Shooting the Snow-like Sands!

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This week I'm shooting at the amazing Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.  The beautiful, snow-like sand dunes are made of gypsum crystals, making them white in color-stunning!  The first day in Bosque I was rewarded with a spectacular twilight sky, with reds and orange lighting the sky. Watching and listening to the sandhill cranes and geese take off for first flight at sunrise is a sight to behold! Several of these moments reminded me of  M. C. Escher's art - living, wildlife tessellations!  Jennifer

Click on images for larger view. 

Sandhill Crane at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico.  f/6.3, 1/3200 second, ISO 5000, EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTat 560 mm. Canon EOS-1D X

SANDHILL CRANE AT BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/6.3, 1/2500 SECOND, ISO 5000, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 420 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

Snow Geese, BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/6.3, 1/2000 SECOND, ISO 5000, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 560 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

Snow Geese, BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/11, 1/500 SECOND, ISO 5000, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 412 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

Sandhill Cranes, BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/8 1/6400 SECOND, ISO 1600, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXT plus additional  1.4 tele at 784 mm. Canon EOS-1D X

SANDHILL CRANE AT BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/9, 1/1000 SECOND, ISO 400, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 560 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM AT sunrise.  F/16, 1/10 SECONDS, ISO 100, EF24-70MM F/2.8L II USM AT 35mm.  CANON EOS 5D MARK III

SOAPTREE YUCCA, WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM AT TWILIGHT.  F/11, .4 SECONDS, ISO 160, EF24-70MM F/2.8L II USM AT 24MM. CANON EOS 5D MARK III

SOAPTREE YUCCA, WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM AT TWILIGHT.  F/16, 15 SECONDS, ISO 100, EF24-70MM F/2.8L II USM AT 24MM. CANON EOS 5D MARK III

shooting at White Sands in the early morning

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM.  F/16, 2 SECONDS, ISO 100, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16 mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III


Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque_del_apache/

White Sands
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Canon Explorer of Light Event and Wildlife Refuge Fundraiser in McPherson, Kansas!

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I just got back from doing a fun, all day seminar at a Canon Explorer of Light event with the Great Plains Nature Photographers in McPherson, Kansas- I lectured on Nature's Elusive beauty and The Amazing Night Sky. I'd like to thank Canon as well as Coordinators Jim & Cindy Griggs for the opportunity to share with others my passion for nature photography.

 

Photographing the bison at sunrise. Photo by Jeff Heidel. 


While in McPherson, I was invited to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge fundraising event with Jim, Cindy  and Jeff Heidel, the event organizer,  before my lecture. A group of photographers joined us to photograph the wild bison and elk that roam the refuge.  All  funds raised for the event went to help support the refuge!  It was supposed to be a sunset shoot but the heavy fog created more of a Bison in the Mist mood!  http://www.maxwellwildliferefuge.com

 

Misty evening at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. Photographed at f/5.6. 1/320 sec, ISO 800, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 170 mm.Canon EOS-1D X with aperture priority and +2/3 exposure compensation. 

ELK IN THE EARLY MORNING BEFORE SUNRISE. PHOTOGRAPHED AT F/5.6. 1/320 SEC, ISO 1250, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXT AT 560MM. MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE.Canon EOS-1D X 

 

The first rays of light on an elk, the background in the shades helps the elk stand out from the image. For the composition, I placed it off center nd looking into the frame leaving space to show the elk in the ENVIRONMENT. I usually like the lower right or left corner for that. Photographed at f/5.6. 1/250 sec, ISO 1250, EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT at 560mm. Manual exposure mode.

 

Elk scuffle at Maxwell, Photographed at f/5.6. 1/640 sec, ISO 1600, EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT at 560mm, Canon EOS-1D,  Manual exposure mode.

 

Bison at twilight. Photographed at f/5.6. 1/40 sec, ISO 1250, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300 mm, Canon EOS-1D X with aperture priority and +2/3 exposure compensation. 

Hawaii - Volcanoes and Stars

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I had a fantastic time at our Big Island of Hawaii workshop with Canon Live Learning, September 19-23, 2014. On this trip to the Big Island, I had some challenges. A recent hurricane, Iselle, left something of a path of disaster in its wake- palm trees down on the beach, holes in my favorite tree-lined tunnel- a different shooting situation than I hoped for the workshop. However, it spurred me on to look around for other shooting locations. It turns out there was another tree-lined tunnel nearby that looked intact!

My next concern was that the volcanic flow was heading to the town of Pahoa, which was near where we were scheduled to shoot. Luckily, it didn’t reach the town or cut off our access to the road, allowing us to drive to the south Puna coastline for photography. 

At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the flow seemed to lessen the intensity of the glow of the Kilauea Caldera, making the exposure easier to balance with the sky. The weather was cloudy and most returned to the hotel for some sleep. One group stayed on and they were rewarded with clear skies by waiting it out to get beautiful Milky Way shots.  

We adventured to the summit of Mauna Kea and photographed the Observatories at sunset then the Milky Way. We had such a good time and a wonderful group! 

Here are a few images from the workshop as well as a few I took afterwards on my own. Happy Shooting! Jennifer

The gang photographing the new tree lined tunnel.  

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The new tree lined tunnel location for the workshop. f/16, 1.6 seconds, ISO 100, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 33mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

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Sunset during the Big Island workshop.  f/8, 1/200 second to stop some action on moving trees, ISO 200, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 170mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

We had a lovely sunrise during the workshop on along the rocky coastline. Long exposures work well to soften the water.  f/16, 6 seconds, ISO 100, EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM at 28mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

We went to the summit of Mauna Kea with the workshop group and shot sunset. f/11, 1.6 seconds, ISO 100, EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM at 50mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

Mauna Kea Summit, photographed at f/9, 30 seconds, ISO 100, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 221mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III

After the summit we photographed the tree with a little light paining. Thanks to Bruce Omori of Extreme Exposure, for showing it to me. Photographed at f/2.8, 20 seconds, ISO 5000, EF24mm f/1.4L II USM, manual mode, Canon EOS 5D Mark III. 

 

Milky Way at Mauna Kea with the group. Photographed at f/2.8, 30 seconds, ISO 3200, EF14mm f/2.8L II USM, manual mode, Canon EOS 5D Mark III. 

Our fist night of the workshop we photographed the Kilauea Caldera and Halema'uma'u Crater at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Photographed at f/2.8, 10 seconds, ISO 640, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM at 17mm, manual mode, Canon EOS 5D Mark III. 

 

Fire in the sky as the clouds are lit by the volcano. Photographed at f/2.8, 25 seconds, ISO 2500, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM at 16mm, manual mode, Canon EOS 5D Mark III. 

 

On the same night, the clouds were clear. Photographed at f/2.8, 20 seconds, ISO 2500, EF14mm f/2.8L II USM, manual mode, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.  

More long exposures for wispy look to the water. f/16, 6 seconds, ISO 100, EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM at 24mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

Morning along the rocky coastline with the sun just peaking out for a little while. f/16, 2.5 seconds, ISO 50, EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM at 26mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

I photographed a couple of tree abstracts the morning the workshop was to begin. I didn't include the tree branches or base but just the trunk. f/16, 2.5 seconds, ISO 100, EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM at 70mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

Here is another abstract of a tree just outside our hotel.   f/16, 2 seconds, ISO 100, EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM at 50mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III.