DAYS OF THE COYOTE

DAYS OF THE COYOTE
October 2019, Yellowstone National Park 
(Click on any image to enlarge it)

Each visit to Yellowstone is always a new photography opportunity.  The abundance of wildlife can make for some excellent photography. Although I attempt to capture as diverse a selection of wildlife as possible when visiting Yellowstone, each visit has yielded different results for me. Also, the time of year that I have visited has provided different opportunities as well.  For this year it was the year-of-coyote for me.  My first encounter was on Firehole Drive.  This one was out hunting in the open fields.  I don’t know enough about how to identify them at a distance from their heads.  In the dog world, the male will have a larger more masculine head while the female’s head is smaller and more feminine.

Nikon D500, Nikor 200-500mm Lens, f/13, 1/400 sec, ISO 500, EV -0.33

The coyote is a canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf.  They range in size from 32 to 37 inches long excluding the tail.  They can weigh anywhere from 20 to 50 pounds.  They are omnivores and can run in packs. The populations in America are increasing.

The next sighting was about five miles outside West Yellowstone.  True to form this one was hunting rodents in a sage-covered field.  Note it’s intensity.  It can hear them, in this case probably a mole, burring under the surface. Once it locks on to its prey it will jump in the air to pounce on it.  Whatever it heard it was unsuccessful at this time and probably due to being cognizant of my presence.

Nikon D500, Sigma 100-400mm Lens, f/6.3, 1/500 sec, ISO 1100,

They will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer.  Because they will prey on livestock and pets, they are considered destructive pests.  Coyotes have a keen vision and a strong sense of smell. Reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour is not uncommon. They form packs in the fall and winter for more effective hunting.

Two days later I came across my best opportunity, near Gibbons Falls along the Gibbons River to photograph yet another coyote this time a pair. The coyote had crossed a creek spur and stopped to check me out. Naturally, that gave me all the time I needed to snap a few images. I love the contrast afforded by the snow, trees, and running water.

Nikon D850 Nikor 200-500mm Lens, f/16, 1/1000, ISO 500

They have strong family ties with both parents feeding and protecting the young.  In the wild watching coyotes track a rodent by sound and then pouncing by jumping in the air is a treat.  Until the reintroduction of wolves coyotes faced few predators in Yellowstone other than cougars, who will kill coyotes feeding on cougar kills.  After wolves were restored, dozens of coyote pups and adults were killed by them, primarily when feeding on a wolf kill.

In this next shot, something caught his/her attention and again made for an excellent composition in my opinion.

Nikon D850, Nikor 200-500mm Lens, f/16, 1/800, ISO 500

I track this guy/gal as it headed for deeper cover but still moving in a straight line when it entered a wooded area.  Because it was moving parallel to me I was able to anticipate that it was headed for a clearing in the woods which framed up this shot.  This is probably my best one of my coyote series.  The trees framed up the subject and its color made for some great contrast against the white snow.

Nikon D850, Nikor 200-500mm Lens, f/16, 1/500 sec, ISO 500

A trip to Yellowstone is never without its rewards if you are into photography.  I have officially stayed at all entrances to Yellowstone National Park.  In addition to these coyotes, I got some great wildlife shots of other animals and some beautiful landscapes.   Although this would be enough to end this adventure I came upon yet another coyote on my way through the Gallatin Forest crossing the Teton Pass.  I am going to venture and say this may be a female.  Note her size and feminine head.

Nikon D850, Nikor 200-500mm Lens, f/13, 1/640 sec, ISO 500

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A TRIP TO BOXLEY

A WEEKEND AT BOXLEY ARKANSAS
October 25, through 27, 2019 
(Click On Any Image To Enlarge It)

Boxley, Arkansas is a small village along the Buffalo National River, unit of the National Park Service. Boxley is located along the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, which is a 35-mile section of Ark. 21 that passes through the Ozark National Forest beginning near Clarksville and ending at the Buffalo National River. Boxley is best known for its location along the Buffalo, the nation’s first national river. On this trip, I traveled with Bill Palmer and Roy Gold. Bill Palmer had organized this trip through the Friends of Eagle Bluffs Photography Group (FOEB) located in Mid-Missouri to photograph the Elk in rut and the many waterfalls in the area. 

We stayed at Lost Valley Canoe & Lodging. https://www.lostvalleycanoe.com. Our cabin was located on the side of a mountain and it was a good thing Bill Palmer's vehicle had 4-wheel drive. Once we parked the car we ascended a set of steep steps to get to the weekend residence. Our lodgings were more than adequate complete with two full-size beds upstairs, a living room with futon bed downstairs, a bathroom with shower, and a fully furnished kitchen, deck, screened-in porch, and a hot tub. We even had a resident grey cat, Mr. Skittles, waiting for us on the porch. Our host even provided cat food with instructions to feed the cat.

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 100-400mm, f/8, 1/320sec.,ISO400

Day 1: After checking in we drove around to check out the Elk herds in the Ponca Wilderness area and meet up with some other members of the FOEB group, David Carron, Susan Tonarely, Linda Gardner-Goos, and Sheila Kinney.  There were several bands of Elk each with a few bulls.   

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 100-400mm, f/6.3, 1/800sec., ISO 2500

After viewing the Elk we struck out for our first waterfall, Eden Falls.  The Lost Valley trail is the most popular hiking trail in the Buffalo River area.  It’s easy to get to, and easy to hike. It is approximately a 2.3-mile round-trip hike.  We were there in the fall so the foliage added to the ambiance of the area.  It had rained and was still overcast which made the wet leaves' colors pop. Being cloudy is like a giant diffuser that creates very soft light.   

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105, f/10, 5 sec., ISO 80

To get to the trailhead, take Highway 43 from Ponca to Boxley through the Boxley Valley. There is a sign that clearly marks the turnoff to the Lost Valley Campground hiking area.  About a half-mile down the road, you’ll get to a large parking lot with porta pots. You better take a break; restroom facilities are not plentiful.  One writer said the woods here are almost tropical and that is the feeling I had.  Because of all the trees, moisture, and shade, there are a lot of moss-covered rocks.  Hiking to the falls will afford numerous cascades and run-off brooks as well as a creek or two.   

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/13, 8 sec., ISO 80

There are four sections to this falls, lower, middle, upper falls and inside a cave.  I am including three photos.  The first fall I came upon was coming out of the rocks and I assume this is part of the cave falls while the second image is of the lower falls and finally the upper falls.  I was unaware the falls had four tiers until I read Arkansas Waterfalls by Tim Ernst.  This will require a return trip.  

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 100-400mm, f/16, 8 sec., ISO 80

Hiking out a few of us stopped to photograph a brook bordered by moss-covered rocks.  These can be very peaceful and serene and always make for a good composition.  We ended the day back at the cabin with hot tea and sandwiches.  We lounged around planning out the next day and talking photography.  Some Rum & Coke for me and Wine for Bill and Roy rounded out the evening.  I almost forgot I had to feed the cat.

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/16, 1 sec., ISO 200

Day 2: After some coffee and breakfast we loaded up and hit the road. We drove to the Ponca Wilderness area to check on the Elk again.  The larger bands and moved back towards the woods but this large bull gave us an opportunity to get yet another shoot.   

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm, f/6.3, 1/500 sec., ISO 3200

This area is the stomping grounds for Bill and Roy so they knew where to go.  We checked out several areas and met folks from around the state who were out there doing what we were doing, capturing nature on camera.   

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm, 1/500 sec., ISO 800

After watching the Elk for several hours we went back to our cabin for lunch.  Susan Tonarely had homemade chili which she had frozen for the trip.  Because we had a full kitchen with pots and pans she heated and then the ladies made a pan of cornbread which they popped in the oven.   The seven of us enjoyed lunch accompanied with a stimulating group photography discussion on techniques and gear.

After lunch, we all loaded up with our destination to Triple Falls, aka Twin Falls.   We traveled the Camp Orr Road, also known as 2306.  The road to get there is steep and rough in spots.  Access Hwy 74 west of Mt. Sherman. The road is marked for Kyle’s Landing and Camp Orr. Travel about a mile until the road forks and stay right. You will be heading to Camp Orr about 1.8 miles and not Kyle’s landing. At the bottom of the mountain, you will cross a creek and a parking area that is immediate to your right.  Because of the time of year that we were there the foliage was not at its peak but was nothing to sneeze at either.  It was lightly raining so the wooded area had a rainforest feel to it.  Along the way were several cascades and we couldn't pass up the opportunity for a photo op.   All of my images are processed using Tony Kuyper's TK7 Action Panel and Sean Bagshaw's training videos of Tony's action panel.  Search these guys on the internet or YouTube and take your post-processing to a whole new level.  I shot this next image with a Nikon D750 and a Sigma 24-105 Art Lens. Aperture= f/18, Shutter=0.8. and ISO=80.  Due to the overcast skies, and soft rain, the light was diffused enough to allow me to get a slower shutter speed without the use of an ND Filter plus the increased depth-of-field also helped.  Normally I don't shoot anything above f/16 because of diffraction but I experimented on this trip.  

Nikon D750, Sigma Art 24-150mm, f/18, .8 sec., ISO 80

By the time we made it to the parking lot, it was raining hard enough that it was time to put on the rain gear.  I like to use plastic poncho because I can keep my camera covered with it as well.  Triple Falls is a 50-foot waterfall located near Jasper, Arkansas.  It is a simple hike along the trail on the north side of the creek and is probably one of the most scenic in Arkansas.  It has that WOW factor after a good rain when it becomes three falls instead of two.  Due to the rain we had to hike through water and mud to get to the falls but it was not bad.  It is a nice path covered on both sides with tall trees. 

Nikon D750, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/22, .8 sec., ISO 80

The rain blanketed all the trees surrounding us in a stream of dripping water which made it a challenge to photograph.  To get the best composition climbing down into the water somewhat downstream would have given the best overall perspective but it was muddy enough that I opted not to try it. In addition, the wind was blowing and there were some trees that blocked most of the views accept one and we had to take turns and share this spot. 

Nikon D750, Sigma Art 24-150mm, f/22, .8 sec., ISO 80

Since I prefer to shoot waterfalls using a slower shutter speed the rain compounded my opportunity to get a really clean shot.  I shot the above images using a Nikon D750 and Sigma 24-105 Art Lens.  My settings were f/22, 8 seconds, and ISO of 80. I used a tripod. Generally speaking, large f/stops (small openings) can introduce diffraction (blurring) into your image because such small openings bend the light more as it passes into the lens opening.  Some say this is not a problem with the D850, however, it appears all of my images shot at f/20 or greater yielded softer photos.  However, I can't say this is an exclusive fact until I have tested this theory more because on this day it could have been me and not the settings.  With another waterfall under our belt, we voted to go out to dinner for a nice hot meal at The Low Gap Café located in Low Gap, AR.  Don't let the outside look of this place fool you.  This is an excellent dining experience by owner Nick Bottini who studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and catered to the stars in California.

Day 3:  We all gathered for breakfast in Jasper at the Ozark Café.  The café is more than 100 years old and is noted for its deep-fried burgers, steaks, and omelets.   I can attest it was an awesome omelet.  After breakfast, Bill took us for a drive on Scenic Hwy 7, south of Jasper to see the Buffalo River valley from on high.  This was a fantastic view as there was a thick fog covering the valley.  We were about 1,500 feet above the Buffalo River.  We were blessed with a bright blue sky, some fall colors, and Boston Mountains in the background.   We got there around 8 AM and the sun was at a 30 to 45-degree angle highlighting the trees and fog.  

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/16, 1/40 sec., ISO 160

I took all my images from just beyond the parking lot on the edge of the mountain but there is an observation platform that is three stories high and it provides a breathtaking command of the area.   In hindsight, I should have set up to do a panoramic of this vista because no one lens is wide enough to take it all in.   (Insert 85G_7940 & 85G_7957).   

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/22, 1/200 sec., ISO 320

On this trip, I experimented with different apertures playing around with depth-of-field.  This setting gave me about 8 feet in front of me to infinity.  It should be noted that larger f-stop numbers (smaller lens openings) can create some softness in images.  By shotting this at f/11 I could have gained two stops of light thereby reducing my two stops or ISO 160.  Lower ISO reduce noise.  Why was my shutter at 1/200 sec.? There was a light breeze and I opted for faster shutter speed to freeze movement.  Another option would be to decrease f-stop by 2-stops, increase shutter speed by 1-stop, and ISO by 1-stop.

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/16, 1/200 sec., ISO 125

These images do not do justice to this early morning landscape.  Well worth getting up early for.  Our last visit was to Falling Water Waterfalls, a scenic waterfall right next to the road.  The flow of the water was subdued on our visit but I have seen pictures of this spot during high water when it is a roaring flow of water extending the full width of the creek bed.  My exposures were underexposed and the surrounding trees were blurry due to the wind and my slow shutter speed. I hiked to the base of the falls but none of the images I took were sharp enough to post except maybe this one.

Nikon D750, Sigma Art 24-105mm, f/16, 1/80 sec., ISO 400

Well that concludes this adventure to Boxley, Arkansas.  It was only a five-hour drive for us from Jefferson City, MO.  Due to its proximity to me I will be going back to photograph more waterfalls in the future.  To see more images of waterfalls in this area as well as a guide, get yourself a copy of "Arkansas Waterfalls" by Tim Ernst.  If you enjoyed reading this blog please leave me a message and share it on your page. 

On The Road July 13, 2019

PHOTOGRAPHING KELPZIG MILL
(Click on Any Image To Enlarge It)

Another road trip with Bob Colvin this time to Klepzig Mill. It was a beautiful day, blue skies with white puffy clouds and a temperature of 86°. We left Jefferson City, MO at 5 AM, stopped in Rolla to have breakfast at Waffle House and refuel on coffee. We traveled highway 63 to 19 then got on 106 to H and finally highway NN. Driving straight through will take approximately 2 hours 52 minutes but like I said we stopped for breakfast.

We stopped at Rocky Falls because I wanted to get a reading for a Milky Way shot later this month. There was only one family there but this is a local favorite and can fill up by noon. From Rocky Falls Shut-ins you have a 4 min, 2.1-mile drive to your turn off to Klepzig Mill. Turn left on County Road #522. This dirt road can be very muddy and is narrow, not recommended for large motor homes or trailers. Klepzig Mill is less than a mile on the right. There is no sign or defined parking area, and it's easy to miss in summer vegetation, so watch carefully.  This is a rough road, not the worst I have been on but just a heads up. However, if you take the road, there is a two car parking area right next to the Mill.

The first time I visited this Mill I hiked to it from Rocky Falls. Great hike for the adventurer. Hike from Rocky Falls along the Ozark Trail, or park at the end of the pavement on NN and walk up the dirt road. It is in a spectacular setting, surrounded by the Rhyolite rock of the "shut-in" canyon made by Rocky Creek.While we were there three 4-wheel gators pulled up loaded with sightseers. It appears a local company offers guided tours to this area now.

This first image was taken looking southeast at the mill. It was 9:30 AM or 8:30 AM by sun time. The morning sun had not cleared the tops of the trees yet.  My last visit was in October of 2011 and the area was rich in fall colors. The shut-ins surrounding this area is (for me) the highlight of this location. The Rhyolite rock has a red/mauve color to it. Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition. It can be white, light-grey, or pink. It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic. The mineral assemblage is usually quartz, sanidine, and plagioclase. Biotite and hornblende are common accessory minerals. It is the extrusive equivalent to granite.

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm-f/4, f/7.1, 1/200sec, ISO 160, EV -0.67

Built by Walter Kelpzig in 1928. He was the first in the area to introduce barbed and woven wire for his refined breed of dairy cows. He sawed logs into boards for his house and an outbuilding and saved good boards for neighbor’s coffins. Klepzig Mill was a grist and sawmill, not much to look at and but was a building type that replaced log cabins of the times. This was a building that could be erected by one or two people on the ground and then raised into place. He ground corn and was noted for grinding corn fee for the poor. In this side view of the mill, looking west, I used a higher ISO because the area was heavily shaded and I was hand holding the camera.  My focal length was at 35mm and I had image stabilization turned on which allowed me to get by with 1/30 sec. 

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm-f/4, f/11, 1/30sec, ISO 400, EV +0.67

This area is fed by Rocky Creek Stream, which consists of run-off water, underground water and I think a spring or two. It flows into the Current River. Most of the exposed igneous rocks of the St. Francois Mountains region are Rhyolite rather than granite. Igneous rocks are formed from volcanic activity. Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock formed from magma that cooled underground and was later exposed. By contrast, Rhyolite is formed when magma is cooled above ground. Shut-ins occur where a broader stream is “shut in” to a narrow canyon-like valley. Shut-ins typically occur in Missouri where streams flow through softer sedimentary bedrock materials such as dolomite or sandstone and then encounter the more resistant igneous rock. Setting up for this composition took some maneuvering through the creek and across some very slick rock.

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm-f/4, f/16, 2.5sec, ISO 100, EV, 6-Stop ND Filter

Klepzig Mill is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways which was established in 1964, making it America's first national park area to protect a wild river system. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is known for its caves, springs, sinkholes and losing streams. My last image of this Mill for this blog is a wide angle view highlighting the pink rock shut-ins, and cascades.

Nikon D850, Sigma Art 24-105mm-f/4, f/16, 1/15sec, ISO 100, CP & Split ND Filter

FYI, the Caster Shut-ins is the only pink granite in Missouri and it along with Missouri Red Granite can be found just two hours away in the Fredericktown, MO area.   Another Blog and another 1-day outing with Bob Colvin.  We left early but we were back by mid-afternoon.  Visit Bob's Facebook page to see his infra-red version of this area and thanks for stopping by. As always comments and inquiries welcome.


John Gilbert
gilbej49@gmail.com
www.jmgilbertphotography.com

Burgess Falls

HIKE TO BURGESS FALLS
(Click on any image to enlarge it)

Recently I have been going back through images that I took from previous outings’ to re-process those using techniques I have learned and to re-live the experience.  This Blog deals with a trip I took back in February of 2013 with Doug Adams and Niala Branson.  For this trip, our objective was to photograph three falls, Cummins Falls, Burgess Falls, and Fall Creek Falls.  This consisted of a two-night-three-day outing. This story will focus on day two of our trip to Burgess Falls.

Pentax K5, 18-135mm Lens, f/8.0, 1/190sec, ISO 400

On this trip, I shot with both Nikon and Pentax. Although at one time I shot Canon, Nikon, and Pentax.  I gave up and settled on Nikon.  I just couldn’t keep all the menus straight.

Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area, located on the Falling Water River, is a day-use park, noted for its natural beauty and four waterfalls that cascade down from over 250 feet in elevation. The last of these falls is the most spectacular, plunging more than 136 feet into the gorge.

The area was originally populated by Native Americans of the Cherokee Creek and Chickasaw tribes. These tribes used the land as a hunting ground until the late 19th century when a gristmill and sawmill began operating on the river. My dad’s mother was 50% Cherokee who married Judge Gilbert and migrated from the Kentucky/Tennessee area.  I have learned over the years that there are a lot of Gilbert’s in these areas.  The Falling Water River was used to generate hydroelectric power for the city of Cookeville from 1928-1944. In 1973, the territory became a designated Tennessee State Natural Area, protecting the diverse forest and aquatic habitats.

A steep trail ends near the top of the main waterfall. This is not an easy hike; the trail from the main overlook to the top of the main falls can be strenuous. Most people prefer to hike back to the parking lot along the service road. The one-half mile Ridge Top Trail is very scenic with views down the main canyon of Falling Water River. All trails are foot trails.

We took the River Trail which follows the Falling Water River.  This 1.5-mile round-trip River Trail/Service Road Loop is a moderately strenuous hike, taking visitors past the waterfalls and ending at the main overlook. There are sections that include handrails whenever the trail takes a steep descent as well as steps and bridges.  It has been 6 years since I was last there so there may be new additions to the trail.  This is on my bucket list to re-visit soon.

Pentax K5, 18-135mm lens, f/8, 1/30sec, ISO400

The waterfalls consist of a 20’ cascade, 30’ upper falls, 80’ middle falls, and 136’ lower falls in height.  Back then each of these areas was easily visible as we traveled the trail. Also, we went in February so the trees were without leaves which made visibility much better. It was also very cold.  The below image is of the first major cascade.  From my first trip out west, I became infatuated with smooth flowing water.  Some call it creamy as well as the cotton-candy effect. Different shutter speeds and the force of the water flow can create different texture in the water. So it should come as no surprise that I shot and still shoot a lot of long exposures.  I loved these cascades with their numerous tiers and strong flowing water.  The water was really clear and it was a sunny day with lots of clouds.  As the clouds moved they would shield the sun creating some great defused lighting for shooting water and waterfalls. When setting up for this shot I visualized the textures of the trees and wanted a creamy look to the water. Smooth and rough.

Nikon D600, Nikor 24-70mm lens, f/10, .3sec, ISO 100, EV+2

I think this next image is of the upper part of the 30’ upper falls. I really liked the way the light was hitting this as well as the coarseness of the rocks and colors in the background left over from fall’s foliage.  There was a lot of contrasts here as well as vertical and horizontal lines.  I used matrix metering or average metering. Because the sun was hitting the water between the clouds I composed my scene, then exposed for the brightest areas.  Shooting in RAW with a full frame sensor made it possible for me to recover the shadows and dark areas in post-processing. The same holds true for cropped sensor cameras, compose for the highlights, and recover the shadows.  If the contrast is too great I would bracket the shots and blend in processing.

Nikon D600, 24-70mm lens, f/8,1.3sec, ISO 100, EV+2

At the halfway mark, we came across the Middle Falls.  There is an observation platform here and I don’t recall if there was a trail to take us down to get a closer view of this falls but I don’t think so.  For me, this was a hard shot as it was noon, by the sun’s time, and the sun was shining right down on the water which can really blow out the highlights.  Again I exposed for the highlights and recovered the shadows and darks in post-processing.  This would have been a good candidate for multiple exposures and then blending them together later in post.

Pentax K5, Pentax 12.24mm lens, f/8, 0.8sec, ISO 100, EV+2

As you get closer to Burgess Falls there are several small little creek type falls or runoffs.  These can make for some great photo-shoots.  Some of these areas are shaded and wet and provide a perfect habitat for moss to grow.  This adds a lot of green and yellow color to the subject.  As we got closer to the falls we found areas were the dripping water had frozen to form some nice ice-cycles.

Pentax K5, Pentax 18-135mm lens, f/10, 0.5sec, ISO 100

Originally I was not going to include any images of the metal stairs to the base but after doing some research to see if it was still there, I learned that its supports eroded away due to heavy rains so getting to the base is no longer an option.  As I write this I realize what a great opportunity we had and how fragile our ecology is.  There are two images here, the first one is the metal stairs we went through starting at the crown of Burgess Falls.  The second image shows the stairs and how much further we had to descend just to get to the base.  From the stairs, we were able to get to a leveled earth area immediately next to the falls, about halfway from its top.  This area was very wet and slippery due to the water spray coming off the falls. Doug and I continued to the base.  Usually, I carry a 50-foot rope with me.  It comes in handy when you need to climb out of a steep hill or ravine.  The first image shows the inside of the stairs cage.

This next image is from the base of the falls looking back to the metal stairs.  From here to the base was a challenge.

After the metal stairway, we stopped to photograph Burgess.  Our point of view was a side look at the center of the falls.  Even today I can recall the sound of the water it was so loud we had trouble talking to one another. I will link to a video clip I took.  Not too far from this point, yet still not at the base, I set up for one of many compositions.  The next image is probably one of my favorites.  It reminds me of a veil.

Nikon D600, 24-70mm lens, f/11,0.6sec, ISO 200, EV+0.33

Finally at the foot of the falls. The power of this waterfall accompanied by its sound is scary and daunting while it is mesmerizing and tranquil at the same time.  I could only imagine what this would be like during the spring rains. Doug and I stay here for an hour or two trying to get the right composition.  I took hundreds of pictures looking upstream to the falls and downstream to the canyon and from numerous angles but this composition made me feel like I was spying on greatness yet hidden from the falls should it strikeout.  The beauty of photographing with others is that each person gives their own view of what they saw.  It always amazes me that three people in the same location photographing the same subject will produce three different versions.

Nikon D600, 24-70mm lens, f/10, 1/16sec, ISO 200, EV+2

Burgess Falls

Video Clip

Well, this concludes another blog of an experience with nature and friends.  In all these shots I used a tripod, polarizers, neutral density filters, remote controls or timers to capture the scene.  I can only hope I did justice to this beautiful area to encourage you to visit it some day.  Feel free to leave comments or contact me for additional information.

John Gilbert

Gilbej49@gmail.com