The New Photography Thread

“Okay, one of my New Year's resolutions is that I'm going to #&%!$ less. So instead of #&%!$ing that there aren't ever any threads that interest me, I'm going to start one that just might entertain me and others for awhile.

How much of a part of your backpacking experience does photography play? Do you plan your backpacking trips around your photography? Or is taking photographs while backpacking incidental to the whole experience? Or do you just leave the camera home and not worry about it?

Personally, every trip I go on is planned because of the scenic value of the area. I go backpacking because I enjoy it, but I enjoy it because it gets me to places that I want to photograph. If you're interested in seeing just some of my scenics, take a look here

Now it's your turn.”

“geez, I can't say b!tch? Okay, to clarify, my new year's resolution is to complain less. There! you happy?”

“Thanks Hobbit.
I always enjoy looking at your photographs!!!”

“I hike for the scenic value and the exercise value. I take a camera and get some pics if I see some nice nature shots. A friend of mine carries 60lbs in his pack and most of it is photography equipment. I don't believe he would hike if he couldn't bring his camera(s) along. I've seen his collection of pics and he has some dandy shots.”

“I wish I could scan my photos from Banff and Mt Robson...
One day.”

“I have always carried a camera and find I am spending more and more time trying to get better photos. Just got a new digital and am really enjoying the freedom of not having to worry about wasting film.”

“The camera always goes with me. I take photos of everything. My Webshots albums only show part of what I take.

I do a photo journal, showing the whole trip. So you see what the trail looks like, silly things we do, how awesome the scenery is, and the little things in between.

Last year I developed 157 rolls of film. I started getting CDs in June (total of 96) along with the developing. I kept track of all this out of curiosity. I guess I could have bought 2 good digital cameras with what I spent on developing.

In '99 on our 16 day trip my camera batteries died on the 8th day. I had a blonde moment while packing and brought only 1 battery (wrong camera). I was able to get shots using a new batter and a dead one, but that lasted about 3 days. I spent the next 3 days or so warming up the batteries under my armpits just to get "one more picture". SnowDude claims it was the saddest thing, so see me miss a photo op. On the 14th day (?) I borrowed batteries from a woman to load a new roll of film in mine, then returned the batteries. After we parted, we realized we should have bought her old batteries. 2 hrs later, SnowDude came back, and she wouldn't take the $40 I was offering. As a photographer, she understood.”

“Great subject Hobbit! But what is even greater is your photos. Super shots! What gear may I ask?

My start in backpacking is a result of my love for photography. I am a big fan of waterfalls and many of them required short hikes to reach. 6 miles in one day was probably my hiking limit, but that ended when I visited the White Mts this past July. I got totally hooked after hiking up Mt Lafayette and I've backpacked several times since.

However, my photography suffered because I couldn't handle carrying all that gear. That lead me to search for a small quality digital camera. I found it in a Nikon Coolpix 995 which is a great little camera. It's great for backpacking and the image quality is excellent, BUT I really miss the total control of my SLR and using my lenses.

Sooooo just last night I made a HUGE decision. I ordered a Nikon D1H digital slr and it will go with me on all my hiking / bp'ing trips. Sure it's heavy. I'll just workout a bit harder. ;-) But I love both activities so much I don't want to shortchange either of them.

If anyone is interested, I have several photos on my website at www.bjcreations.com. One thing about my site though - the images are thumbnailed. Clicking the thumbs brings you to a 3rd party download site where the images are downloaded zipped (2 sizes 1024x 768 and 800x600). AND there's some adverts on the site. Gotta pay the bill somehow. :-(”

“Yo Adventurist - do you have the negs of Banff and Robson? If so, what film and speed? I have a very good film/slide scanner and I'd be glad to scan them and slap em on a cd for ya.

Snow Nymph - your webshots albums are great! I have a bunch of slides from 2 autumn trips in Shen NP and the Whites that I need to get up on webshots.”

“That would be cool of you Pennsy.
The shots are 35mm. I wish I could get one of those scanners. I don't feel like going out and getting the cheap scanners because it doesn't give the photos justice.

By the way...I guess you paid to get beyond the first fence at Lakota?”

“No problem - do you know what brand film and speed? The lower the iso the easier it is, and if it's Kodak I have to tweak a bit more. Let me know and I'll stop by the shop.

Yeah, I paid to get close to the wolves. Worth every penny though. Awesome animals! Have you ever camped there? Hearing 23 wolves howling at night is amazing.”

“Never been there..on my list.
I think the film was Fuji Superia Velvia 400.”

“or was it Fuji Superia Reala?”

“I considered, for a split-second one time, not carrying a camera. Then the though passed. I always carry a camera along when I hike, backpack, or paddle. The images are helpful in sharing the wild places with those who can't get out - nursing homes, elderly housing, etc.

I have a few images on my sites. Each site has links to the others.

Scrapbook Adventures ”

“Excellent journal snacks. Fitting in the photos makes it even better. See, how could you go without a camera?

Your closing in on your film Adv! Velvia is a 50iso slide film and Reala is a 100iso neg film. I'd say you gots the 400 Superia. How about bringing the negs in after your Dacks trip? Learning my new cam is gonna keep me busy for a while.”

“Great pictures everyone. I get a large charge out of seeing what everyone else is doing. It's plain to see there is some real talent here on the board.

I use mostly Nikon, but occasionally will break out one of either a Mamiya M645, or RB67 if I need a larger negative than the F5 delivers. Films of choice include Velvia, or Provia 100F. I have totally given up on Kodak for my transparencies, however if I am shooting a wedding or portraits of the kids, I prefer Kodak Portra 160 VC.

Thanks for jumping in with the comments everyone, and especially with the photos.”

“Oh, one more comment; I have a Nikon 990 digital (3.2 megapixel), but I don't like it when I capture that perfect shot digitally, and later am disapointed that I don't have it on film. So, to avoid that, I always take a film camera with me. I can always scan a negative, but you can never duplicate the latitude and contrast of a negative with a digital image after the fact. (IMHO)”

“I've been carrying a camera much of the time I walk in the woods or mountains since I was in high school. I got my first Brownie camera when I was in second or third grade. For me, its like personal photojournalism, recording the event in photos for myself.

I've been adding hiking photos to photopoint then webshots for a couple of years now, and recently have started adding blasts from the past. Some are scanned slides and therefore small and not as good resolution. I like prints and scan them, but would love to have one of those slide/negative scanners, but not in the budget right now.

Volume 1-Yellowstone XC ski trip, Switzerland, some Alaska, some New Mexico

Alaska, New Mexico, my son's six weeks in the Alaska Bush(not my photos)"”

“I scanned your posts, but not the photos before I posted. Wow! You guys are good. Glad I'm not competing with you on the photo market!”

“I ALWAYS have a camera! I got a cheap digital, so now take that a lot. Then I readily take shots, just to see what I come up with, although not necessarily for "keepers." For that, I 'd want my 35 mm and Velvia.... or a much better digital. Still, while digital is catching up, the quality is much better with 35 mm. I have a cheapo film/neg/slide scanner, but it pretty much sucks. Especially on slides!!

Ok, here are two sites where I post shots, not necessarily all trips, but other stuff (including "artsy-fartsy"...lol!) If you are "into" photography, try one of them.

The links are to my shots on each site:

On www.usefilm.com, my most recent shot posted is of my tent and sunrise last Sunday:
Shots at usefilm.com

The www.photo.net site is HUGE with tons of members. I posted the last shot you'll see on this page for the "critique by members" feature and had over 3,000 views in a week!!

Photo.net -- be sure to look at the last shot from Canyonlands”

“Lizs,You take very good pix.VG composition,balance and exposure.I really like the wet grass,buffalo,arkansas riv, tree w/fog ,the ladder picctures.
Do you use any filters?
I have found that Velvia usually over saturates colors or intensifies them.Your pix dont have this effect.Is it the iso 50 that makes the diff?”

“Do you find that you remember your trips from the photos, by that I mean when you remember a trip you think of the photos rather than other situations where photos weren't taken.

Having said that I wouldn't not take photos.”

“Not sure what Lizs will have to say about Velvia, but its the vivid greens and blues, and saturation in general that causes me to grab the Velvia most of the time. Too many times I have shot Astia or one of the other chromes, taken a beautiful transparency to be printed, and been disapointed by the print in comparison. I don't care for Kodak's new VS slide film (vivid saturation) as it blows out the reds, and red already has a tendency to "bleed" on film.

If you really want to impress yourself, take your favorite transparency, have it professionally scanned (or do it yourself if you have the equipment) then crop, spot, etc. until you have it just the way you want, then send it to Replicolor in SLC on CD-R at 400 dpi X output size and have them print it on their new digital printer on metallic paper. You will not believe the results.”

“By the way Lizs, you KNOW I love your stuff, and am always begging to see more. Thanks for sharing your sites. I'm enjoying them immensely.”

“
"Do you find that you remember your trips from the photos, by that I mean when you remember a trip you think of the photos rather than other situations where photos weren't taken.

Having said that I wouldn't not take photos."
Bunyip
06:57:00 AM
02/02/02



I have noticed a couple of things. When I carry my camera I am more observant because I am looking for shots. Furthermore, the shots are great memory joggers. The fun I have scanning photos is seeing all of them again. One reason my Alaska and Philippine albums have filled up.”

“Nice work, as always and always, Hobbit!! :-) Say, on your final page, the link were all broken. I see that page said "portraiture."

Davex, I use Velvia. Some people think it's saturated colors are a bit much, but I don't know. I maintain I see those colors in nature!! lol! Nope, I don't use filters, although I can readily see using a gradient one to even out bright sky with a dark landscape. But... I never have.

In my morning "sunrise from tent" photo on www.usefilm.com (first one at top -- although more will be posted to the top later, and it will move on down the page), I used Photoshop to be my own personal filter. hehehee (Just call me "Photoshop Wienie," some do!!) I traced around the tent door opening and worked on that part of the photo separate from the rest of it. Then I hit "inverse selection," allowing me to work on the tent portion. I had to brighten it up a little.

Bunyip, I am waaaaaaaaay into photos, so I might tend to think of photo stops. But not all the great moments are captured to film, as we all know. You aren't always ready with a camera when some fleeting moment comes. Or, then again, you luck out, like in my Canyonlands sunset. I expected nothing; certainly didn't envision what I came up with. And usually I am pretty good at envisioning what I'll have -- or HOPE to have -- in the actual shot.”

“I run 1-2 rolls a week. If I don't hike I don't use much.

My most recurring problem is slight overexposure, so everything looks washed out. I think the light meter on my camera is not calibrated well. I set the camera to compensate, but haven't gotten that roll finished yet. I use off the grocery store or discount store shelf, Koda or Fuji 100, 200, or 400. I also need to add a yellow or orange filter. I do pretty good with sunsets, clouds and sky. Snow and Steam, Violet Springs, Yellowstone

I loved Kodachrome.

My camera is a Minolta, got 28-80, 90-250 and a 500mm lense.

I have probably had 25 cameras in my life.

I also do some excellent professional macro and micro photography. Part of the job. No exposure problems there. Need to get a good digital camera. In my previous job I got to use a programable digital camera that runs for $20,000. That was very cool. Too bad the images went to digital heaven. The resolution was astounding. So good that I could digitally zoom beyond the resolution of my regular microscope.”

“A famous British Mountaineer, Doug Scott, said he ended up resenting the the photos he took on Everests Summit as that is how he now remembers the summit.
I guess what I'm trying to say is what's more important, the grand fleeting memory or a selected segment of an image?”

“If I don't take my camera on an outing, I am inevitably sorry.”

“Great photographs all.

Hobbit,
Your photographs just get better and better. The discipline you have in order to get up so early in the morning to get all that phenomenal light is amazing. One particular photo of yours has always been one of my favorites. It’s on page four, top row, far right, entitled “Marsh Northern Utah.” Also the snorkeling photos capture the liquidity of water better than anything I’ve ever seen.

SnowNymph,
Your photos are great fun. I started going to your photo site after I read some of your trip reports over on the yahoo boards. In fact, your photos of the Miter Basin convinced me that I had to go there. Last summer when we passed by that campsite with the huge flat rock you can use for a table, and I looked over there about a hundred yards and saw that little waterfall I immediately said, “There’s SnowNymph Falls!” My mind then conjured up that image of you, the one from the back, in the black tee-back thong! Oh baby! LOL! Thanks a million SN!

Liz,
I knew you were a writer / reporter but I didn’t know you were a photographer too. I like the one you shot out of the tent looking up at the morning sun. The action / emergency worker / fireman photos were great. Keep up the good work. Think Pulitzer.

And Mel is a damn good photographer. You should see some of her slides.”

“I purchased a block of Fuji NPH 135 ISO400 for a weddnig I shot...
I wonder how that film will work outdoors?

I think it was the Velvia I used on one of my trips because I shot slide film.”

“Lizs,
Your photos are the first example of Velvia I have seen where the reds and greens dont have what I find is a displeasing intensity.
Maybe its cuz you dont use a filter as well.
Are you doing any customizing in the developing or with the computer?
Also is that iso 50 that yer using mostly?
And is that velvia print film?
I really like the snow canyon shot.”

“Pathman, Nice photo's. I gotta tell ya....you really get around.

Done the Pino trail a few times before. It's a nice little hike.”

“Hmmmm, Davex. I do mess with them in Photoshop so they represent what I remember, or as close to that as possible. But I have some nice slides, too. So I don't know what to say. :-)”

“The reason I got hooked on the outdoors when I was a kid was because of all these beautiful scenic photos on calendars and posters. I loved looking at those pictures and dreamt that one day I could see them in real life. When I did see them in real life, I naturally wished to share these visions with others, and maybe inspire someone else to love nature like the photos inspired me. So I picked up a camera and started taking photos.

I do different trips. I'd bring my camera gear if I'm planning a photo trip, either along (best chance to catch good photos) or with someone who share the love in photography. But I find it hard to take photos when doing a trip with people who don't like to spend a couple of hours standing at one spot just to wait for the right light, that's when I leave the bulk of my camera gear at home, and only take a lightweight camera with me. I also always keep a camera in my car, just in case I want to stop by the lake for a nice sunset on the way home.

My photos are showcased on my web site elementalphotos.com”

“Ya'll have inspired me to update my web page and add a bunch of photos. I've also fixed the links that were broken on my last page of portraits only. What I REALLY need is a decent web page design program. Any suggestions that won't cost me an arm and a leg?”

“Hmmmm..... I probably should have re-posted the link just for anyone who doesn't wanna hunt. Here ya go”

“Wow, where to start....
Lots of talent for a bunch of hikers. ;-)

Liz - great imagination in your compositions, and it takes guts to get reviewed on photo.net. Those people can be brutal, but your shots held up just fine.

Pathman - Snow and Steam, that is one fabulous pic!

Hobbit - We have similiar tastes. Velvia is my favorite film with Provia 100F close behind. Both scan very easy for me and with Velvia, I almost never have to do anything with it in Paintshop Pro.

Davex - Velvia is a 50iso slide film if you didn't find out yet.

Adventurist - I pretty much just do slides now but I've shot a lot of NPH outside. Great stuff! I find I get better results by shooting at 320iso.

You started a good thing Hobbit. I'm inspired to do more with my existing pics and really looking forward to my new cam.”

“I really like my new digital. Maybe it's the instant grattification, I don't know. One of the excuses I used for getting it is that you can see when you take it so you know weather you want to keep it or not. Well, I find myself trying to not use the monitor as much as I can cause it sucks the batteries big time. I have to figure out how to set the camera so it doesn't need as much light. I'm getting a lot of dark pictures. I love being able to get in the door and five minutes later be able to share the pictures on line.”

“Whatcha getting Pennsy?”

“Nigal - I don't what you have but if your cam has EV compensation, you should be able to get more light in your shots. Many cams have increments in thirds so a +1/3 ev comp or +2/3 should help.

Hobbit - Gee, I hate to say it twice in this thread ;o) but I am getting my dream camera, the Nikon D1H. I've been saving my pennies ever since the D1 came out.”

“Sorry to make you repeat yourself. I'm envious Pennsy Hiker.”

“Ph,thanx.I thought velvia was print film and available in 100-800.
Ive never taken slides.
I have a nikon fe w/24 2.8,50 1.8,75-150...all very sharp lenses.
I used to take a lot more pix with the simplicity of my minolta 7000 and 28-135 do everything lens-very sharp convenient lens.”

“El Morro Sky

Coyote Tracks in Snow, Yellowstone


Clouds and Steam, Washburn Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP

Porcelin Basin Algae, Yellowstone NP”

“cool shots pathman..... especially liked the abstract patterns of the porclain basin.”

“Thanks, but I was hoping to lure out some more work like yours. Photoboy does some good work, I can't remember if he comes to TT or not.”

“Pennsy Hiker - With the D1H going at about $4000 just for the body, that's a lot of pennies.”

“Solitary,
That photo is what brought me to TT! I thought it was funny, and look at me now. 1:52am and I'm still catching up from a 3 day weekend!”

“Very nice Pathman!!

See, Hobbit - that's why I didn't want to repeat myself. I just knew someone would chime in on how much my new cam costs. ;o) Just kidding. Yeah EP, it's lots and lots of pennies PLUS a lot of plastic. It was less than 4k though. Since I already have all the lenses I want, I won't have that to worry about. Also, when I think about how much money I have spent on film and processing, plus the endless hours of scanning, I don't think I'm making a bad decision.

BTW - anybody interested in a Coolpix 995 package? 5 months old, including 3 batteries, wide angle lens, 2x teleconverter, nikon filter kit. I'll more than likely put it up on Ebay but I'd certainly let a TT'er have it for less than what the reserve would be. Email me for more details at bjj@fast.net or is it appropriate to start a for sale thread here?”

“but great sign. This was on the Richardson Highway, between Fairbanks and Gakona Alaska, near Milepost 137 or so.

Rough Road”