Chasing Fall Continued... Part 3

"If you open your mind to possibility, your options become as numerous as the changing leaves." 

As fall charges full speed ahead it can feel like you are being left in the dust. Every opportunity you get should be met with camera in hand. On one of my recent excursions I decided to photograph a location in South Carolina I had only seen a few photos of. Jocassee Gorges is considered one of the last wild places in the United States, and delivers amazing opportunities to create unique images. I spent 2 days here and had perfect conditions for what I wanted to capture.

The approach to my first location is only accessible by a 9.3 mile 4-wheel drive road. It had been raining in the area and I wasn't sure if our all wheel drive CRV would be able to make the trek. It took a long time to get to my destination, but I made it with about an hour of light left before sunset. I had driven above some clouds and was worried that my view would be blocked and shrouded in clouds. As I hiked out to my chosen location, I realized my fears were correct, and a large cloud bank had settled over what was supposed to be my composition.

Despite the conditions lower in the valley, the clouds above were beautiful, so I waited, (catching a theme?) hoping the low clouds would move out. After a short time, I noticed the clouds beginning to thin and move off to the east, revealing an absolutely stunning scene before me. I was able to capture a myriad of different images as the sun slowly set on the horizon and believe them to be some of my strongest photos this Fall. 

As the last bit of sun faded, so did the remaining clouds over the lake, and the full scale of the area came into view. I quickly understood why it was considered one of the last great wild places. The wilderness seemed endless.

As day faded to night I returned to my car smiling and enjoyed the slow drive back down the mountain. I stopped about halfway at a campsite pullout, and set myself up for a night of car camping. I prefer tent camping, but on this occasion I had plans to use my tent on a longer outing in a few day and the night's weather was calling for serious rain. So I squished myself into the back, popped the sunroof, and laid the tent footprint over the chairs to provide some privacy. It definitely rained hard that night and the next morning I was enveloped in a thick fog. I had hoped these conditions would present themselves and had plans to hike to a gorgeous waterfall that is not often photographed. With the night's rain creating a stronger flow mixed together with the fog and fall color I was ready to capture a great image. I anxiously arose at 5:00 am and put on my rain gear from head to toe, then hiked out into the fog. I hadn't seen another person for 18 hours, and being engulfed in the thick fog was mildly unsettling. I continued on however and reached my location around 6:15am. The fog had lifted slightly but there was still a lot of atmosphere around the falls. I crossed the creek downstream and rock hopped my way back to my composition. The strength of the current was perfect! I took a few images from different angles to really document the area, and again headed back to my vehicle smiling, feeling very accomplished for it being only 8:00am.

I returned to civilization and made my way to another waterfall I had passed on the way in the day before and was excited to see it flowing well. The rain had picked up a good deal so I had to protect my camera with a waterproof cover. I recently found that using a waterproof dry sack around the lens works as a great water barrier for the camera body and lens. I explored the area confident that my gear would remain safe and dry, and found two wonderful compositions for the cascade.

Tired and damp I returned home to process the images I had taken.

Next week I head to Great Smoky Mountain National Park in search of ONE image. Check back Monday to see if I captured my elusive image.

Chasing Fall Continued... Part 2

An epic sunrise, the right time at the wrong place, 30+ hound dogs, and a little surprise.

I arose at 3:00am ready to take on the world, checked my weather app (high clouds, YAY!) made a pot of coffee, and headed out the door to a location I had not been to. Looking Glass Rock is a stone monolith that juts out of the surrounding mountains creating a unique bubble like appearance to the otherwise tree covered mountains. I arrived early to where I believed I wanted to photograph Looking Glass when the sun arose. I could barely make out the monolith through the darkness as I set up my tripod. The sun was due to come up in 45 minutes, but there was no sign of light. Then all of a sudden the sky lit up and the scene in front of me became illuminated.

I was in the wrong spot. In my excitement I had passed up my turn out and ended up on the opposite side of Looking Glass facing directly into the sunrise. As photographers shooting directly into sunrise is not ideal (with a few exceptions). We much prefer side lit images with well balanced light. Shooting directly into the sun negates a polarizing filter and also creates a dynamic range hard to capture in such low light. To make matters worse, a group of hunters had pulled up near me and were releasing there hounds into the forest. Some 30+ hound dogs were howling and running around me anxious to get on the trace. They ran off into the woods and could be heard for the next hour. Regardless of this interruption to my otherwise calm morning, I still managed to capture a few wonderful images of the incredible sunrise that occurred. Since I had missed my location I decided to stay put and not try to rush to a different spot. I noticed some beautiful scenes beginning to manifest themselves so instead of photographing the giant stone monolith, I began looking around me for more unique compositions. 

I switched lenses and began photographing the distant ridges, barely illuminated by the burning sky. The sunrise was incredible and the light lasted long enough to capture a few great sunrise images. 

By not running around scrambling for the image I had envisioned, I was able to capture multiple images I would not have otherwise got. This isn't always the case and I advise triple checking your plans before heading out; sometimes little mistakes can have positive results. It was a good brain exercise and kept me on my toes. After the sun had risen to a point that made the location I was at useless, I made my way to where I thought I had been earlier and found that Looking Glass was nicely side lit, revealing some wonderful fall color.

Out of coffee and with a deadline to return home I headed off back towards home. I stumbled across a few hot air balloons enjoying the beautiful morning, as well as photographed the Biltmore Estate rather by accident. I saw an appealing composition and doubled back to take the image. It wasn't until I was peering through the viewfinder with my telephoto lens that I realized the stark white building amongst the forest.

I received a text while shooting from a fellow photographer (check his work out on instagram: @fixedlinemedia ) that there were kayakers preparing for the brutal Green River Race that takes place each year in November. I decided I had enough time to make it over to the Green River Narrows and try and catch some of the action. Little did I know that the hike in was almost as brutal as kayaking the rapids. After getting lost twice and taking a few more images (seen below), I managed to find the descent trail into the gorge. 

As I descended into the gorge I was surprised at how steep it was. The roar of the rapids was quickly getting louder, and pretty soon I came to the rivers edge. The rapids here were enormous, and falling in without a life vest would mean certain death. I was careful to pick my way around the enormous boulders to a spot where a few kayakers were standing around discussing their lines. I politely asked if I could photograph them, and they were all psyched up to be getting their photos taken. These guys made kayaking the rapids seem easy and despite my fear of drowning to death I found myself slightly jealous I wasn't the one paddling the current. I don't photograph action sports, or sports in general often, so it was a nice change of pace from the landscapes I had been photographing earlier. Capturing the motion and the power of the water and the kayakers was a real treat, and icing on the cake to a great day.

Check back Friday to see if I made it out of the Green River Gorge to photograph my next location!

Chasing Fall

The beautiful colors of autumn last only a moment before they fade into winter. If you hesitate you could miss the opportunity to capture the show.

Over the past few weeks I have been traveling almost nonstop to different locations, trying to capture the autumnal display of the Appalachian Mountains. As is normally the case with fall photography I am exiting the season wishing I could have photographed more. This feeling arises from the understanding that during fall an almost endless supply of compositions expose themselves to the world as a seemingly normal forest bursts with color. On one occasion I spent the morning walking along the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway for a good 3 hours, only to find that I had traveled a mere one and a half miles from where I began. I wasn't upset with this however because I captured 3 images I am extremely happy with. Each image is unique and tells its own story.

Although the good morning light disappeared by the time I returned to my vehicle I did not head home.  I noticed a good bit of cloud cover forming and decided to see what a view of my morning location looked like from an adjacent mountain. I was rewarded with this view and another image I enjoy.

Staying out all day not only increases your chance of getting multiple images, it also allows you to scout new locations for future photographs. After the above image I went to Linville Gorge, a location I had been many times before but never photographed in the fall. I wanted to check out a place called "The Chimneys". The weather was turning unfavorable and my weather app was calling for rain by sunset, but I headed out under the understanding that I was at least scouting a place to return to if I could not create an image. I was able to find a unique location and I photographed it for reference to come back to under better conditions.

As the clouds rolled in, the temperature began to drop and the wind picked up. Poor lighting and wind are two of landscape photographer's worst enemies. I decided to call it a day since I was in a new location and there were potentially dangerous obstacles between myself and my vehicle.  I took one final image on my way back to the car when the last few rays of light for the day peaked through the clouds.

I was able to capture quite a few nice images in the 8 hours I was out in the field, and it set in motion a fall frenzy that I have been utilizing to capture the autumnal color as fall has progressed here in the Appalachian Mountains. Check back Wednesday for more fall photographic adventures. Until then I’ll be out looking for my next image. Enjoy!

Maximizing Photographic Potential While Traveling: Colorado 2017 Part 2 of 2

As we drove through the night from Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, the weather began to shift on us. Large rain clouds were building on the horizon and lightning would occasionally light up the sky. After a 4 hour drive and a large storm riding our tail, we arrived at Great Sand Dunes National Park weary and ready for bed. We quickly set up camp and hopped into our sleeping bags before the weather settled on the valley. Sunrise was at 6:38 and I wanted to make sure if there was a nice sunrise that I didn't miss it. The alarm went off and I groggily arose and looked out of the tent. I couldn't see a thing. The entire area was covered in a thick fog making visibility a mere 5-10 feet.  Knowing (hoping) that the fog would lift I grabbed my bag and we set off to explore the dunes.

To get to the sand dunes you must cross Medano Creek, which by this time of year is usually a dried up creek bed. Due to the amount of rain that fell on the surrounding mountains the night before, Medano Creek was about a foot high and crossing it was a challenge to not get soaked. By the time we made it across, the fog had lifted enough to barely make out the dunes in front of us. I looked for a composition that would sum up how the area felt that morning and quickly settled on a piece of drift wood that had been carried down by the creek and laid nicely in front of the dunes. 

Adrift On A Sea Of Sand, Great Sand Dunes National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

This image speaks volumes to how the morning felt, and is an image I am extremely proud of. It is simple and beautiful with no frills added. After this image we continued to explore the surrounding low dunes but I didn't feel compelled to take another image. The light wasn't there and the compositions weren't coming to me so we decided to pull back from the dunes and see what they looked like from afar. Boy am I glad we did! The dismal feeling didn't change, but my creativity came flooding back to me the farther out we got and I was able to produce another nice image before the fog finally lifted.

Lifting Fog, Great Sand Dunes National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

As the fog lifted, it slowly revealed more and more of the landscape that we had fallen in love with on our last visit. We even got a few rays of light to come through and illuminate the dunes.

Out Of The Fog, Great Sand Dunes National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

By 10:30am the fog had completely lifted and revealed the beautiful Sangre De Cristo Mountains.

The Layered Effect, Great Sand Dunes National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

A Moving Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

At noon another rain cloud gently rolled in and covered the area in a gray blanket again until 4:30pm. Anna and I had decided to hike out to the front of the dunes in hopes of catching last light bouncing off of Star Dune. It is a 6 mile round trip that is quite exposed if a lighting storm comes in, so we were closely monitoring a formation moving in from the southwest as we went. Luckily the storm stayed south and looped up behind the Sangre De Cristo Range as the sun began to set. I took one more image of this beautiful place before the light disappeared and we began our trek back to our campsite. The image shows the abounding beauty of the park. 

The Great Sand Dune, Great Sand Dunes National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Colorado Springs was next on our list of places in Colorado to visit, so the next morning we bid the sand dunes farewell (for now) and headed north where we intended to spend the day at Garden of The Gods. As the sun rises, the Garden of The Gods is illuminated below Pikes Peak which creates a wonderful contrast between the red rock of the park and Pikes Peak in the background. It was here that I created my favorite image of the trip.

Morning Rituals ,Garden of The Gods

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

After the light disappeared, we packed up and made our way to the Paint Mines. The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is about an hour east of Colorado Springs. I wasn't sure what to expect from this place as it was a spontaneous side trip from our initial plans. I am glad we decided to make the trip to the Paint Mines because it is a truly unique experience. Like Goblin Valley of Utah, the Paint Mines in Colorado come out of nowhere and offer the ability to explore (as long as you stay on the designated paths and don't climb on the formations).  Despite the lack of clouds, I was able to create a few unique images that I enjoy.

Sherbet, Paint Mines Interpretive Park 

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Rock Mushrooms, Paint Mines Interpretive Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Candyland, Paint Mines Interpretive Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

From the Paint Mines, our next destination was the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park. Temperatures were expected to drop 40 degrees to a low of 10, and an early season snow storm was expected to pass through overnight. We opted to get a room in Estes Park at the Discovery Lodge since we had not anticipated this drastic change in weather and were severely unprepared. As you have probably heard, "Anything can happen in the mountains". Unfortunately due to travel expenses we opted out of bringing the heavy duty, "baton down the hatches" cold weather gear, and settled on a couple good mid layers and nice down jackets. Before the storm hit, we raced up to Nymph Lake and attempted to get a few shots of Longs Peak. Longs Peak is the 14er that dominates most of the park's skyline, and makes for a beautiful subject with the aspen trees and alpine lakes in the foreground. 

Over Nymph Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

From my vantage point above Nymph Lake, I was able to see back towards Estes Park and watch as the clouds began to close in. I took this photo of Bear Lake as the suns rays reflected off of the peaks of distant mountains. 

Above Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017 

I traveled slightly farther up the mountain to an overlook I was familiar with and took an image with two aspen trees that had a similar curvature to them which helped create a unique perspective with Longs Peak in the background.

Calm Before The Storm, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Sunset was snuffed out by the incoming snowstorm and we hiked back down the mountain quickly to catch the shuttle back to the parking area before it closed down for the night. Back in Estes Park we ate a good meal and headed off to bed early in preparation for the following day. When we awoke, a foot of snow had already fallen and the streets were eerily quiet and devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of a tourist town. We made it into the park early with the intent of photographing the elk at Moraine Park with the fresh snow before the rest of the world was awake. I took an image of a young elk who may have been experiencing snow for the first time. I don't consider myself a wildlife photographer but there is a certain joy that comes from photographing animals in their natural habitats. 

First Snow, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

The snow continued to fall throughout the day and turned our fall trip into a winter wonderland. We decided to make the trek back up to our location from the night before and photograph the difference 12 hours had made. Upon arrival the area seemed to be a completely different location. We arrived early enough to explore farther up the trail to Dream Lake which sits under Hallet Peak, a beautiful steep face that juts into the sky. Dream Lake lived up to its name. The snow was completely untouched and the wind had died down from the previous night, offering a perfect reflection of Hallet peak in the glassy water.

Living The Dream, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

With "sunset" fast approaching we headed back down the mountain to our previous location. Longs Peak had been engulfed by a stretch of low hanging clouds. Thankfully we caught a bit of luck and the clouds broke to reveal the peak before the light was gone. The following images show an interesting game of hide and seek as the clouds and low lying fog fluctuated, revealing different parts of the mountain.

Through The Fog, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Balance, Rocky Mountain National Park 

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Island In The Sky, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

The Dance, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

It is amazing how much can change in 24 hours. Hiking back down to our car in the dark with our headlamps we were nothing but smiles. The complete stillness around us interrupted only by the crunching of snow at our feet reminded us of how remote this area would have been even a hundred years ago. We were thankful to have witnessed it.

Fueled by the previous night's success, the next morning we ventured into the Mummy Range before sunrise. The temperature was a whopping 8 degrees and more snow had fallen in the night. I managed to muster up the fortitude to gather my camera and step out of our car. I hiked a short distance downhill to a viewpoint of Ypsilon Mountain that I had selected on a map  the night before. I waited (bouncing in my boots) for the first signs of morning light to glisten off the pine trees on the mountain in front of me. 

Wrapped in White, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

The first signs of morning illuminated the tops of the mountains and showed signs that the storms had passed. The valley was still, and elk could be heard calling, breaking the silence. It was cold, very cold. I continued to bounce in my boots trying to stay warm and waited for the light to continue to creep down the mountainside. I eventually took what I thought would be my last images of the trip. They were two panoramic images, one 15 minutes before sunrise and one 15 minutes after sunrise. They show the huge difference a few minutes can make when it comes to morning light. Each image has a unique feel to it.

Good Morning Mummy, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Crystal Valley, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

On our way down the mountain, I stopped to photograph a bull elk that was standing alone looking off at a distant peak. It was nice to see that despite the blisteringly cold temperature, the elk seemed right at home. The resulting image gives a sense of scale and provides ample subject matter to create your own story, which is something I enjoy. 

A New Day, Rocky Mountain National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

I hope you enjoyed reading about our recent journey to Colorado. It was a trip designed to maximize photographic opportunity while diversifying the content. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience from start to finish and can't wait for the next adventure.

Check back next week as I attempt to capture fall in the Appalachian Mountains and deal with more adverse weather conditions. I will reflect on the images as well as give you some tips for shooting in high wind, and with blue skies.

Maximizing Photographic Potential While Traveling: Fall In Colorado 2017 Part 1 of 2

       I recently traveled to Colorado to photograph the beautiful aspen trees, who's leaves change a vibrant yellow every year before falling off for winter. I had heard rumors that winter was starting early in the mountains, and by the look of the weather forecast, it was going to stick around. I was nervous that I had missed my window of opportunity to capture a photograph of the changing colors in Colorado.

        Our first day in colorful Colorado we drove to the Capitol Creek Trailhead where there is a stunning view of Capitol Peak and its watershed. It wasn't an easy drive and on a few occasions I thought the way may become impassible. The area had witnessed a violent storm a day earlier and trees were down on top of a foot of snow. Coupling that with a dirt road that winds straight uphill, our journey quickly became an uphill slog. We made it (after getting stuck only a few times) about 30 minutes before sunset. Golden hour had already begun and I quickly searched for a composition. I found one I was content with and waited to capture my image. Waiting is always the hardest part, especially when it is windy and cold. I came prepared though and was armed to the teeth in cold weather gear (gear that really came in handy as the week went on). As the last rays of light stretched across the horizon the peak became illuminated. This is something we call alpenglow. I took my photograph and waited in awe as the last light from the day faded into darkness.  

Capitol Peak, Colorado                                                                            

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

      Day two was an early morning and we were still jet lagged from the day before. We got up and groggily made our way to the Maroon Bells/ Snowmass Area, and boy am I glad we did. The Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed locations in the United States and it was evident upon arrival at 6:00 am by the loads of photographers pouring out of their vehicles to capture an image of the iconic peaks. Normally I tend to shy away from locations where I know there will be large gatherings of photographers, but on this occasion I wanted to understand what drew them all to the area. Everyone has seen the image of the Maroon Bells reflected in the calm waters of the lake below. I wanted to try and get an image from a different angle, so I walked around the trails in search of a strong composition, and I believe I found a few. If you are looking for a way to stand out from the crowd, don't just take the traditional image (the traditional image is still good to capture, but don't just walk away with that one image). Scout the area and really make the image your own. Here is one I took while everyone was facing the Maroon Bells. I simply turned around and walked up the hill.

Sievers Mountain, Snowmass Wilderness                                      

 © Andrew Lockwood 2017

      Sievers Mountain was catching the light beautifully while the bells were still in shadow. I counted 57 photographers standing along the shoreline, all vying for the perfect composition of the Bells and not one was facing the opposite way. I continued up the path and settled next to a small stand of aspens that overlooked the lake. (It is important in areas like this where foot traffic is high to stay on the designated trails and not trample the environment around you).

Maroon Bells, Snowmass Wilderness                                                  

©Andrew Lockwood 2017

      I then proceeded farther away from the lake and was able to get another composition I enjoyed.

Maroon Bells, Snowmass Wilderness                                                    

©Andew Lockwood 2017

      From this area I travelled down the mountain a ways to a tall and healthy stand of aspen trees that were still in full color. The light had just come over the mountains and the area entered the golden hour of light. Composing a forest scene is much more difficult than a wide "glory shot" of a mountain range. There are intricate details to a forest that can make or break your images. I took a few photographs from different locations and captured some great photos. 

Aspen Trees, Snowmass Wilderness                                                    

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

     Aspen Forest, Snowmass Wilderness        |      Right: Runoff, Snowmass Wilderness

                                                                  ©Andrew Lockwood 2017

      It was a long and fruitful morning in the Snowmass Wilderness, but I had a schedule to keep and it was time to head to a location I have been wanting to get to for a long time, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. We were only in the park for 5 hours, so I wanted to make the most of it. I began scouring the cliff tops for my composition and finally settled on a well photographed location called the Painted Wall. Had we planned on being in the park for a few days I would have gone into the canyon to explore more in depth (pun intended). I hope I will be able to do this in the near future. As sunset came upon us, I finished up my compositional adjustments and clicked the shutter.

Painted Wall, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

     I was extremely happy with the image I created so I began to play around with a new composition and got a few extra images. I toyed with integrating the human element and had fun posing for a "selfie" that really gives a sense of scale to the image.

Gunnison River, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park            

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

Gunnison River, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park            

© Andrew Lockwood 2017

      Once the light had faded from the area we began a 4 hour drive through the night to one of my favorite places on this planet, Great Sand Dunes National Park. We did however stop for one final image as the full moon rose over the canyon.  

Full Moon Over The Narrows, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison               

©Andrew Lockwood 2017

That was the end of our second day in Colorado. Check back on Tuesday to follow along on the remainder of our trip.

Below is my gear list for travel camping and photography along with clickable links to each one.

Camera Gear

• Canon 6D
• Canon 70-200 ƒ2.8L USM
• Canon 17-40 ƒ4L USM
• Velbon 2x Extender
• Lee Filters Foundation Kit + Lee Big Stopper
• Hahnel Remote Trigger
• Caden Travel Camera Bag

Camping Gear

• North Face Basecamp Duffel 50L
• Alps Mountaineering Chaos 3 Backpacking Tent
• REI Flash Sleeping Pad
• Coleman North Rim Extreme Weather Sleeping Bag
• Petal Tikka Headlamp

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