Denali from 40 Km
End of summer was approaching, was lucky enough to get there on one of the 50 odd clear days per year.
End of summer was approaching, was lucky enough to get there on one of the 50 odd clear days per year.
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Jan, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska at mile marker 40.Time
We were on a wildlife bus tour, and stopped here, at the 40 km mark about 1 pm for about 30 minutes of photography. I was extremely lucky that day as Denali was almost free of obscuring clouds, as weather is unpredictable in Alaska in August. The fire weed in the foreground turns this intense red color at the end of summer, signaling that winter is not that far away.Lighting
The sun's position in the sky provided a great mix of bright snowfields and deep shadows.Equipment
My first DLSR, a Nikon D60 with the 18- 55 kit lens and a Hoya Circular polarizer . Was shot handheld. Exposure was 1/160 @ f/6.3, ISO 100Inspiration
The 40 km mark signifies that we were 40 km from the end of the road, which is at the base of the mountains in the middle distance. I had seen the film Into the Wild before leaving on the trip, and recognized this scene as one used in the film when Christopher McCandless was dropped off his ride and began his trek into the Wilderness where he eventually died. The real location was hundreds of miles away, but the image was too perfect. The magnificent mountain partially shrouded in clouds, big granite shoulder breaking through, the rolling hills in the middle and the brilliant red of the fire weed. Perfect image on a perfect day.Editing
I had not fully developed as a photographer then and was still shooting in JPG format. Image was processed in Adobe Photoshop 4 wth Topaz Labs Adjust for an HDR look . I was trying for a postcard look, where colors and contrast are boosted to look dramatic. Now, I shoot exclusively in RAW, import everything into Adobe Lightroom CC for exposure, color and white balance adjustments then export to Photoshop CC for use with Topaz and NIK filters. .In my camera bag
Right now, I carry a Nikon D7100 (my third DLSR), Sigma 18 - 35 f/1.8 ART lens, Sigma 18-300mm 3.5-6.3 DC HSM, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM, and my current favorite wide angle, a Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens. For extreme wide angle, I use a Nikon NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8 Lens. All the Sigma lenses have Breakthrough Photography's excellent CPM filters. I carry a selection of 77 and 72 mm Neutral Density filters, Really Right Stuff panorama rail and pano clamp, and 4 fully charged batteries plus an assortment of cables, etc. And a 3 bubble spirit level, because I cannot hold a camera level to save my life. For stabilization in the field, I use a Three Legged Thing Brian tripod for light weight and stability. When I need something more serious, I use a RRS Versa Series 2 tripod with leveling head. All this is carried in a Manfrotto 3L Backpack for mobile use or a Mindshift Evolution Pro backpack if I need to hike in for a shot.Feedback
The same way you get to Carnegie Hall: Practice, practice, practice; and the corollary for landscape photography: Patience, patience, patience. Get used to carrying a camera as much as possible, notice what is around you, scenes and lighting that changes during the day to present different views of the same subject. Find an on-line photography forum where you can submit images for constructive and not so constructive criticism. Most of all, have fun.
