Planning the Logistics

Last time we looked at the potentials and established the list of locations and I explained how I arrive at the final list (final before I work the cost aspects, which means everything is subject to further reduction).  So this time around the focus will be on the logistics for the adventure.

Olympic National Park Coastline

Mileage

The mileage for this adventure will be around 800 miles round trip, nothing off road, all on paved road.  Though off the beaten path for the most part, not as far off as later shoots for this year.  However, with fuel prices jumping now to $4.00+ per gallon, it merits some planning to ensure costs are maintained as affordable.  I will investigate a rental car that will eliminate impacts to wear and tear to my car and will likely provide higher mileage and help keep costs down.

Participants

So the participation for this adventure is narrowing down to just a few.  Kathy has to work, and Christian has to support a school function so he won’t be available.  Which leaves daughter Courtney and another photographer friend as the only participates for this adventure.

Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park coast, Washington

Lodging

Lodging is the easiest to plan for this trip.  At least from the cost perspective, campgrounds are readily available and their cost is manageable.  It also allows for close proximity to the locations to be photographed.  There are a multitude of campgrounds located at each of the locations for this adventure.  Most are not primitive, which means they have running water and showers.  Many have resupply close for any incidentals that may be needed.

Food Menu

So eating out is rarely an option, due to the costs.  The most common thing will be to purchase food from grocery stores along the way.  This will mitigate the need to purchase large volumes of food prior and try to keep it stored.  It will get smashed or damaged prior to being used.  For this adventure there are plenty of stores along the way which allow for making purchases for a day or so at a time.  Plus, it keeps costs down from restaurants and more importantly, allow us to eat a bit more nutritionally than fast food or other prepared restaurant foods.

Sunset Shi Shi, Olympic National Park, Washington

Equipment needs

For this shoot, there are no new pieces of equipment that need to be purchased prior.  I will take my camera bag in total with all my glass (lens), camera bodies and all the accessories (batteries and such).  I will also take tripods and LED lighting (battery packed).  Since there will likely be opportunities for some light painting I want to make sure I have the appropriate handheld lights.   I have just recently gone through my gear, cleaned it and it is ready to go.  I will likely balance one of my long lens to the cameras, but everything else is ready to go.

This isn’t all the gear that must be accessed.  Since camping at the various locations, there will need to be gear pulled to support this and to ensure that there is enough space, going lite will be important. So the packing list includes.

• Tent
• Sleeping bags
• Camp stove and fuel
• Cooking utensils
• Sleeping pads
• Lanterns
• Clothing
• Medical supplies
• SPOT

Medical Considerations

To not pay attention to this one is asking for something to happen. So it is not just considering what could happen and prepare for it.  But also addressing preexisting conditions that each participate is bringing to the adventure is important as well.

I keep at least one and generally two large first aid kits in with the gear.   Plus years of training and experience help with the preparation.  For this adventure, having emergency services close reduces risks for trauma situations.

Addressing preexisting conditions, no one going on this adventure has any serious medical conditions.  There may some orthopedic considerations, but ensuring that braces and anti-inflammatories are packed it the only mitigation planned.

Low tide, Shi Shi, Olympic National Park, Washington

Costs

The costs for this adventure will be around $300 to $350.  The variable is the price of gasoline and whether or not I do the rental car and the number of people going.  The cost is almost equal whether I drive my car or rent a car.  The mileage gain is significant with the rental, however benefit comes from elimination of wear and tear to my vehicle and reduced carbon footprint.

So this point it makes better sense to do the rental approach over driving my own, continuation of the analysis is important.  Now there may also be discounts that would save or offset the costs, I may also be able to utilize mileage points that would add further benefit to the utilization of the rental car scenario.

Increased number of folks going will have a direct impact on cost, due to food costs and possibly additional lodging costs if the campground does not allow more than one tent per camp site.  These details need to be addressed over the next several weeks to determine if the adventure will have to be cancelled or if it will go forward.

Next steps

As the next week approaches the final details for the adventure will mature to the point where any adjustments will be made and final determination on the adventure will be made.  Stay tuned…more to come.

The setting sun, Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington

Planning is in works….

The weather is still rainy, which has led to muddy and nasty backcountry, combined with looming gray and cloudiness has not provided totally optimal situations.  Now I must admit I do like overcast to that of bright and sunny, but optimal would be cloud breaks or sun breaks which can present some great potentials, or that heavy fog with the first burst of the sun’s rays in a deep lush forest can be a phenomenal way to start your day.

But since the first of this year there has been a tremendous amount of “stuff” going on around here and that little voice in my head says it is time grab camera and escape.  So then it becomes where to go, the list is long and so much potential.  I remind myself of my goals and targets that I wrote down earlier this year and it helps me with my decision.

But shooting beach images is in the planning stages.  So as I have in blog posts in the past, I am writing about my planning steps to prepare for the shoot.  I will strive to follow these process steps;

1. Identify the destinations
2. Examine potential shots
3. Logistics planning
   1. Mileage
   2. Participants
   3. Lodging
   4. Food menu
   5. Equipment needed
   6. Medical considerations
   7. Costs
   8. Revise adventure if necessary
   9. Purchase any identified gear
4. Prepare vehicle for adventure
5. Adjust as necessary
6. Pack and load
7. Head out for adventure

So taking each step into consideration, I begin to plan for this trip.

The possible locations for the shoot, I consider the various sites along the northwest coast.  There are great locations along the Washington coastline, especially within the Olympic National Park.  Many of them I have shot on prior adventures.  I want this time to shoot something new, so that puts Oregon on the map for consideration.

As I take the Oregon options into considerations, I decide that easily accessible rugged coast and lighthouses are an alluring combination.  Oh and as I examine one a few of those locations, I realize that there are covered bridges along the route, that provide additional opportunities.  So Oregon it is for this shoot. The shoot destinations for this 2013 Memorial Weekend Adventure shoot will look like this

• Umpqua Lighthouse
• Bandon Beach
• Cape Perpetua
• Yachats Covered Bridge
• Lake Creek Covered Bridge
• Fisher School Covered Bridge
• Deadwood Creek Covered Bridge
• Heceta Light House
• Ecola State Park / Beach
• Cannon Beach

 

To gather the prospective images of each location requires some time spent researching online to get an ideas from others who have photographed the location.  Sometimes however, there are no published images and you have to go off descriptions.  There is some imagination that has to come into play at this point, I don’t really want to copy or mimic image already captured, but there are certain terrain I am looking for to capture in an image.

If there are no images or descriptions, then it boils down to diving deeper into the research and looking for topo maps, geological reports or anything that can provide insights as to what the location could be like and roughly get an idea.  Then I will look at the Photographers Ephemeris to get an idea of how the light will hit the location from the sun and/or the moon (surprising sometimes how bright a full moon can be).

I then come up some ideas and my mind captures conceptual images and I flush out my list, like the one that you see above.  Now I know that there are many more locations, but I want to keep my scope for the shoot fairly defined and get what I set out for, if there is enough time and the light is right, then I might pick up some additional locations as they present.

Next installment is the logistics……stay tuned.

Open to the potentials, so when it happens…….

On the way to work, Mt.Rainier from Clear Lake

I know in my last post and several times over the past year I have taken the stance that planning and preparation must be a key part of a shoot.  While I do believe this and it is something I practice regularly, let me fill in another aspect of capturing those images that end of surprising you and can result in being amazing images.  The spontaneous event that you can elect to focus your lens on or just ignore because it is not on your shot list is your photographic free agency.  But as with in life, staying to the planned path can cause you to miss out on the fleeting moment that results something truly amazing.

While shooting wildflowers the first rays of the sun hits the cloud cover on Mt.Rainier

So what does that mean?  When operating to the plan of a shoot, being open and flexible to what is going on around you.  Those who are involved in outdoor adventures know that being in the moment is essential to manage the ever changing situation.  The same is true of photographing any aspect of nature.  The light can be fleeting and conditions can change.  For example, a couple of years ago I had planned an early morning shoot at Reflection Lake on Mt. Rainier National Park.  There is only a short span of time in the morning and at sunset that the water is flat and motionless.  An early morning fog was blanketing the lake and was showing no signs of lifting.  I arrived with approximately 50 other photographer waiting for that first light of the day and opportunity to capture it in my camera.  As sun began to rise it became more evident that the fog would not be lifting and soon the wind would rise and the surface of the lake would be rippling.  I decided that I needed other options and was abandoning quickly the idea of Reflection Lake at sunrise.  I remembered that across from my car was the trail head to Pinnacle Peak saddle and that it could present with some great vistas.  As I grabbed my gear, the rippling began on the lake and 50 other photographers vocabularies became very profound and presented with less than politically correct terms.  Making my way up the trail I soon found my way above the fog and the morning unfolded before me.  The meadows were still full of wildflowers and the mountain was an amazing vista.  I set up and snapped a series of images as I made my way systematically up to the saddle.  This impromptu decision resulted in several great images of the mountain. A couple have placed in competitions over the past couple of years.

When Reflection Lake was blanketed in fog, a quick hike up Pinnacle Peak trail presented this view.

The planning of a shoot is important, but just as important is being in the moment.  Having a target is good, but be flexible to what is happening in the world around you.  When you least expect there will become a moment when you can capture some phenomenal images. When planning look for the right elements such as; weather, time of day, time of year combined with a great location can be enough to if your head and eye is in the right place.

While shooting Narada Falls on Mt.Rainier, a bit of exploring I was able to capture Sidewinder

There is something about waterfalls…..

Zion National Park

There is something about waterfalls that makes them incredible for me to photograph.  When I get to a waterfall there is an energy that is for me soulful and vitalizing.  When I first arrive to a falls even one that I have been to several times there is an energy and a draw for me.  I want to capture the essence of the water surging down from above.  Each has a personality, some tumble slowly over rocks and ridges, while others plunge off high ledges and thunderously enter the pool below and every other combination.

Mytle Falls – Mt. Rainier National Park

There is a character present about a waterfall that never ceases intrigue me.  Call it the wrapping, the features on either side of the cascading water, the pool at the base that can make a simple waterfall a marvel or less than impressive.  Think of this wrapping as the frame around this cascade of liquid.  It is this framing of the falls that is that fashionable accessory to the feature itself.

Spray Falls – Mt.Rainier National Park

There are those who will walk up snap a moment of a falls depending on a variety of factors, it may or may not come out the way they pictured it in their head.  They might have even spent considerable money on a camera and felt assured of a great image.  But creating those amazing images is always an exercise in patience, timing and opportunity.  Being able to capture that special image of a waterfall is no exception.  The vast majority of time it takes research and hours of scouting and planning to determine when that optimal opportunity is present.  Getting into position with tripod set up, mounting the camera, insert the remote release and when that moment arrives snap that shutter.

Unnamed Falls – Mt.Rainier National Park

Many photographers have shot a waterfall in many of the locations that I photographed.  I think it must be said that I could photograph a waterfall a variety of times and each time it will be different.  Depending on the time of day, the season, water flow and the weather all shape an image with a multitude of variables.  This will present images that have a variety of ways they present.  Even the passing of time will factor in, things are dynamic and in constant change.   Each time presents a unique image and potential masterpiece.

Christine Falls – Mt. Rainier National Park

My Favorite Images from 2012

I tried to write a bit about my favorite images of last year.  Instead, I created a bit of a slide show….please enjoy!!

 

Dynamic Earth Favorites – 2012

 

Planning those shots for the year…..

In the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

This year is well underway, and I find myself with my shot goals not nailed down for the year.  A friend and I were planning a shoot in Fairbanks with the northern lights, as we were booking accommodations I learned that the International Ice Sculpting festival is scheduled for the same time and getting a room was nonexistent.  So after trying to identify the optimal times for the lights, work schedule and logistics, we decided to slide a year and schedule sooner.

So in an attempt to get on top of the remainder of the year and hopefully capture an amazing image or two (or more) I want to focus on shoot goals for this year.  Especially, with rising costs of fuel want to focus closer to home than the transcontinental shoots of last year.  I would like to get a southwest shoot in this year, but will have to see how conditions develop.

First quarter is about complete, but March remains.  The mountain is close and I am still looking for that winter shot for the season that I am happy with. So research must be done to find that right spot.

Valley of Fire

Second quarter will be wet and soggy here and the melting snow pack will have streams high in water volume.  So think it is the optimal time for beach shoots and the lush green makes optimal rainforest and vegetation shots.

• Whidbey Island (Washington)
• Shi Shi Beach (Washington)
• Cannon Beach (Oregon)
• Ruby Beach (Washington)
• Lewis Falls (upper & lower)
• Mt. Rainer (summit potential)
• Redwoods National Park (Northern CA)
• Brandon Beach (Oregon)

Third quarter is when things dry out a bit and there is more opportunity to be in the back country.  I am thinking of some Mt.Rainier, Olympic and various National Forest locations in the northwest.  By the later portion of this quarter the water lines will be lower, which will present some optimal waterfall shots.

• Wonderland (Washington)
• Ramona Falls (Oregon)
• Proxy Falls (Oregon)
• Mt. Rainier National Park
• Pin Creek Falls (Washington)
• McClellan Falls (Washington)
• Olympic Rainforest Shoot (Washington)

Along Skate Creek Road

In the early part of the fourth quarter I plan to continue shooting the types of locations from later third quarter.  Then as the later portion of the quarter arrives it is time to prepare for those winter shoots.  Eagles will return and preparation underway to shoot in Yellowstone in Jan of 2014.

• Whatcom County Washington (Eagles & North Cascades area)
• Panther Creek Falls (Washington)
• Angel Falls (Washington)
• Big Creek Falls (Washington)
• Chambers Creek Falls (Washington)
• Covell Creek Falls (Washington)
• Little Niagara Falls (Washington)

Now I will likely miss one of two of these and carry them over to the next quarter or the next year, but it give me a platform to work from.  As far as wildlife for the year, I try to always keep a camera and lens ready for critters to cross my path.  I look forward to possibly capturing images of Mountain Goats, Elk, a Coyote and if I am really lucky a wolf or two.

Not far off the road

Hope the light treats you right and you can capture those moments that motivate folks to wander off the trail.

B-Day Shoot for 2013

Birthday 2011

I am a bit late getting my regular posting out, due to the circumstances of injury and illness things did not go quite to plan.  But I have now finished it and though late portray the thoughts of the day.

Birthday 2012

January hosts a day that historically for me is significant and I take my annual pilgrimage to Mt. Rainier.  I slept in a bit later than usual, since the gate at Longmire didn’t open until about 10am.  It is a time to take a breath and reflect, feel crisp mountain air and ponder the aspects of my life.  After 50 these times feel more important to me, helps to set the chaos of the day to day and hopefully gain some perspective.  Being in the mountains, alone the light was soft and a thickening blanket of snow under my feet, it helps.

Birthday 2012

My motto still holds true as a compass, to seek to be….not to seem.  This keeps me exploring, myself and my place in the world.  This is blanketed in the philosophy of “the journey is more important than the destination”.   Standing on the flanks of this volcano in solace alone at the tree line, always gives me a bit of humility.

Birthday 2013

For the past several years, I attempt to train my camera on a frame or two for me to remember.  These images take on a special significance to me and they in some way become a mile marker for me.  When I look at those images as time goes by it takes me to that moment.  Interestingly, I can remember the moment up to the camera’s shutter clicking and capture of the image.  Then my mind wanders regarding my processes, the image triggers memories.  I wonder if others feel the same when they look at the image or others of my images. Another year is now done, and I look and move forward into another year.  “The Mountains call and I must go”……John Muir…..off to the woods I go with camera in hand!!

Birthday 2013