Showing posts with label sunset. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunset. Show all posts
15 December 2022
14 October 2019
Dodging fires
The land is parched, it has been a long time since it has seen rain, and yet I hoped to reach some green spots higher on the Main Range.
The forecast was calling for high 30's maybe even 40C but nights could be still crisp.
I headed West with a vague idea of where I wanted to spend a few nights, not sure how the bush will look like.
The smoke from a week old fire was still creeping on a ridge not too far away.
When taking a wrong turn I ended up on a dead-end dirt road where the sides were all blackened, some stumps still smoldering. The local rural fire brigade saved this wonderful timber hut from the flames.
Eventually I found my way out of there and headed South where previously I spotted a great place to spend the night. Away from any highway I was hoping for a stunning view of the lower hills at sunset, but the smoke was veiling the sun giving the place an eerie orange look.
The grass was still thick and green enough to call that my camp for the night. At lunchtime the heat in the valleys reached body temperature, and yet now I was wearing a down jacket just as the night was falling.
Vanilla joined me the following day. We rode some incredibly bumpy "sealed" roads but then were relived to find dirt roads were smoother than the paved ones. The afternoon sun became just too much to be riding in the bush. A great spot on the banks of a rather shrunk river (from the drought) where shade convinced us siesta was a better idea than pushing on. At the early camp we shared the afternoon with the an incredible variety of chatterbox birds, attracted by the flowering trees.
Sadly the temperatures rose even further next day and the wind picked up. The place was a tinderbox and fires flared up turning deadly.
Our planned route to explore some remote forest tracks changed to safer main roads where travelling at speed kept us relatively much cooler than slogging in the bush.
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The forecast was calling for high 30's maybe even 40C but nights could be still crisp.
I headed West with a vague idea of where I wanted to spend a few nights, not sure how the bush will look like.
The smoke from a week old fire was still creeping on a ridge not too far away.
When taking a wrong turn I ended up on a dead-end dirt road where the sides were all blackened, some stumps still smoldering. The local rural fire brigade saved this wonderful timber hut from the flames.
Eventually I found my way out of there and headed South where previously I spotted a great place to spend the night. Away from any highway I was hoping for a stunning view of the lower hills at sunset, but the smoke was veiling the sun giving the place an eerie orange look.
The grass was still thick and green enough to call that my camp for the night. At lunchtime the heat in the valleys reached body temperature, and yet now I was wearing a down jacket just as the night was falling.
Vanilla joined me the following day. We rode some incredibly bumpy "sealed" roads but then were relived to find dirt roads were smoother than the paved ones. The afternoon sun became just too much to be riding in the bush. A great spot on the banks of a rather shrunk river (from the drought) where shade convinced us siesta was a better idea than pushing on. At the early camp we shared the afternoon with the an incredible variety of chatterbox birds, attracted by the flowering trees.
Sadly the temperatures rose even further next day and the wind picked up. The place was a tinderbox and fires flared up turning deadly.
Our planned route to explore some remote forest tracks changed to safer main roads where travelling at speed kept us relatively much cooler than slogging in the bush.
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08 July 2019
The road less traveled
When I come in a fork in the road I take it.
I take the road less traveled as it gives me a different perspective to the predictable.
Winter sunset over the Scenic Rim of South East Queensland.
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I take the road less traveled as it gives me a different perspective to the predictable.
Winter sunset over the Scenic Rim of South East Queensland.
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17 May 2019
Outback camping.
Long time sea kayaking buddy, companion of many expeditions, joined me on an overnight ride to the country. We picked the roads less traveled and in the late afternoon we ended up on dusty unsealed ones. We were looking for a secluded spot to camp for the night.
Canon TV-16 50mm f1.4
Vanilla sporting that kind of look that commands respect, the face of wisdom. Canon TV-16 50mm f1.4
Towards sunset we found what we wanted: a seldom used rural track that was a wide corridor of trees and short grass, with the occasional tree-trunk to sit on.
We were travelling light with tarps instead of tents for shelter. There was a light breeze in the air but it calmed down once dark. No frost yet but it is just a matter of weeks before that will happen.
Clear skies and no light-pollution from the urban sprawl; there was a meteor shower although peaking too early in the morning for me to care waking up and getting a proper look.
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Canon TV-16 50mm f1.4
Vanilla sporting that kind of look that commands respect, the face of wisdom. Canon TV-16 50mm f1.4
Towards sunset we found what we wanted: a seldom used rural track that was a wide corridor of trees and short grass, with the occasional tree-trunk to sit on.
We were travelling light with tarps instead of tents for shelter. There was a light breeze in the air but it calmed down once dark. No frost yet but it is just a matter of weeks before that will happen.
Clear skies and no light-pollution from the urban sprawl; there was a meteor shower although peaking too early in the morning for me to care waking up and getting a proper look.
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10 October 2018
Imagination
Good photography requires imagination; and that by definition cannot be automated. Net effect: frustration after spending a silly amount of money, move on to the next thing that delivers instant gratification. Ming Thein
The distinct feeling of frustration when after spending a good chunk of money on the latest/greatest and finding the results aren't met but the expectations.
And yet the cycle will continue by chasing the next iteration of the "latest and greatest" in hope that this one will really deliver the promised stunning images as seen in the advertising material.
Without the realization that the missing part is one's imagination that is required to create good photography, the best gear in the world will never produce more than possibly technically perfect images that will unfortunately lack appeal.
Money can buy very good equipment but can not buy talent.
18 July 2017
When grass is enough
Grass is enough for me to make me dream of wide open spaces, while still living in a city.
There is this open field left untouched by urban sprawl where the sun can though the horizon.
refitted projector lens RO501-1 100mm f2 1/6400sec
As the sunset comes I like to squat or even lay on the ground and observe the light filtered by the thin texture. As the breeze moves the sunlit field, one can imagine gentle waves on a golden sea.
refitted projector lens RO501-1 100mm f2 1/1250sec
There is something about the wonderful structure of the stalk supporting the grains of seed in the crown.
adapted Kodak Cine 50mm f1.6 1/4000sec
refitted projector lens RO501-1 100mm f2 1/1250sec
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There is this open field left untouched by urban sprawl where the sun can though the horizon.
refitted projector lens RO501-1 100mm f2 1/6400sec
As the sunset comes I like to squat or even lay on the ground and observe the light filtered by the thin texture. As the breeze moves the sunlit field, one can imagine gentle waves on a golden sea.
refitted projector lens RO501-1 100mm f2 1/1250sec
There is something about the wonderful structure of the stalk supporting the grains of seed in the crown.
adapted Kodak Cine 50mm f1.6 1/4000sec
refitted projector lens RO501-1 100mm f2 1/1250sec
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04 July 2017
The fire and the ghosts
When I see an image that doesn't just clinically depict a subject or a location my mind is left free to imagine what it could be.
Blurs and bubbles of light play with my creativity and I imagine things beyond of what I can see.
refitted projector lens 35KP-1,8/120 1/100sec
So, what good is that?
Well, it's no different than a book that vaguely sets a scene allowing the reader to create his/her own vision of the story. Some say that they prefer the book to the movie :-)
Images that don't state the obvious feed my dreams.
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Blurs and bubbles of light play with my creativity and I imagine things beyond of what I can see.
refitted projector lens 35KP-1,8/120 1/100sec
So, what good is that?
Well, it's no different than a book that vaguely sets a scene allowing the reader to create his/her own vision of the story. Some say that they prefer the book to the movie :-)
Images that don't state the obvious feed my dreams.
.
21 April 2017
Images from a Russian projector lens
I have a case full of modern lenses that can deliver ultra sharp images, all with the comfort of auto-focus, yet I am drawn to use old manual lenses that somehow give me a feel in my images.
In my book sharpness is overrated and the bokeh is king, but that must be textured and dynamic, not just soft out-of-focus blandness.
In my search for unusual glass, that often was never intended as photograph-taking lens, I came across an old Russian projector lens that is rather long and bright allowing for particularly interesting shallow depth of field.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/1600sec
The lens is heavy and very cumbersome to use: it took some effort to refit it and make it usable on my small cameras. The images I take with it are often a bit soft, low contrast and they exhibit flare easily if pointed towards are strong light source, yet I love the results.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/8000sec
Images that come straight of the camera could be considered a fail by some but with a bit of contrast and sharpness enhancement often they give a feel to my image that modern lenses can not.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/1000sec
The eye has not got the opportunity to scrutinize the details but rather takes in the whole scene as one and draws on my recollection of places I have vised before for an unconscious trip down memory lane.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/1000sec
.
In my book sharpness is overrated and the bokeh is king, but that must be textured and dynamic, not just soft out-of-focus blandness.
In my search for unusual glass, that often was never intended as photograph-taking lens, I came across an old Russian projector lens that is rather long and bright allowing for particularly interesting shallow depth of field.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/1600sec
The lens is heavy and very cumbersome to use: it took some effort to refit it and make it usable on my small cameras. The images I take with it are often a bit soft, low contrast and they exhibit flare easily if pointed towards are strong light source, yet I love the results.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/8000sec
Images that come straight of the camera could be considered a fail by some but with a bit of contrast and sharpness enhancement often they give a feel to my image that modern lenses can not.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/1000sec
The eye has not got the opportunity to scrutinize the details but rather takes in the whole scene as one and draws on my recollection of places I have vised before for an unconscious trip down memory lane.
refitted 35KP-1,8/120 (120mm f1.8) 1/1000sec
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08 December 2016
Beach kangaroos
A storm has been brewing for a few hours and the dark clouds started gathering and moving in.
I headed for the beach trying to capture the dramatic sky when I noticed a few kangaroos grazing on the dunes.
Just as I was photographing the shore a couple of kangaroos hopped right down to the water's edge wanting to dip their toes. A few minutes later a few more came and soon there were twenty or so.
In a rather bizarre moment they all lined up and started to wade, mother with joey in pouch, letting the spilling waves lap up to their bellies
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/4000sec
The dark sky served me a surreal scene with the parting clouds and the bright sun complements to the moment. I stood in awe and observed what was going to happen next.
Some hopped around, some just let the waves wash them a bit to then gather again and slowly retreat to the dunes again to forage.
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/2500sec
The evening brought some very soft light where I could capture them again in a large grassy field.
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/100sec
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/500sec
These are wild kangaroos, free to roam without enclosures, as nature intended.
I can not bring myself to enjoy observing wild animals in any other way...
.
I headed for the beach trying to capture the dramatic sky when I noticed a few kangaroos grazing on the dunes.
Just as I was photographing the shore a couple of kangaroos hopped right down to the water's edge wanting to dip their toes. A few minutes later a few more came and soon there were twenty or so.
In a rather bizarre moment they all lined up and started to wade, mother with joey in pouch, letting the spilling waves lap up to their bellies
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/4000sec
The dark sky served me a surreal scene with the parting clouds and the bright sun complements to the moment. I stood in awe and observed what was going to happen next.
Some hopped around, some just let the waves wash them a bit to then gather again and slowly retreat to the dunes again to forage.
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/2500sec
The evening brought some very soft light where I could capture them again in a large grassy field.
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/100sec
adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4 1/500sec
These are wild kangaroos, free to roam without enclosures, as nature intended.
I can not bring myself to enjoy observing wild animals in any other way...
.
24 October 2016
The afterglow
Sunsets: I have shot at least a couple of thousands. And I never tire of them.
From my very early days doing the mistake to just wait for the sun to come close to the horizon and then point in its direction before it disappears. If I was smart enough, I would have at least a subject in between so I could end up with a silhouette, of dubious quality.
As film could not hold the high contrast too well I then tried to wait for a softer light, post sunset, if my subject was back-lit. Suddenly the colors will start to show up in my slides, way more pronounced that my eyes could see. Little I knew that our eyes adapt to the changing light temperature and what might have looked "normal" with my eyes, film would record as very warm tones as the whole landscape was lit by candlelight.
adapted C-mount Navitar 75mm f1.3 @ f2 1/25sec
With digital photography things change a bit: one can adjust the color setting and the sensor can capture way more details in the shadows than any film ever could. But the soft light remains the same.
I wait, knowing that the real show will happen when people are gone :-)
* and thanks to technology I was able to create this image that otherwise would have been totally blurred in my film days: 1/25sec on a 150mm lens!
.
From my very early days doing the mistake to just wait for the sun to come close to the horizon and then point in its direction before it disappears. If I was smart enough, I would have at least a subject in between so I could end up with a silhouette, of dubious quality.
As film could not hold the high contrast too well I then tried to wait for a softer light, post sunset, if my subject was back-lit. Suddenly the colors will start to show up in my slides, way more pronounced that my eyes could see. Little I knew that our eyes adapt to the changing light temperature and what might have looked "normal" with my eyes, film would record as very warm tones as the whole landscape was lit by candlelight.
adapted C-mount Navitar 75mm f1.3 @ f2 1/25sec
With digital photography things change a bit: one can adjust the color setting and the sensor can capture way more details in the shadows than any film ever could. But the soft light remains the same.
I wait, knowing that the real show will happen when people are gone :-)
* and thanks to technology I was able to create this image that otherwise would have been totally blurred in my film days: 1/25sec on a 150mm lens!
.
06 October 2016
From the beach
The long weekend holiday made most places swarm with people; I needed to escape and have a bit of green time instead of screen time. Luckily my favorite beach was rather quiet.
Helios 44-7 58mm f2 1/640sec
Zuiko OM 200mm f4 1/2500sec
With my friend Melt, I walked the beach at low tide, each of us interested in different beach-combed treasures, laying low on the foreshore exploring and capturing the light.
Zuiko OM 200mm f4 1/1250sec
Zuiko OM 200mm f4 1/100sec
And just like fishermen trying to harvest from the sea we chased the sun, instead of fishing rods we had cameras in our hands.
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Helios 44-7 58mm f2 1/640sec
Zuiko OM 200mm f4 1/2500sec
With my friend Melt, I walked the beach at low tide, each of us interested in different beach-combed treasures, laying low on the foreshore exploring and capturing the light.
Zuiko OM 200mm f4 1/1250sec
Zuiko OM 200mm f4 1/100sec
And just like fishermen trying to harvest from the sea we chased the sun, instead of fishing rods we had cameras in our hands.
.
08 June 2016
Dragons at sunset
The Westerly wind blew in kitesurfers to my beach.
Like dragons with colorful wings they scooted along the shore occasionally taking flight.
refittted Russian projection lens Triplet 78mm f2.8 1/1250sec
refittted Russian projection lens Triplet 78mm f2.8 1/3200sec
Cintagon 100mm f3.5 1/60sec
There was an angel among them and at the end of the day she carried her wings when the wind dropped.
Pentax-110 50mm f2.8 1/60sec
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Like dragons with colorful wings they scooted along the shore occasionally taking flight.
refittted Russian projection lens Triplet 78mm f2.8 1/1250sec
refittted Russian projection lens Triplet 78mm f2.8 1/3200sec
Cintagon 100mm f3.5 1/60sec
There was an angel among them and at the end of the day she carried her wings when the wind dropped.
Pentax-110 50mm f2.8 1/60sec
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26 March 2016
Sunday afternoon feeling
A cold beer on the deck watching the sunset is what I associate with the "Sunday afternoon feeling"
Pentax-110 50mm f2.8 1/500sec
As a photographer nut, I repurposed a vintage lens case to serve as beer cooler :-)
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Pentax-110 50mm f2.8 1/500sec
As a photographer nut, I repurposed a vintage lens case to serve as beer cooler :-)
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08 March 2016
Crossing the bridge
Crossing the bridge that connects the city to the open space.
M.Zuiko 40-150R f5.6 1/250sec
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M.Zuiko 40-150R f5.6 1/250sec
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01 March 2016
January late afternoon on the beach
While some of my friends are enjoying (or hating?) winter in the Northern hemisphere I get the pleasure to walk barefoot on a sandy beach in Queensland.
Vivitar 135mm f2.8 @f5.6 1/125sec
I never tire of a walk before dark, sometimes I am gifted with a spectacular sunset.
G-Lumix 14mm f5.6 1/10sec
Vivitar 135mm f2.8 @f5.6 1/350sec
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Vivitar 135mm f2.8 @f5.6 1/125sec
I never tire of a walk before dark, sometimes I am gifted with a spectacular sunset.
G-Lumix 14mm f5.6 1/10sec
Vivitar 135mm f2.8 @f5.6 1/350sec
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29 February 2016
Fence post
I live in a city but I long for the country.
It is so difficult to find some open space with tall grass and an old fence.
Cintagon 35mm f4.5 1/500sec
Cintagon 35mm f4.5 1/320sec
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It is so difficult to find some open space with tall grass and an old fence.
Cintagon 35mm f4.5 1/500sec
Cintagon 35mm f4.5 1/320sec
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28 January 2016
Last catch
They dragged the net into the sea one more time and then gathered to see what they caught.
Sigma 60mm f2.8 DN @f5.6 1/180sec
Australia Day weekend attracted a lot of people to spend time with their family, outdoors.
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Sigma 60mm f2.8 DN @f5.6 1/180sec
Australia Day weekend attracted a lot of people to spend time with their family, outdoors.
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26 January 2016
Weathered snow gum
The winter storms on the Australian high country Snowy Mountains create a harsh environment for trees to survive.
Only the hardy evergreen Snow Gums have the ability to adapt; the wind bending their trunks and branches, they often root themselves to a cluster of granite boulders.
A bed of daisies keeps them company.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @f4 1/30sec
Only the hardy evergreen Snow Gums have the ability to adapt; the wind bending their trunks and branches, they often root themselves to a cluster of granite boulders.
A bed of daisies keeps them company.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @f4 1/30sec
19 January 2016
The Circus tent under the snowgums
Few shelters evoke outdoors as much as my "Circus" tent.
A Black Diamond Megalight, it is my lightest shelter; just a glorified thin sil-nylon tarp shaped into a pyramid.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @f4 1/6sec
It has no floor and despite the occasional bug that might crawl in I can have a bed of flowers adorning my "living room"
It shelters me from wind and rain, and despite flapping a bit in the breeze no other shelter is as versatile or roomy as the Circus tent.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @f4 1/20sec
I have several other tents that totally seal me from the bugs when they are really pesky but I don't get the same feeling of being outdoors as with the floorless shelter. And when it comes to shoulder my pack with my gear and supplies for several days in the back-country I appreciate how light my shelter really is.
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A Black Diamond Megalight, it is my lightest shelter; just a glorified thin sil-nylon tarp shaped into a pyramid.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @f4 1/6sec
It has no floor and despite the occasional bug that might crawl in I can have a bed of flowers adorning my "living room"
It shelters me from wind and rain, and despite flapping a bit in the breeze no other shelter is as versatile or roomy as the Circus tent.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @f4 1/20sec
I have several other tents that totally seal me from the bugs when they are really pesky but I don't get the same feeling of being outdoors as with the floorless shelter. And when it comes to shoulder my pack with my gear and supplies for several days in the back-country I appreciate how light my shelter really is.
.
13 January 2016
Spencers creek
A few minutes of the golden hour illuminated the puffy clouds above our camp.
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @8 1/15sec to 1/180sec (composite image)
G-Lumix 14mm f2.5 @8 1/15sec to 1/180sec (composite image)
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