather itself was the main player this time around as will be obvious in what I share from the trip. Even though I shot the frames I did I never felt like I was on my mark, perhaps because my inspiration stayed behind; you can decide for yourself from the 1% or so of the frames I plan to share. Started out the trip by taking another route to I-90 to avoid the I-5 parking lot. As I approached the opposite shore of Puget Sound the landscape was enshrouded in cloud (some of you may be able to make out a couple of structures); little did I realize at the time that this was a harbinger for the trip. First day out the weather was lush, next day was nothing but rain and stormy. That was followed by more stormy weather, then rain, then clear sunny day and a half followed by snow, then stormy, then bright sunshine, and that followed by everything you can imagine in a single day in which I did get some impressive storm shots unlike last February when those with whom I was traveling totally blew capturing what might have been the storm of the century in Yellowstone. So this Fall's set of Yellowstone images will be mostly weather vice animal related. I had two goals for the trip, getting that from the top of Prismatic Spring image - never even got near it - and meeting with a contractor friend to do some remodeling of the condo which I did accomplish. So the basic reason photographically for the trip was a bust but I did get a promise from a park Ranger who lives in the condo complex to walk with me to the Prismatic Spring next spring so I can get my shot! And before we arrive the condo remodel will be complete. I guess all that ends well can't be all that bad; we'll let the images tell. Other than some cropping this is straight from the camera. Not So Subtle Forewarning Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/6400 sec @ f / 9.

17 Oct 18 Once on the other side of the pond and through the mountains the only way to describe the landscape was a symphony in yellows. Everything from the faintest flaxen to the most vibrant gold presented itself mile after mile. As the altitude rose from sea level to c3K feet the performance only got better. By the time I made it to the motel I wanted to rise up as if in attendance at a performance of Handel's Messiah. Not only were the aspens showing off to their best, the tamaracks were hinting that the second movement was about to begin which in fact it had on my return leg. With the light starting to fade, I did a bit of shooting before checking into the motel. From what I could tell with the setting of the sun, the morning was primed for another movement. Checked with the locals for the best time to shoot, set the alarm, and retired thinking of what I would experience in the morn. Got up with the alarm, looked out my window and couldn't believe what I was seeing; dark clouds and rain! So everything I had hoped on shooting was not to be. Had a chat with the front desk morning clerk whom I've come to know over the years who said that the prior day of sunshine was the only one for the past several days and that rain was expected for another couple. So the shots I got upon my arrival were to be the only ones on that leg of the trip. Today's submission is a composite of two taken looking across the road from the motel parking lot to the hillside bordering the St Regis River where it parallels I-90 for many miles. The green trees with the very light green tips are the tamaracks (evergreens) which are soon to be golden yellow. This two frame composite has been cropped for best presentation but otherwise is what the camera recorded. Evening Colors Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture priority; ISO 200; 1/100 sec @ f / 9.

22 Oct 18 With the closing of the evening that first glorious day out I checked with the locals as to sunrise and when I should arise on the morrow to catch that first beautiful golden hour light. Set the alarm, crashed, and awoke in time to go get those awaiting images. Except that it was pitch dark. Thinking I must have set the alarm wrong, I went outside via the front desk to confirm what I was seeing was real. Boy was it! Had a leisurely breakfast hoping against hope and when that failed set forth. After a couple hours driving in the rain I got my first break in the weather and stopped to grab a few shots. That was to be the pattern for the entire day. About 15 minutes east of the motel you first cross the Clark Fork river; for the next couple of hours you will cross it an additional 13 times. This is a view of that river from a small turn out and is typical of the river throughout its length. As you travel you cross it at various heights, some locations just barely over it and others at heights up to 100 feet or so. However you do it the view is worth slowing down for if a) the traffic will let you and/or b) you don't mind hitting the binders traveling at 80mph+. My solution to that problem is to be in the slow lane doing closer to 65 which makes stopping a lot easier. And traveling at the times I do there is very little traffic so I'm not bothering those who are in a slightly bigger rush than am I. Every time we make the trip we see a number of trains, some more than 100 cars in length and not always moving along the track. The train in this shot was just standing there. I have no idea as to its length as these five boxcars were all that I got to see. With the colorful mountain sides, rivers, trains and livestock, especially horses, the drive to and from is really a treat. Highly recommend it to you during any fall of any year. This is basically straight from the camera save for a small bit of contrast enhancement and the cropping off of a fair amount of sky that offered nothing to the composition. Fighting the Wind Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 640; 1/320 sec @ f / 9.

23 Oct 18 Leaving I-90 I traveled the "back" roads to the condo taking our now preferred approach via Hwy-287 through Nevada and Virginia cities coming out on the hill above Ennis before dropping down into the valley at 4,900 feet to follow the Madison River into West Yellowstone. I got a short break in the weather as I approached Nevada City so stopped to shoot a few frames of the old train cars in the golden cottonwoods and aspens. The wind was brisk, the clouds playing cat and mouse with the sun, and the break from driving much appreciated. As I walked around the old train station it was fun to imagine how things must have been a century ago when these towns were alive with the pioneer spirit that built our country. This town is a tourist site and during the summer months comes alive with opportunity to experience that pioneer life, but when we visit it is always closed, missing it by generally a month on either side. I'm rather certain it would be fun to visit in the summer time frame if it weren't for all the other tourists and heat, so we'll just settle for what we can when we visit. This is one of those images that looks good on my graphics box but on this mail box is too dark. If you find it so lighten it up some as there is a lot of detail in it that goes missing when it is too dark. I've adjusted the contrast some to provide for greater detail and cropped it just a bit for best composition, otherwise this is pretty much what was there. Having Seen Better Times Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 250; 1/200 sec @ f / 9.

24 Oct 18 The weather held long enough for me to spend about 15 minutes with the trains, then a few more at the ore mining site where, in the summer, you can try your luck at finding some gold before moving on another mile to Virginia City to spend about another 10 minutes shooting a small pond containing a few water fowl, mostly Mallard ducks and Canada geese. The yellows were out in force accentuated by some small amount of green and a hint of red. The wind had taken a breather but there was still a slight breeze hanging around to make the water's surface interesting. I tried a few different compositions and then headed up the hill to the overlook of the Ennis Valley. In the five minute or so it took to ascend that "mountain" the weather had moved in and all I could see at the top where the pullout for the overlook was located was something resembling a dull stripe in the middle of the road. Visibility had dropped to ZERO, the wind came up, and snow was falling. The drive for the next mile or so was very interesting. Half way down the Ennis side of the "mountain" I exited the cloud to scattered sunlight and more color. All that in the space of 10 minutes. Mountain driving can be fun. Other than some slight cropping, this is what the camera saw. Peak Performance Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 500; 1/320 sec @ f / 9.

25 Oct 18 Once you enter the town of Ennis you meet the Madison river for the first time. From here to Yellowstone you will be paralleling it on your right and depending on the time of year, if you are paying attention you will be seeing large numbers of Pronghorn antelope, the fastest land animal in N. America and hoards of fishermen. On the day I drove in I saw perhaps a total of 10 of each. The weather I'm assuming to blame. But the weather was its own show and about 20 minutes outside Ennis I encountered the weather putting on a wonderful show. This is just one act of the show, sort of the intermission entertainment. This however was to pale in comparison to the show I got on the return leg, but that's a story for another mailing. I've added a small amount of contrast enhancement tot he original but that's it. Break in the Storm Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 500; 1/800 sec @ f / 9.

29 Oct 18 Moving further along hwy-287 the weather was building for the next wash phase and doing so quite dramatically. About 45 minutes plus or minus depending on how heavy you press on that long skinny paddle on the floor of the vehicle you come to Indian Creek, although the only indication you are there is a single small sign - you can see it at the far right of the shot - identifying the creek. But the creek is sufficient to support a long line of trees on either side of the road, and depending on the time of the year, they can really catch your eyes. From what you see in the image it doesn't look to be very good farming country but both sides of the road are large ranches growing hay and raising cattle. Where you see neither you see fishing outfitters as the river is either right next to the road or just out of sight. And lots of fishermen. Apparently this was prime fishing season as on this particular trip we saw more fishermen than we had seen before. In fact, the days we were in the park we never saw less than 40 along the Madison and Firehole rivers. So between the colors, the fishermen, and the weather there was much to capture. And I did my best to do so. This is a two frame pano and other than cropping of some of the left side for best composition this is what the camera saw. Roadside Show at Peak Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture priority;m ISO 320; 1/800 sec @ f / 9.

30 Oct 18 Another 45 minutes down the road (hwy-287) I was at the rest stop from which I shared that oil spill photo 2 years ago. It was closed but I stopped anyway to shoot some color. The weather was closing in as I shot a couple of fishermen, the first set of many for that afternoon, enjoying the scenery while wetting a line. As I was shooting them a flock of snow geese passed over doing a series of flight formation maneuvers before settling down on the river about a mile distant. By now the rain was beginning and the wind was really picking up. I got back in the Trooper and started down the road when some movement caught my eye. I stopped, backed up, and just barely got out of the vehicle in time to see mama moose and twins walking back into the woods, a first for me as I've never before seen twin moose calves. I got a couple grab shots but not good enough to share. That gave me high hopes for lots of animals in the park but those were shortly to be shattered as the park animals had already decided they had had enough spectators for the year. This is straight from the camera. Afternoon Delight Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 320; 1/500 sec @ f / 9.

18 Oct 18 Today I'm sharing a barely creative version of an image of a hillside along the Madison river that is the location for the oil spill image I shared two years ago. I picked this one to show the range of the color yellow I mentioned yesterday (but just on the golden side). I'll share another along the way that emphasizes the yellows on the bright yellow side. The sunlight was making its presence known every now and then as the clouds were doing their best to keep things on the gloomy side. But every once in a while, for perhaps 5 - 10 minutes at a time, the sun would find an opening before the clouds rushed to block it out. When the sun did break out it was if another movement of the Symphony in Yellow was being played. Just off to my left two fishermen were playing catch with the trout with the trout teasing them like a young flirt. Unbeknown to me at the time there was a cow moose with twins grazing just on the other side of the trees lining the highway. I just happened to see them as I was driving off and stopped to try and get a portrait or two. Mom however had other ideas and all I was able to capture was a single frame of their rumps and ears as they headed back into the woods. And with the heavy brush lining the roadway everything was cluttered with my having to shoot through the branches. But I did see them. Not all was lost however as on the opposite side of the roadway was a beautiful yellow Aspen begging to be recorded. Which I did just before the clouds won and the rain commenced. This is pretty much straight from the camera save for a small bit of contrast enhancement. Symphony in Yellow Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 320; 1/500 sec @ f / 9.

19 Oct 18 Today we should be looking at something macro, and so we will, but this time as a play on words. For the subject is large (macro) in reality being an adult 4 point (8 point for those of you on the right coast) bull elk. This guy was the first elk we saw and it was on our return from a long day in the park. it was late in the evening sun time and the light level was low. But here he was, right along the side of the road leisurely enjoying an evening meal when I spotted him. We stopped immediately and had about two minutes shooting him alone before everyone and their dog arrived to join in the fun. Sadly many of those who decided to shoot him had little to no respect for the animal with one jackass coming within inches of hitting him with their truck! Drew a few comments from some of the other photographers. Fortunately he was more interested in dining than anything else so he just wandered back and forth looking for the choicest shoots of grass to entice his palette. We spent perhaps 30 minutes working with him always hoping for a better shot but in the end those we took initially turned out to be the best we got. This was the only solo bull we saw although we saw one other in the valley with a harem of perhaps 20 cows and two other bulls at the north entrance with an estimated 35 cows. Based on the behavior of the bulls at the north entrance we were well past the rut. Disappointing as that was, it did make for some nice calm herd shots. I've removed some distracting grasses from his face around his eye and obviously turned it into a drawing, otherwise this is a straight shot. Sketched Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 1000; 1/60 sec @ f / 6.3 hand held.

26 Oct 18 It seems like this fall has been one of the better ones in many years. Even if you live in an area without a lot of vegetation that turns colors, you can still likely find it in your local supermarket or veggie stand. An example of such is this capture of gourds shot at our local supermarket. I love these things both as food and decoration and having them around to shoot is lots of fun. My biggest challenge is trying to shoot them without the little stickers on them showing up. Of course one can always remove them in editing software, but it more fun to accept the challenge of not including them in the first place. Then there is the challenge of not including anything else which in this case I failed having not been able to fully hide the boxes. Just for fun, if you have the time and won't be getting in the way of the shoppers, wait until you a visitor in the frame before pressing the shutter. This is basically straight from the camera. Colorful Gourds Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 320; 1/2000 sec @ f / 9.

31 Oct 18 We take a short break from the trip to look at a little local scenery. Set out on a trip to Sequim about 10 days ago looking for some nice fall color. It was a bit foggy as we left and by the time we got to Hood Canal one couldn't see across to the other side so I thought, wow, this would be a good opportunity to shoot a vanishing bridge. Crossing over the bridge to the other side I was rewarded with a floating bridge that was literally floating not only on the water but in the ether as well so I grabbed a few frames of both the bridge and a heron. Two very different subjects but both worked. Since today is Halloween I thought a version of the bridge with a creative twist might be in order. You might want to make it a bit more saturated in the oranges vice yellows for the occasion, but either way it will simply vanish for you. You could even add a witch or goblin for effect if desired. Other than applying the creative effect this is straight from the camera. From the Twilight Zone Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 500; 1/6400 sec @ f / 6.3.