Red Dot Forum - Blogs http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php en Sun, 20 May 2012 01:10:30 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.reddotforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg Red Dot Forum - Blogs http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php Leica S2 in Hawaii http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=35 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:42:16 GMT I have been lusting after a Leica S2 since they were introduced. Two months ago I got it, just in time to learn how to handle it for a two week trip... I have been lusting after a Leica S2 since they were introduced. Two months ago I got it, just in time to learn how to handle it for a two week trip to two islands in Hawaii, the Big Island and Kauai. I'll be posting the images in chapters on my blog: www.everything-foto.blogspot.com for the next few weeks. As everything was done with the S2 it is only right to post some of the images here first. This is a bit of a tease of course, but if you happened to come across my blog before, you'll understand it is my nature. To get a taste of it, check out the April 1st posting revealing the Leica M10. ;-0

I'm starting with four b&w images - 3 weathered wood natural scenes and one entrepreneurial image.
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]]> aboudd http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=35 handle S2 in low light situations http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=34 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:35:10 GMT It seems Leica users are inordinately against flash, and fear that "flashy" look. However, it really isn't that hard to employ the S2 for low light photography without an obvious flash effect, once you get the hang of it.

The technique calls for use of a lower light technique known as "dragging the shutter".

For example, if shooting ambient at ISO 640, f/2.5, and the shutter is to slow @ 1/25th ... set the camera to manual exposure mode with a shutter speed of 1/40th and use the same aperture of f/2.5 ... and a SF58 set to ETTL with a modifier mounted on it to somewhat soften the light.

This way you are almost correctly exposed for the ambient, so the background gets exposed fairly well. The foreground then gets the benefit of the additional light from the flash, and the flash duration "freezes" the subject ... effectively eliminating hand shake, and in many cases will also freeze subject motion. (At f/2.5 the background won't be sharp anyway due to DOF, so any slight motion there is irrelevant).

Flash duration is how speed-lights and strobes control the level of light hitting the subject. In general, they ALWAYS fire at full power ... it is how long they stay on that determines proper TTL exposure. The less additional light you need, the faster the duration is ... so by letting in more ambient with a slower shutter speed, the duration of the flash becomes shorter. For example, a typical speed-light that only requires about 1/2 its full duration is 1/1000 of a second. At 1/8th its full duration, it is 1/3,700 of a second!

Try it, it's less disruptive than you may think ... the amount of flash is pretty low compared to shooting at 1/125th and making the flash work harder to light the subject.

Again, depends on the subject matter, but this is a viable way to extend the S2 beyond its ISO limitations, and get very nicely exposed images.

Here are some extreme examples using different cameras, but the concept is the same regardless of camera. I chose shots done using low ISOs and very slow shutter speeds ... dragging the shutter to simulate using the S2 at low ISOs to keep the noise low.

Color Lips shot: ISO 500 @ 1/25 shutter; Bride being dipped: ISO 200 @ 1/25th; Hands: ISO 200 @ 1/20th, outdoor couple dancing: ISO 100 @ 1/15th. All used flash combined with "dragging the shutter" to shoot where it would have been impossible to do using just ambient.

Marc

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Attachment 1297 ]]> fotografz http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=34 Eternal Camaraderie http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=33 Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:42:31 GMT Looking out over Manila from my apartment window, I catch a glimpse of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. I decide that it needs further... Looking out over Manila from my apartment window, I catch a glimpse of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. I decide that it needs further investigation and walk over in the noon-time heat. Shorts and sandals a pale substitute for imagined empathies of heavy packs carried through unfamiliar and unrelenting jungles.

I arrive. Nothing I've seen previously prepares me for the beauty, sadness and overwhelming graceful composition of the memorial grounds.

With determination and purpose, row upon row of simple white memorials elegantly rise above the perfectly trimmed surface. Lining up at attention with the overhead sun, crosses and stars with weather-worn names from states like Oregon, Wisconsin, Nebraska and New Jersey reach out for my attention ... ever hopeful that they won't be forgotten. Or at best, that their sacrifice isn't mislaid. From a distance, the memorials seem to link together solemnly arm-in-arm, warding off all ill intention.

Here there are no political parties, no scandals, no innuendo nor obfuscation. Just an awareness of time that washes over me in waves of reflective silence.

And then I feel it. An understanding. Hope, fear, pain, suffering and the glory of shared experience forever linked in eternal camaraderie. Unsure of the finality of their story, each of 17,206 individuals lays down and becomes a part of something bigger than themselves.

Rest as one boys in your decisive moments so valiantly lived ... so that the lot of us can rest in peace.


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Click image for larger version Name: L1000751w1200.jpg Views: 22 Size: 804.5 KB ID: 987 ]]> Kurt Kamka http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=33 A few wedding shots from a different wedding ... http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=32 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:12:53 GMT (this time in color) (this time in color)
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]]> Kurt Kamka http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=32 A few wedding shots ... http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=31 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:49:10 GMT It's great seeing images from photographers like Marc who offer a deliberate style that is flawless. I, on the other hand, tend to like to shoot with a more casual/on-the-fly approach. What's impressive is how well the S2 can be utilized in a number of different ways to fit your own particular style of shooting.

Here are a few from a recent wedding converted to black and white with Silver Efex Pro 2 ...

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Click image for larger version Name: L1000328bww.jpg Views: 13 Size: 413.0 KB ID: 950 ]]> Kurt Kamka http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=31 The S2 and I ... Recent Work http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=30 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:16:57 GMT Hi all ... haven't posted much recently because the S2 and I have been pretty busy ... and we still are.

So, just a few images to post that may be of interest to fellow S2 shooters. More to come when time allows.

This wedding image was a real bear to pull off ... by the time we got to the location and finished the usual formal stuff with the S2, is was pitch dark out. So I took advantage of the available darkness by having my assistant take the strobe out in front of them and using the SF58 in the hot shoe for a touch of fill. Shot with the 35 wide open at ISO 640, the only issue was the camera absolutely refused to auto focus ... the battery powered Quadra strobe has a weak modeling light and was of no help at all trying to manually focus. I solved it by auto focusing on the overhead light and recomposing a bit.)

While I did end up with some noise issues when I opened up the shadows in post, the file was so big and pliable it really wasn't much of an issue at all. This will be printed centered on 17" X 22" paper.

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I also recently did a studio session with a champion body builder creating images that'll be use for various applications. The session was shared between my tripod mounted H4D/60 shot tethered to the computer using the HCD/35-90 and HC/150N lenses, and the S2P using the 35 and 70 lenses shooting more freely hand-held untethered to a CF card. Frankly, except for the file ratios, it was not easy to distinguish the files ... a testimony to the S2, which punches past it's meg count IMO. Very basic lighting techniques were used ... most were done with a highly polished silver Mola 33.5" Beamm without a diffuser ... the shot
with the Symmetry type was the S2 using a a 6' Profoto strip light with a 4" strip cover. The other "Back" shot was done with the H4D/60 just for comparison (but the color version is a composite of a B&W overlay layer pulled back to 25% opacity, which accounts for the slightly more muted color. The same color & B&W composite technique was used on the S2 color "Bicep" shot, except I set the B&W layer slightly more aggressive than on the the Hassey shot.

-Marc

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Thanks for the feedback guys. More info for those interested in details:

By "simple Lighting set-up", I meant the use of minimal lights ... the tools used are admittedly pretty sophisticated. If you think camera gear is a black hole sucking money up like a vacuum cleaner, do NOT get involved in lighting. It is very similar to MFD ... you can get to a certain level fairly quickly, then every incremental step upwards exponentially cost more and more cash. However, as I advised another S2 users wanting to set up a lighting kit, why pay $40-50K for a S2 system, then go cheap on the lighting? The lighting tools and technique are actually more important than the camera used. High quality ighting is especially important with these cameras, which love crisp clean light to really perform to their maximum potential. The S2 was supposedly originally designed for exactly this type use of lighting ... or so they keep saying (fashion, etc.) But we NEED those leaf shutter lenses to really use the S2 to its maximum abilities!

The body builder shoot was my first session of that type, and was surprisingly more difficult to do than I had anticipated. So I agree with David K, it is much harder to do than it looks. For one thing, these guys can't hold those poses for very long, at least not at the peak muscle pop, and it is exhausting to do it for a couple of hours, so time is limited. I had all kinds of different lighting ideas, and was able to do only a few. You really have to work fast, so next time I'll have an assistant to help me.

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While I do agree that pulling off that wedding shot in the tunnel isn't something that an Uncle Bob would/could do, the one shown below is even harder to pull off. Optional creative stuff can be experimental, and if it doesn't work "oh well" ... but there are certain shots you HAVE to do and there are no second chances, regardless of how cliche' and boring we may feel they are. Clients don't know enough to realize what that certain conditions can pose serious issues ... like a huge wedding party formal that has to be shot in the dark. We often don't have control of when or where a shot has to be taken, but it has to be done. I pulled this one off because I looked up the sunset time before hand, and knew it would be in a courtyard which further darkened the scene. Without the Quadra set to 400 w/s I wouldn't have been able to pull it off with the S2. I had about 10 minutes to arrange the people, set the camera and lighting and pull off the 4 or 5 shots to assure everyone's eyes were opened and they where all looking at the camera. Lighting was directional held high on a painter's stick camera left with a Elinchrom Varistar Umbrella type softbox kit , with a SF58 TTL speedlight in the hot shoe aimed more camera right to make up for the light fall-off from the directional strobe ... and to provide general overall fill. Hand-held S2 @ ISO 640, dragged the shutter @ 1/30th to open up the background, S35 @ f/2.5

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Woody

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Good thing too, because it was some pretty tight location stuff, so the 35 and 70 got the most play. I took three cameras and of 456 keepers, 301 were from the S2. For me, that is the first time ever that a medium format camera has absolutely dominated a wedding shoot. I should add that it didn't alter my approach or style at all (as some folks have speculated it would for them). I was just as spontaneous as usual and the camera was just as fast as I wanted it to be when doing that sort of shooting ... and of course, it's great for the more posed stuff. Plus, and this is a BIG PLUS, the files were closer out of the camera than most other's I've used ... even better than the Sony A900. This significantly shortens post time when dealing with so many files at once. One last post processing note ... like any MFD file, the S2 images are much easier to work with for actions and special treatments because there is so much information going in.

It all took place in a relatively small backyard crammed with 60 or 70 people ... but there were beautiful gardens, and with careful framing and choice of focal lengths, I managed to make it look more spacious. The other challenge was the nuclear sun ... and that I creatively wanted to avoid using fill if at all possible. In fact, I used none. The dynamic range of the S2 files were helpful with this. This was true even though I used ISO 640 quite a bit that day to keep the shutter speeds up for spontaneous shots, and shots with the 120 and 180

Posed and candid example below: I set up the Bride with white umbrella crossing the bridge ... as we were leaving I turned back to see what everyone was laughing at ... it was her Uncle mocking the whole bridge shot ... which I quickly grabbed a shot of : -) Both were with the 35mm @ ISO 320

The Pear picking shot was done with the S70 @ ISO 640 ... I've read where some people have said they don't like the Bokeh of the 70 ... what's not to like?

-Marc

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Click image for larger version Name: Wedding-366.jpg Views: 39 Size: 5.72 MB ID: 567 ]]> fotografz http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=28 An M-Like Experience Shooting with the S2 and the Mamiya 80/1.9 Lens http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=27 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:25:48 GMT I thought that I'd post a blog entry about using a different alternative lens on the S2 ... the Mamiya 80/1.9 via adapter. It's a lens that I've used before with a Phase/Mamiya camera and Phase digital back and was very excited to be able to try on the S2. David was very helpful in sending over one of his Mamiya to S2 adapters for my test run.

Previously, I very much enjoyed using the lens on the Phase system because of the f1.9 aperture, it's size (it's relatively small and compact) and it's ability to focus close (.7m). The lens also has a reputation for very nice bokeh with some comparing it favorably to the Hasselblad 110/2. There are two versions of the lens. The later version of the lens has an N stamped on the front of the lens.

Both versions of the lens are the same size with the newer version sporting a slightly different rubber pattern on the focus ring. There are several accounts I've read that claim that the second 'N' version of the lens has a slightly different coating that provides better flair resistance and a little bit more contrast. After using both versions of the lens, I've found that it is very difficult to tell the difference between similar photos taken with both lenses.

Here's a similar type of shot taken first with the Mamiya 80mm lens at f1.9 and second taken with the Leica 70mm S lens at f2.5 straight out of the camera.

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With the (in my eyes appealing) noise pattern of the S2 at ISO 1250, the 80/1.9 produces a look that has rich tones and contrast that remind me a bit of the 75lux ... albeit with a touch less contrast and highlight control.

Because of the compact nature of the manual focus lens (as compared to Leica S autofocus lenses), the S2's bright view finder, the speed of the lens, and the look of ISO1250 on the S2, I'm finding that I'm able to push the S2 further into many situations I would have taken an M9 and a summilux in the past. In fact, (as an M shooter) I feel quite liberated in using the Mamiya lens as a walk-around, hand-held lens in a wide variety of unexpected settings.

For S2 users hankering for an M type of shooting experience with their S2, acquiring an adapter and a Mamiya 80/1.9 shouldn't be overlooked ... if for the price alone. The current price of a Mamiya 80/1.9 runs between $350-$500 ... an incredible bargain for those invested in S lenses.

Here are a few more recent images with the lens on the S2:

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Here are a couple of quick shots that illustrate the size of the Mamiya 80/1.9. First, attached via adapter to the S2 as it sits next to a Digital Rebel with 85mm lens attached. And second, next to the 70mm and 120mm S lenses.

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I'll post a few more examples as I keep shooting with the combination.

Kurt ]]> Kurt Kamka http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=27 South Florida Photo Opportunities http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=26 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 23:02:40 GMT I read Nick Rains’ article “The Leica S2 as a Travel Camera” on The Luminous Landscape the other day and and came away with a great big smile. I was... I read Nick Rains’ article “The Leica S2 as a Travel Camera” on The Luminous Landscape the other day and and came away with a great big smile. I was smiling because I discovered just how good the S2 is as a travel camera few months ago and I am glad see others make this discovery. This got me to thinking about my trip to South Florida last winter and I thought it would fun to share some images I got on that trip.

South Florida offers a wide variety of photography options and I explored many of them such as Key West, the Everglades, Hollywood Beach, and West Palm Beach. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to do everything I wanted (e.g., Big Cypress Swamp, Kite Boarders, etc.).

I came away with wide range of photographs which could be split into at least three different groups (blog posts). However, I chose to present a sample from each group here in one blog post to show what is possible in only 8 days in south Florida.

Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Key West Living Room - S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/180 sec., f/8.0

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Regatta Practice - S2, Hasselblad 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/500 sec., f/8.0(?)

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Picture Perfect - S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f/9.5

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Sunset Palm - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 1/125 sec., f/8.0 and some fill flash

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I know it is bad form to mix color and B&W images, but I am not presenting a portfolio for review or producing a book here. I simply liked this photo in B&W better (Thanks to David K. for opening my eyes to the B&W version)

Storm Front - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 1/125 sec., f/4.0

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Sights around Key West

It Begins Here - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f/8.0

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Key West Stables - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 1/180 sec., f11

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Other Places - S2, 35mm, ISO 320, 1/180 sec., f/8.0

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I love it when a shower passes through and wets the streets and sidewalks. It provides nice reflections of the city lights which leads to much more interesting photos. Key West was pretty good in this situation, but Times Square is still my favorite.

Tropic Cinema - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 1.5 sec., f/11

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Sloppy Joes - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 6.0 sec., f/11

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Green Parrot - S2, 35mm, ISO 160, 24.0 sec., f/9.5

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Fish and Fowl at Robbie’s

Islamorada, FL is about half way out in the Keys and there is a place called Robbie’s where tarpon hang out around the docks in the winter. In addition, several egrets and great blue herons also hang out there looking for an easy meal.

Tarpon at Robbie's - S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f4.8

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Egret at Robbie's 1 - S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f/9.5

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Egret at Robbie's 2 - S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/250 sec., f/3.5

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Various Wildlife In The Everglades

I included a large number of bird photos, many of which are not technically great, but I wanted to show the variety of birds in the Everglades. I also saw a couple Roseate Spoonbills, but didn’t get photos of them.

S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f/6.8

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S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/500 sec., f/5.6

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S2, Hasselblad 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/350 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f/3.5

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S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/180 sec., f/3.5

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S2, Hasselblad 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/500 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, Hasselblod 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/250 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, Hasselblad 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/250 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, Hasselblad 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/350 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, 180mm, ISO 640, 1/250 sec., f/3.5

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S2, Hasselblod 350mm CFE, ISO 160, 1/1500 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/750 sec., f/6.8

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Everglades Landscapes


S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1.5 sec., f/13

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S2, Pentax 67 45mm, ISO 160, 1/45 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, 180mm, ISO 160, 1/180 sec., f/13

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 0.7 sec., f/11

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Next up is a fun image taken on Hollywood Beach. I say fun because I went a bit overboard in the HDR conversion. Typically, I dislike the HDR look however its OK when used for an artistic approach. It's also worth mentioning that the morning on Hollywood Beach were the only photos I took that day as I was visiting friends the rest of the time.

S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/125 sec., f/11

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Finally, something completely different than anything else on this trip. These photos were taken at the annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic Ferrari car show held at The Breakers Resort Hotel in West Palm Beach


S2, Hasselblad 105mm Makro (I'm pretty sure), ISO 160, 1/500 sec., f/8.0(?)

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/250 sec., f/5.6

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/250 sec., f/4.0

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/250 sec., f/5.6

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/125 sec., f/2.5

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/180 sec., f3.4

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/180 sec., f4.0

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S2, 70mm, ISO 160, 1/125 sec., f/4.8

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Whew! That is a lot of photos for one blog post - maybe too much. It was such a fun trip I really wanted to convey the diversity of shooting possibilities in South Florida. Next time I get down there, I want to try some street shooting in South Beach and Little Havana as well as make it over to Big Cypress Swamp for some landscapes. ]]> Mark Gowin http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=26 S2 takes a short vacation: http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=25 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:11:32 GMT Had a weekend free of wedding work, so we all took off on a 4 day road trip to N. Michigan for a bit of fun in the Traverse City area ... including... Had a weekend free of wedding work, so we all took off on a 4 day road trip to N. Michigan for a bit of fun in the Traverse City area ... including some tastings in the wine region, and a few fishing villages along the "Big sea shining water" for wonderful smoked fish and photo ops.

Our little Chi "Schnuffy" has a real fondness for Ice Cream, but only allowed on vacation ... her pal Ginger with the pink nose took a liking to it too ... blonds DO have more fun, LOL! The girl working on her computer seemed oblivious to the natural beauty around her ... maybe she needs a few weeks in an urban environment to remind her : -) Except for the fisherman cleaning his nets, these aren't my kind of photos ... but hey! I'm on vacation! BTW, the Bumble Bee was shot with the 180, not the 120 macro.

Very contrasty scenarios most of the time, but the S2 handled it well for the most part.

Everything was great, but I discovered my S35/2.5 isn't stopping down at all. It autofocuses okay, just no stopped down shooting. All my other lenses work fine so it isn't the camera. Grrrrr. Gotta send it in pronto.

-Marc

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Click image for larger version Name: I Scream.jpg Views: 35 Size: 830.4 KB ID: 493 ]]> fotografz http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=25 State Fair http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=23 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:31:15 GMT The annual state fair is such an interesting place to shoot. There is a wide variety of subject matter.

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Click image for larger version Name: L1005088bww1200.jpg Views: 704 Size: 274.1 KB ID: 420 ]]> Kurt Kamka http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=23 Monument Valley http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=22 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:51:05 GMT When we arrived at Monument Valley we were welcomed by a sand storm. The first picture is from that evening and luckily when the sun went down the... When we arrived at Monument Valley we were welcomed by a sand storm. The first picture is from that evening and luckily when the sun went down the storm went away as well.

The next morning we had beautiful clear weather followd by a great morning tour with Clint from Monument Valley Safari, even if we booked with another company, but this is another story. We spent a couple of hours in the valley and Clint showed us some very nice spots to take pictures. It becomes quite a Safari and at some point I felt like to stopping and just being there. Often for me it is a conflict between taking your time, being there and maybe you are getting a picture or hey let's move on, there are thousands of other places to see and obviously to take a picture of. At the end we visited the very old Navajo lady who has an uncountable number of grandchildren and she showed us a little bit of the work she has done in the past. Lovely.

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The following picture is made with the D-LUX5. ;)
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Click image for larger version Name: 005_monumentvalley_00199.jpg Views: 61 Size: 818.4 KB ID: 374 ]]> Pete Walentin http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=22 Street Fighting Machine http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=21 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:59:22 GMT I drove to Chicago last week and made use of the opportunity to take my S2 with me for a few hours of street shooting. ... I drove to Chicago last week and made use of the opportunity to take my S2 with me for a few hours of street shooting.


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Click image for larger version Name: L1004808bww1200.jpg Views: 659 Size: 357.0 KB ID: 361 ]]> Kurt Kamka http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=21 Andrews Bald - Worth The Hike http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=18 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:14:08 GMT There is something about the S2 that makes me want to go out and make photos more so than any other camera I have ever owned. In my quest to satisfy... There is something about the S2 that makes me want to go out and make photos more so than any other camera I have ever owned. In my quest to satisfy this urge, I am getting out to new locations that have been on my to do list for a while.

My latest trip was a hike to Andrews Bald to photograph flame azaleas with their beautiful orange blooms. Andrews Bald is located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is accessed via moderately difficult trail that starts at the Clingman’s Dome parking area. A great resource for hiking in the Smoky Mountains can be found at HikingInTheSmokys.com. Specifically, information about the trail to Andrews Bald can be found here.

It is possible to see flame azaleas in various places in the Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and surrounding areas although they are not very common. Andrews Bald is a great location to photograph flame azaleas because there is a large number of azaleas and a wide vista of the Smoky Mountains and Fontana Lake. The fact that the Andrews Bald trail starts at the Clingmans Dome parking area is a bonus. The views from the parking area are fantastic and the road up to Clingman’s Dome is a treat in itself.

Road To Clingmans Dome
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I decided up to Clingman’s Dome the evening before my planned hike to Andrews Bald in hopes of getting a sunset photo. I was in for a shock when I arrived at the parking lot. The temperature was almost 30 degrees cooler than the valley I had left less than an hour earlier and there was a cold wind blowing. It was cold (a relative term this time of year) and all I had was a rain jacket. While waiting for sunset I couldn’t resist the temptation capture the view.

Late Evening View from Clingmans Dome
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The parking lot was probably the most empty I have ever seen it in the evening. That turned out to be a good thing when this guy and his wife pulled up in a beautifully restored Chevelle SS and parked in an empty area creating an unplanned photo op for me.

Chevelle SS
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This time of year, the sun sets to far to the northwest for really good sunset photos. The only ridge line higher than the parking lot blocks the horizon where the sun sets. The view is still much better than most places.

Summer Sunset at Clingmans Dome
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The next morning I arrived at Clingman’s Dome parking area at 6:00 AM and that’s at least a half hour later than I should have been. However, I have never hiked Andrews Bald and didn’t really want to start off in pitch dark. The first half to three quarters mile of the trail is kinda steep and rocky so I welcomed the pre-dawn light.

Andrews Bald Trail
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It was a great feeling to see the trail open up to a natural meadow, beautiful view, and flame azaleas.

First Photo of Flame Azalea Upon Arriving at Andrews Bald
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HDR Version of Similar View
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I found it challenging to capture images which accurately reflected the scenes as I saw them. I used the 35mm most of the time and switched to the 70mm for some photos to get some compression between the foreground and background. I intentionally captured two similar photos with both the 35mm and 70mm just to see the differences. The 70mm shows the background better because I had to back up the hill a bit to get similar framing as the 35mm. Also, it is worth noting the 70mm image was my first attempt at focus stacking.

70mm
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35mm
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Bonus Photo of Flame Azalea
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Unfortunately, the Catawba Rhododendrons located in Andrews Bald had already finished blooming, except one. My timing was off this year - maybe next year I can capture both the flame azaleas with their orange blooms and catawba rhododendrons with their violet-purple blooms at the same time.

Catawba Rhododendron
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In my excitement up first arriving at Andrews Bald I failed to get a photo where the trail opens up. I remembered to get the photo as I was headed back out. You can tell this photo was taken later in the morning due to the clouds/fog have lifted out of the valley and lake.

Forney Ridge Trail
Attached Thumbnails
]]> Mark Gowin http://www.reddotforum.com/blog.php?b=18