This was my first time to Sedona Arizona and I can safely say that it will not be my last. If you have not been there, I highly recommend it. Marika and I drove over from Phoenix. The drive was very easy and had many scenic views. Upon driving into Sedona, it was instantly breathtaking with many red rocks surrounding the small town and a creek adding the finishing touch. We found a good spot to pull off the road to look at the scenery and hopes to capture the beauty I saw. There was a hill that made a good vantage point so we went to the top and set up.
The light was not the greatest as you can see above, but there was a thick cloud cover and it looked as though Mother Nature was brewing up something special. In the past, I have been disappointed with conditions, packed up and left the location too early only to discover that on my way home I missed a beautiful sunset.
I was looking at a beautiful rock formation when all of a sudden, the colors seemed to change as though a light switch had been turned on. The moment was breathtaking! I turned around from the vantage point and looked towards Cathedral Rock to see the sun peaking through a small space between the clouds and the top of the red rock.
The combination was magical and it looked as though the ridge was on fire. The clouds were silky blue. To capture this I used a two stop graduated filter and turned it upside down, darkening the rocks so they were just a silhouette, as well as keeping the red of sunset. It was a 15 second exposure which allowed for a moody image of this stunning desert area.
A recent "Big Wednesday" was enough to get one of our photographers in the local area up before sunrise to capture the huge surf hitting the La Jolla breakwall at Children's Pool. Wave faces reached heights of 15 foot and beyond.
Bend but Don't Break by Bartram Donovan
"I am drawn to photograph primarily by the "light" and only secondarily
by the subject. I search for that special kind of light that can
transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This brings me out at
seemingly odd times---sunrise, sunset, during storms and snowstorms.
The weather can be miserable. But when everything comes together for a
photograph, all that is quickly forgotten."
Charles Cramer, in Alaska, getting his 4x5 Linhof field camera ready to shoot.
Jason Christensen waiting patiently for the magic light at Lake Powell with his Toyo 4x5 field camera.
Reverence
Jesse Bartram Donovan is pictured here photographing California's Mossbrae Falls which is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Jesse considers it to be the best waterfall in California because of the many contrasting colors and full body. "When you arrive at the waterfall it is as thought you have just came upon something natural that you never thought you would experience on this planet" says Jesse. The waterfall is a tall 50 feet but spans an impressive 150 feet wide. A breathtaking moss covered waterfall which has calming blues, greens and and soft white from the falling water. It is a pleasing waterfall for the casual visitor but to a photographer it is the perfect subject.
Photographing California's best waterfall is Jesse Bartram Donovan.
"I think people react to the serenity in the photographs as a refuge
from the chaos of our world, much like the serenity I experienced when
taking the photograph. We respond to what we want to see."
David Fokos with his 85 year old, 8x10 Korona View Camera near his favorite subject...the sea.
West Chop Poles
