Newsletter No. 56: March 2010
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CONTENTS
- Adventures with a Mountain Man: Part III – Photography by Horse
- Hiking in Heaven: Part II
- Great Bear Rainforest: A Beautiful Black Bear
- Join me on Facebook and my new blog. I’m on a New Adventure!
1. Adventures with a Mountain Man: Part III – Photography by Horse
Figuring it out!
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. Bouncing around on a horse while trying to look through the viewfinder and change dial settings with one hand was no easy task. For the above image I pushed the ISO to 640 and shot at 1/1600sec at f-8. This provided the sharpness and depth of focus I wanted. The image was made using a 24-105mm lens set at 24mm. As you saw in Part II of this story, Bill Mero took me by horse to see the most beautifully sculpted volcanic crater I had ever seen. My next adventure; learning to photograph from a horse, was a lot more challenging.
With only the two of us on this trip, I quickly learned that there was no one to hold my horse while I dismounted to make an image. Bill was always up ahead of me, and looking so photogenic amidst all those beautiful volcanic features, I knew I had to figure out a way to photograph from the saddle while at the same time trying to control my horse.
With camera gear in saddle bags, my second camera body with a 70-200mm lens around my neck, and primary camera body with a 24-105mm lens in one hand, I tried to maneuver my horse with the other hand. With my horse always wanting to be right behind the lead horse, this was no easy matter for a novice rider!
Still Trying to Figure it out!
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. This image was made at ISO 800. The other settings were 1/3200sec at f-8. There were times I could have adjusted the settings, but with opportunities happening by the second, I often elected to shoot first and change settings later.
Firstly, I had to change my personality! With heels jabbing and arms flinging, I began to give dictatorial orders to get my horse to locations where I could get my best compositions. Secondly, I had to become proficient at changing the dials on my camera with one hand. As you can see by the above image, I was still learning!!
Finally, I Figured it out!
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. While trying to concentrate on the position of the eight horse legs (keeping the separated) as well as the overall composition, I made this image at ISO 800; 1/1600sec; f-8; and lens set at 24mm.
Taking full advantage of digital photography, I cranked up the ISO until I could shoot at fast enough speeds with enough depth of focus to capture the images I was trying to make. In early morning light, while riding across a volcanic cone that had been carved flat during the last ice age, I made this image of Bill riding beneath an oncoming weather system.
If there was ever a time when I felt my fervent passion for adventure and photography, it was at this very moment. The light was unbelievable as I tugged hard on the reins to maneuver into position.
This was a five day photographic experience I will never forget. The light, colour, landscape, and camaraderie, made this a trip of a lifetime. Thank you, Bill.
2. Hiking in Heaven: Part IIIn Part I of this VI part series, I showed you the overall landscape in which Rita, Mike and I hiked for one entire day. It was the last day we hiked together in the Itcha Mountains, but I feel it was one of my most memorable days ever as a nature photographer.
Earth Sculpture I
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. Using ISO 200, I made this image on a tripod at 1/500sec at f-10 using my 100-400mm lens at 300mm. To help avoid camera and lens shake, I used the self timer set at 2 seconds with mirror lockup. Normally I try and make landscape images on a tripod using ISO 100, but with this longer telephoto lens, I often move up to ISO 200 for a faster shutter speed in order to reduce the chance of camera shake. Everywhere I looked I saw shapes, colour and texture. Just as I moved across the Earth’s crust, it too was moving below me; forever building, disintegrating, and flowing toward the ocean. As I stood to make each image, I felt the energy of the rocks travelling through me. This energy was in its purest form, for this earth had never been disturbed by man. Only mountain goats and caribou had ever travelled here.
Earth Sculpture II
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. The above two images may seem similar but they are not. In the top image, the two shapes are a considerable distance from me, so depth of focus was not a major factor. That is why it was made at f-10. Above, the reddish coloured foreground was right below my feet requiring a maximum depth of focus. Using ISO 400, I made this image on a tripod at 1/60sec at f-32 using my 100-400mm lens at 150mm. To help avoid camera and lens shake, I used the self timer set at 2 seconds with mirror lockup. These shapes were sculptures which had been perfected over millions of years, and the colours were gifts given to me as the observer of light. Looking through my viewfinder, I was literally responding to how I felt about each visual design.
Studied closely, these two images reveal dozens of compositions within each. For me, this is photography at its best. I could have spent days here.
3. The Great Bear Rainforest – A GiftThe following three images represent a wonderful experience with a beautiful black bear.
Black Bear I
© Chris Harris
I was stationed between two large fallen trees when this gorgeous black bear that had been fishing for salmon, jumped up onto the log in front of me and proceeded to walk down it toward me. As she became aware of my presence, she stopped, starred at me with her inquisitive eye, and seemed to ask, what are you doing here? I spoke to her gently. Slowly, her eyes returned to the log and she continued on past me.
Black Bear II
© Chris Harris
Concentrating solely on her feet, I snapped the shutter when all four feet were separated. There is nothing worse than an image of a three legged bear!
Black Bear III
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. All three bear images were taken at ISO 800. The shutter speed and aperture for each was 1/160sec at f-8. I was using my 24-105mm lens; each image was made at 45mm. Even though she was well past me, she was still tracking me with the peripheral vision of her left eye.
If you would like to explore and photograph the Great Bear Rainforest by ship, contact Ocean Light II Adventures.
4. Join my Blog and Facebook Page: I’m on a New Adventure!For a new and fresh perspective, my partner’s daughter Teresa and I have started a blog and have taken the step of becoming a presence on Facebook.
If you enjoy photography, adventure, beauty, British Columbia, and wish to learn about Teresa’s and my creative process; sign up for the journey. Together with my monthly Newsletters, you will explore some of the most spectacular and remote areas of central BC.
For those of you who use either of these mediums, please join us and tell your Facebook friends.
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