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Photo Blog

The Explorations, explanations, and techniques behind the photos

Fields of Flowers

5/4/2017

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There is a Tulip Festival ("Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival") not too far away from where I live, and I've made it out there a few times this season.  I try to time my visits so that I am there around sunrise or sunset, for the dramatic lighting and the potential for some nice cloud colors (which have proven more difficult with the non-stop rain this winter and spring!).  It's a popular spot for photographers, and can get pretty crowded on days with nice weather or on the weekends. If you want to see all of my images from the event, or want any nice pictures for your desktop, photo frames, wall, etc. you can view all the images on my SmugMug site.  Keep reading down below the slideshow to see some of the entertaining and silly stories and photos I experienced while photographing in the fields.

Besides trying to get images showing the beauty of the tulip fields, there were also quiet a few times where I found some humor.  I enjoy people watching, and there were plenty of chances to do so out in the fields.
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Photographers in the Mist. There was well over $1 Million in camera equipment at 6:00am standing in this muddy tulip field.
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I found my spot and had my tripod set up and my composition, Aperture, shutter, filter, and focus all set. Other people had the same idea...
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When Cars Fly. These ultralights flew over the fields, sometimes getting as low as 10 feet off the ground. It was the perfect still morning for them to fly.
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Where did the balloon go? It took 15 minutes until I finally got this image without people standing by the tractor.
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This tulip festival draws people from all over the world. Either that or people just put pins everywhere.
This was my first time going to this event, which is hard to believe since I have lived near it for most of my life!  I definitely plan to go back next year again.  The festival planners rotate which fields they plant and the patterns of flowers they use, so next year should allow for some new angles and images.  I also just got some new professional grade lenses (more on that later) which should give me some better results with optical quality and bokeh (more on that later as well).
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"The Visionary"

4/24/2017

1 Comment

 
​I got to use my drone and photography equipment to create this tour of a property for sale.  Definitely a big project, and a good chance to try some new techniques!
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Abiqua Falls

4/10/2017

0 Comments

 
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In the Basin of Abiqua Falls.
I got a chance to hike to Abiqua Falls a few weeks ago, when there was a break in the weather long enough not to get rained on.  The falls are part of the same geological formation that makes up Silver Falls State Park, but Abiqua is lesser known and lesser visited since it's much more challenging to get to.  Having never been there before, I wasn't sure exactly where it was on the unmarked logging road.  I parked at the top of a steeper section of the road, where it looked like it had been a creek bed during a heavier downpour.  I wasn't sure how much further down the road the falls were, but I figured I would figure it out on the way.  There were other hikers coming and going from the falls, so I just kept asking them as we passed if they could help with directions.  

I could hear the falls before I could see them, so I figured I was getting closer.  I came across a trail marked by red spray paint on a tree, and headed down into the forest.  As it turns out, this wasn't the main trail below the falls, but a lesser used trail that ends right above the falls.  There was a small section of "trail" that dropped me over a small rock ledge with a small knotted rope to assist in rappelling down to the creek right above the falls.  Nobody else was on this trail, so I had plenty of time to set up some shots without feeling rushed.

There was a smaller waterfall right above the main one, and I spent some time trying to get some nicer images of it.  The water was moving quickly, but I decided to still use my extremely dark filter to help wash out all motion from the waterfall.
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On the trail overlooking the carved out amphitheater of Abiqua Falls. It's hard to tell how much of the trail is on an overhang, so I wouldn't venture too much closer to the edge.
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Standing above the main falls.
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Smaller waterfall right above the main Abiqua Falls. A 3 minute exposure to wash away motion, and f-12 to get more focus depth.
This little waterfall was dwarfed by the much larger waterfall, but was still very pretty.  I also liked how the main creek came out of the narrow gap in the rock, and gave the photo another aspect that added to the overall image.  I tried a couple different angles and couldn't figure out which one I liked more, so I went with both of them.  I was very cautious walking next to the creek; the rocks were moss covered and slippery, and I wasn't so sure that if I fell into the creek that I would be able to drag myself out before going over the main waterfall.
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Another closer angle of the creek with a smaller waterfall joining.
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Rounding the last bend in the creek.
After spending 40 minutes or so carefully wandering around above the falls, I decided I had pushed my luck and my shoes' grip far enough, and scrabbled back up over the rock ledge and back onto the logging road, and continued down another half a mile or so before coming across the next trail.  This one was a little more well marked than the last trail, with a larger white sign posted on a larger maple tree.  It was still pretty steep at times, with more ropes to balance and support yourself as you slid down along the creek.  It wasn't far from there before I rounded the final corner.
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A distant shot of the falls and the storm-swollen creek.
There were a few other people that came and went as I set up some longer exposure shots, but for the most part it wasn't too crowded.  The constant mist coming off of the waterfall made it challenging to keep the lens and filter clear of mist (it was a losing battle), but I managed to get some nicer images before everything was damp.
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Abiqua Falls
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Abiqua Falls Side Profile
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Abiqua Falls Wide Shot
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Abiqua Falls B&W
With the ambient light filtering through the clouds and trees, the exposures were taking around 4 minutes, making me much more selective and precise with the angles in photos that I was looking for.  It also made it much more likely to have a whole bunch of misty spots end up on the lens, and everything was so soaked that I couldn't wipe away the water without leaving more water behind.  All in all, it was a good day for a hike and a pretty waterfall.

Most of these images are also on my smugmug site.  If you like a particular photo and want a print of it (without my name scribbled on it) just click on the image and it should take you to the corresponding page, and Thanks! 
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Oregon Based Photographer and Drone Operator


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